RES 91023 - Laserfiche WebLink

Restrictinq Left-Turns Staff explored deleting the left-turn lane (and median) in certain narrow places on the 3-lane section by eliminating left-turn movements. While this could save grading and trees, especially in the Puri Court section, it would do so at the loss of significant convenience to many residents. Another problem is such a 2-lane section is not wide enough to allow U-turns at convenient intersections, andsthe 3-lane configuration is likewise a bit too narrow for U-turns. This effect plus staff's view that in the long-term a landscaped median in the 3-lane configuration will be quite attractive led staff to reject this option. Horizontal AliGnment Modifications Moving the roadway eastward or westward could help save a particular tree or miss a property line. However, the easterly right-of-way is essentially fixed. Shifting the street would in these areas only narrow the sidewalk/landscaping area, which staff feels is marginal already. With design speed parameters governing turns, there is little possible movement easterly. Moving the roadway westerly immediately gets the street into steep hills, trees, and front yards. While staff will entertain any ideas for such a relocation, staff believes the placement of the roadway has little in the way of feasible options. Staff has proposed, and is recommending, the alternative on Sheet 16 which raises and moves the roadway westerly. This is being done to solve a sight distance problem and, simultaneously, allows an - adequately separated sidewalk across the FoothillKnolls frontage. By raising the road, grading impacts are about the same. The realignment through the Laguna Oaks project has been previously approved with the adoption of that PUD and will not be discussed further here. This alignment moves the roadway to the eastside of the Alviso Adobe and incorporates a three-lane section essentially as shown in the General Plan Option three-lane section. The widening here has been done to the east, with only the on-street bike lane added to the west of the existing edge of pavement. At Bernal Avenue, the roadway has been widened to accommodate additional turning lanes while still allowing left turns into Deer Oaks Drive. ~e~ian Treatment Variations possible include: (1) no curb, depressed median, (2) asphalt curb, and (3) concrete curb. No curb, depressed median - Example: Bernal Avenue at Fairgrounds, westbound lane. Staff sees large trees in the median as necessary to "narrow" the road. This option would be satisfactory with shrubs in the median, but, as no protection is given to a wayward vehicle by this option, large trees would be a hazard. SR91:52 12