06-09-1999 - Minutes TC � .
CITY OF ORANGE ��<<������� ���f�
<:`;;:
CITY TRAFFIC COMMISSIC�N ����.�,
��='?9�'����1�s.�.��
Minutes of a Regular Meeting: June 9, 1999
I. OPENING �
A. Flag Pledge
B. Roll Call:
. Present-Commissioners: D.Yarger,J.Fortier, F.Petronella, W.Poutsma,
F.Sciarra
Present-Staff: H.Bahadori,W.Winthers, Sgt. B.Green, C.Glass,
D.Allenbach, P.Then
C. Approval of Minutes:
,
� April 14, 1999-Approve as published by the Recording Secretary.
;
1V10TION: F. Sciarra
SECONDo J. Fortier
AYES: Unanimous � �
May 12, 1999-Approve as published by the Recording Secretary.
MOTION: F. Sciarra
SECON D: ). Fortier
AYES: U nan i mous �
Do Items To Be Continued or Withdrawn
f�lone this meeting. ,
I1. CONSENT CALENDAR �
� 1. Request for the installation of red curb markings in front of the Seranado Fountain
Apartments at 100 S. Seranado St.
Mohsen H. Hashemi
100 S. Seranado St.
Orange CA 92869 , ,
Oral presentation is based on the writ�en staff report, please refer to your copy. There was
no discussion of this request. �
ACTION: Approve the installation of 174 ft. of red curb in front of the Seranado
Fountain Apartments at 100 S. Seranado St. (within the cul-de-sac area}.
MOTION: D. Yarger �
SECOND: J. Fortier
AYES: Unanimous
Tape#CTG99.04 of this City Traffic Commission meeting is available for your review.
� Please contact the Recording Secretary at(714) 744-5534 in this regard,advance notice is appreciated.
��Printed on Recycled Paper
Minutes of a Regular Meeting-City Traffic Commission-june 9, 1999 Page 2
III.CONSIDERATION ITEMS
I�1one this month. �
IV.ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
A. Report on the use of uLED Enhanced Pavement Markers" on City streets.
Hamid Bahadori, P.E.
Manager Transportation Services/City Traffic Engineer
. We have requested the California Traffic Control Devices Committee agendize this item on
behalf of our City for their July 22, 1999 meeting in San Diego. The product is a LED
enhanced pavement marker, when the product representative showed me these markers I
though one potential use is to improve safety at crosswalks, especially crosswalks that are
at mid-block or uncontrolled intersections, especially on the arterials. There is a sequential
lighting strip which cost about $15 - $20,000 to put at crosswalks, it has a strobe lighting
effect with the same type of lights they use at airport landing fields. They can be either
actuated or automatic, those are rather expensive. These devices are relatively
inexpensive as they vary between $30 - $50 depending upon which type and the quantity
you buy, so crosswalks can be treated inexpensively. However, this is a new device and
any use of them has been either centerline or edge line that we know of. Being a new
device in California we do not feel it is appropriate to instal,l them on City streets without
formal authorization from the California Traffic Control Devices Committee to initiate a
pilot test locations. We are on the July 22"d, 1999 agenda. !f you think you don't want to
use these in our City we can have our request removed from their Agenda.
We were thinking to use these at 2 or 3 crosswalk locations with different configurations,
not the configuration of the crosswalk, but the configuration of installation. To install them
on the striping lanes, half street width vs. full street width, things like that. Going to the
California Traffic Control Devices Committee, they have rather strict guidelines for tests.
We have to demonstrate a documented problem, we have to demonstrate so called
scientific and statistically measurable methodology for before and after studies, to show the
effectiveness of the device in solving the problem. We have had brief conversations with
the City Attorney but he definitely wants to see the proposal for our test, if we decide to go
to the Devices Committee in)uly. I would like the product representative to provide you
with some information on the features and previous uses, and if you feel this is something
that you want us.to test in our city, then give us some guideline and direction as far as what
potential locations for testing, things you want us to consider, and we will prepare a
proposal for review by the City Attorney, and we will go from there. I understand these
devices have other uses for the Police Dept., perhaps Sgt. Green would like to advise you
of their use of these devices.
Sgt. Bob Green, OPD Traffic Bureau - We haven't had an opportunity to take these to a
major accident scene, we are still evaluating their use in the Police Dept., shawing them
around and getting input from officers and ideas on how we can properly use them. We're
trying to be innovative at this time and see what we can do with them.
1'ape#CTC 99.04 of this City Traffic Commission meeting is available for your review.
� Please contact the Recording Secretary at(714) 744-5536 in this regard,advance notice is appreciated.
�Printed on Recycled Paper
Minutes of a Regular Meeting-City Traffic Commission-)une 9, 1999 Page 3
Commissioner Sciarra - Do we have any tests that have been done that we can draw from
now?
Hamid Bahadori - I talked with Jack Kletzman who is the Executive Secretary for the
Devices Committee, and he has advised me that nobody has tested these for the purpose
that we are considering, which is improving and enhancing the visibility of the crosswalk
and raising the awareness of the driver to watch for pedestrians.
Chairman Yarger - Would that also include what you would call a dangerous high speed
curve, has any testing been done on that?
)anna McKhann, (Product Representative) NexTech - In the U.K. and Europe, not locally.
There is a fog version, a marker that senses fog and humidity, both Caltrans and the World
ITS Group is trying to locate a site for testing so they are also going to get this before the
CTCDC; the pavement markers are available in red, blue, white and yellow.
The USA Bureau of Statistics has indicated that there are 40,000 fatal car crashes every year
in the United States. The single leading cause is a vehicle leaving the road. That is what
we are trying to focus on, a solution. Darkness is a major factor and its 3 times more likely
to have an accident at night rather than daytime. This solution called the "night flasher"
improves visibility ten-fold. It's solar powered, it recharges and has an embedded LED
inside so its all in one unit, and is maintenance free. The LED activates at dusk and
operates through the night and it gives superior delineation to medians, crosswalks, curves
in the roadway. Research shows that headlights provide visibility for 160 ft. in front of
you, with these markers you can see 2,000 ft. so there is a drastic improvement to your
vision. It works like a normal raised pavement marker in the day, its the same size as a
reflective pavement marker and as I mentioned the U.K. uses these and they have been
approved by the Department of Environment, Transportation and Regions in the U.K.
There are over 30 installation sites in the U.K. and have bee in place for over 2 years.
They also have over 30 locations in Italy, France, Belgium and the Netherlands; so its
broadiy used in Europee
Activates video tape of product presentation, entitled the "Estucia Road Show°:
f trust you all had a safe journey but I wonder how many of you would have not even
considered setting off tonight if you knew in advance of the risk you take of being involved
in road accident at some time of your life, and obviously the more frequently you use the
road the higher this risk becomes. Recent reports shows that in a country the size of the
� U.K. with a population of some 58 million, in one year alone there were more than
228,000 road accidents resulting in 48,000 serious injuries, 16% of which proved fatal.� As
� well as the emotional cost involved there is a financial burden, and this is not just to those
families concerned but to every single person in the country. This is the price of
emergency services, health facilities and all the other services required. At a proven cost
of about 1.25 million pounds per fatality afone, the expense of clearing up doesn't come
cheap, and the U.K. isn't unique. In fact their road safety record is comparatively good but
with today's emphasis on motoring no matter what country you look at the statistics are
.�� Tape#CTG99.04 of this City Traffic Commission meeting is available for your review.
.�ia�i. Please contact the Recording Secretary at(714) 744-5536 in this regard,advance notice is appreciated.
�Printed on Recycled Paper
Minutes of a Regular Meeting-City Traffic Commission-)une 9, 1999 Page 4
likefy to be very similar. Take a close look at these statistics and you quickly recognize
the most hazardous kind of travel is at night or during inclement weather.
So why hasn't somebody done something about it? Well they have. Since 1992 Estucia
has been developing an intelligent road stud system that not only leads the way in roadway
safety but is revolutionizing our whole approach to trafFic information and control, and the
concept is surprisingly simple. Using today's technology a single or series of light emitting
diodes or LED's is fitted into one of a choice of approved road marking studs, each with its
own independent microprocessor powered by battery to be charged using natural solar
power. Tried and tested with a good tract record these studs are built to conform with the
highest industry standards world wide. The difference is with the LED's visibility at night
is increased from the normal reach of the vehicle headlights to more than 900 meters
(2,000 ft.). With the light automatically activated from dusk to dawn or when the ambient
light drops below an acceptable minimum, it provides protection at the time when its
needed most. It then subsequently uses any available daylight to recharge itself ready for
the next night or nights as required. As with conventional reflective studs the colors of the
LED's conform with existing traffic legislation so as not to confuse the road user.
From this basic concept new projects began being researched, and an opportunity to
provide the road user with a wealth of new and up to the minute information relevant to
their driving conditions at that precise point of their journey was developed. With the
introduction of sensors and specialist microprocessors it proved possible to give accurate
climatic road surface information at any point, this was to warn of black ice or freezing
conditions which is not immediately identifiable when driving in the warm enclosure of a
. car. Fog, or with its advance warning of weather changes as well as for improved visibility
in road layout at a time when conventionally the driver is forced to drive under dimmed
headlight conditions. And standing water, which cou{d result in aquaplaning or reduction
in visibitity due to serious spray. By using a combination of different sensors it was
possible to provide an up to the minute synopsis of driving conditions at any particular
point. But the intelligent roadster could go far beyond that literally being restricted only by
the limitation of the imagination. For today's intelligent road studs can be used to detect
all sorts of potential road hazards, this includes the movement of other road users such as
pedestrians, cyclists, animals, trains or anything else it would be beneficial to have advance
warning of. And as well as alerting those in the immediate vicinity by introducing
roadside transponders this information can be relayed to wherever its needed the most
which subsequently leads you into a whole new area of traffic management and�controls.
Already installed at the Euro Tunnel where keeping traffic moving is essential, switchable
lane markers have been installed that have been purposely designed to guide motorists
safety and efficiently through complex multi-lane layouts. These are ideal for toll stations
as well as other airport or ferry terminals, anywhere traffic has to be moved and controlled
vn a minute by minute basis. These remote operator controlled units offer variable
intensity for a full day or night operation displaying mul#i-sequencing, in this.instance with
five changeable color options, so as you can see the intelligent road stud really is leading
the way forward but it doesn't stop there.
Tape#CTC 99.04 of this City Traffic Commission meeting is available for your review.
� Please contact the Recording Secretary at(714) 744-5536 in this regard,advance notice is appreciated.
�Printed on Recyc{ed Paper
Minutes o$a Regular Meeting-City Traffic Commission-)une 9, 1999 Page 5
Having developed the intelligent road stud as a delineation for hazardous condition -
warning system, the market for individual safety projects using the same high visibility
technology is also in great demand. An example of this is the intelligent road works unit
designed to guide motorists through difficult or hazardous road works. During the day
vvith good visibility each unit is inactive working as a standard reflective stud but when
visibility is reduced due to fog, spray or failing light, each unit will automatically activate
and guide the road user as necessary, and throughout the night the unit will continue to -
emit a flashing amber display. Designed as a throw away unit and priced accordingly, this
model has an operational life of up to 6 months and is easy to apply to most surfaces.
From this design has come a new idea in motoring safety with the development of the self
contained portable�safety system that is ideal for both emergency and domestic driver.
Rechargeable using conventional vehicle power supply, these units offer substantia)
advance warning to approaching motorists for as long as the danger exists, reaching far
beyond conventional hazard warning devices. Having cleared the potential danger it can
be restacked in their own self-contained charging and storage box, ready for the next time
they have to be used. What about the future?
End of video, return to Commission for further discussion.
Chairrnan Yarger - What is the pricing on these units? What is the longevity, the video
rr�entioned 6 months.
Janna McKhann -That is the road way version, it's a throw away unit, it cost between $15
and $18 and they're used strictly for roadway maintenance work, construction areas.
These LED's (for the crosswalk) have an operational life of 6 years, if you use the solar
power for one day in total darkness the LED will remain active for 7 dayso They come
� -- single or double sided with the lights on each side and in a variety of colors. If you have a
double-sided marker installed on a centerline you can see the lane delineation in both
travel directions.
Commissioner Sciarra-Are these lights synchronized so they flash at the same time?
)anna McKhann -They go so fast at night they appear to be on permanently.
Commissioner Fortier-What does it cost for an average crosswalk?
Janna McKhann -We determined between $800 and $1000.
Hamid Bahadori - It depends on how you are going to treat the crosswalk. If its going to
go the full width of the street, half-width only on the approach, if you're using this as single
markers or if you using them in pairs. That's the whole idea of testing, nobody has really
started using this for crosswalk enhancement. With any testing we have to be careful in
structuring our proposal to the Devices Committee because should the Committee turn us
down and do not approve this device for the use at that location we don't want to expose
the city to liability by acknowledging that we believe there is a problem that must be fixed.
If the Committee does not approve this test for this device at this location then we most
probably will leave that location alone. We have no intention of implementing other
measures.
Tape#CTC 99.04 of this City Traffic Commission meeting is available for your review.
� Please contact the Recording Secretary at(714) 744-5536 in this regard,advance notice is appreciated.
��Printed on Recqcled Paper
Minutes of a Re�ular Meeting-City Traffic Commission-June 9, 1999 Page 6 .
� Chairman Yarger - If we request a test for crosswalks could we test them on Santiago
Canyon Rd. where we've had problems with people coming into the curves out there,
could we do that or do we have to submit that in our proposal?
Hamid Bahadori -The proposal has to identify the location. We have to identify where we
are testing it. They will ask for plans of that area, photographs in our proposal, why we
want to test it in that area. In other words they want to know Nwhat is the problem" and
on the advise of our Attorney, which is good advise, we will try to stay away from using the
word Nproblem". We do not have a problem that we are fixing, but we believe these will �
Nenhance" �safety. That may not be well received by the Devices Committee as they are
looking for measurement, methodology. We will propose an enhancement measure rather
than fixing an existing problem. If they believe that's not good enough then we will not be
successful with them. But if your direction is to proceed we will go to the City Council on
7-13-99 before going to the Devices Committee and get their blessing also. If the Council
doesn't want us to test this we will remove our request before the Devices Committee.
Vice Chairman Fortier-I still don't know how much it's going to cost. I think it does affect
us and I think anything you want to install if you value whether it's worth the cost to do it
or not.
Hamid Bahadori - I didn't mean to be evasive regarding cost. It depends on how many of
these markers we use at each crosswalk, so the range of $500 to $1,000 and $1,000 being
the upper range, going maybe pairs the whole width of the street and if you install on half
width of the street maybe using one marker per lane it's obviously going to be cheaper. So
a range of $500 to $1,000 per crosswalk seems to be reasonable. Once we epoxy these
. on the pavement it's very difficult to remove them without damaging the unit and
damaging the pavement. Once they have been installed these have a life cycle of 4-7
years, say 5 year average, so if you spend $500 or $1,000 you are goi ng to get benefit for
the 5 years.
Chairman Yarger - If we do this what is the actual cost to replace them? How much
damage will be done to the pavement when removing them? Are you going to have to re-
pave that area?
Hamid Bahadori - I would be speculating. If someone comes out with a shovel and takes
out a big chunk of asphalt we would have to patch the asphalt as opposed to just replacing
the pavement marker.
)anna McKhann-A couple of you have mentioned installing these at curves.
Hamid Bahadori - Obviously the most prominent application of these devices in the U.K.
have been alon�g curves and centerlines, as either center or edge lines. That is a whole
different arena and other than the streets within Orange Park Acres, which is in the
unincorporated County area, I cauldn't think of any location in the City that woufd really
demand this installation at that level. If you can think of any street that you want us to
consider for testing for either centerline or edge line please let us know. There are some
streets within Orange Park Acres, not to mention Orange Park Blvd. itself and Meads Ave.
they can benefit. You have to be very careful with how we word this, we're not saying
those roads are dangerous,we can say they can benefit by improved safety.
.�,� Tape#CTC-99.04 of this City Traffic Commission meeting is available for your review.
� Please contact the Recording Secretary at(714) 744-5536 in this regard,advance notice is appreciated.
�Printed on Recycled Paper
Minutes of a Regular Meeting-City Traffic Commission-June 9, 1999 Page 7
Vice Chairman Fortier - Are we looking at all crosswalks if this is approved, or just ones
that are potentially hazardous?
Hamid Bahadori - Usually crosswalks at uncontrolled intersections which are not
recommended to begin with, and we have some of those on our arterials. You mentioned
one, Main St. and Sycamore Ave. There are a few on W. Chapman Ave. There is also
one right in front of City Hall at Chapman Ave. and Center St. Locations like this where
we have a painted crosswalk that creates an added safety perception on the part of the
pedestrian, but on the other hand really there is no added safety measure as far as the driver
is concerned, those are places we could maybe use markers to raise the awareness of the
driver approaching the crosswalk that something unusual is happening here, they should
maybe pay cioser attention. Widespread use of these on all crosswalks will reduce their
effectiveness because it becomes just another roadway feature, you have it all over. But if
you use them selectively at (ocations where you really want to highlight the pedestrian
crossing those are the locations we are looking for. �
For the test, if approved by the Devices Committee, I think we will use three different
locations and use different configurations.
)anna McKhann -Several other cities are also interested in testing these devices.
ACTION: File request to participate in a test program with the California Traffic Control
Devices Committee and if so approved prepare test locations for trial within the
City.
MOTION: D. Yarger
SECOND: F. Petronella
Commissioner Sciarra - I'm concerned with the legality. What happens if we approve this
for testing and then are turned down by the Devices Committee? �
Hamid Bahadori - The language of the proposal should be very clear. If we go to the
Committee and say there is no problem the Committee may ask what are you testing, or
what are you fixing. If we go there and we say there is a problem and the Committee does
not approve the test then we had better have another plan to address the problem at that
location. We do not have that many unsafe locations as far as pedestrian crossings, we
have a very low number of pedestrian fatalities. We were thinking of using this to promote ,
� or enhance safety, not that we have a very dangerous location that we are trying to fix.
Locations that really need significant fixing such as Tustin St. at the Post Office at Adams.
We have had 2-3 fatalities within a year and resulted in the installation of a complete traffic
signal at that location. If you have problem locations such as that you are not going to try
to fix them with this type of test program.
Commissioner Petronella - What do you think will happen if we go to the meeting and
declare that we have no problems, and they ask us why are we trying to fix something?
iNhat are the chances of the Committee just saying No?
.�,� Tape#CTC 99.04 of this City Traffic Commission meeting is available for your review.
� Please contact the Recording Secretary at(714) 744-5536 in this regard,advance notice is appreciated.
�Printed on Recycled Paper
� .
Minutes of a Regular Meeting-City Traffic Commission-June 9, 1999 Page 8
Hamid Bahadori - It's quite possible. People on the Devices Committee are Engineers and
semi-scientists and they like statistics, methodology, etc. We are not going to give them
those, I completely agree with the City Attorney's office on this, we do not want to get into
a number game and try to set a case for a plaintiff against us.
Vice Chairman Fortier- I like it myself. I think we should at least try it and find out how it
works and how people think of it, and how we think it works before we go further, I think
it would be foolish not to.
Hamid Bahadori - One argument that I will be making is that this is no different than any
other raised pavement marker. This is just a RPM with a blinking light, so it's not really a
new device, its a modified device and if I want to install a typical reflective raised
� pavement marker anywhere I don't need to go to the Devices Committee. The only reason
to go before the Devices Committee is that it has that little blinking light inside and so for
legal protection purposes we don't want to install it and then have a very learned attorney
� suing us and saying his client got into an accident because these blinking lights were
installed in the roadway. Otherwise, as far as traffic engineering goes this is just a
pavement marker.
Commissioner Poutsma-You say there are other cities following our lead, who are they?
Janna McKhann - Laguna Niguel, Dana Point and Santa Ana are very interested, and are
waiting to hear what happens with the LED and if there is any way to help out they will do
so.
Hamid Bahadori - If we can get a letter of support from those cities that shows the Devices
Committee that there is an interest among traffic professionals that these tests are going to
be of value to someone. If we receive your approval and if the Council also approves it on
7-13-99 I will contact, maybe through Janna, the other cities that have shown interest and
ask for a letter of support, so the Devices Committee knows that we are not the only city in
CA who are thinking about these devices.
Chairman Yarger- If these are used as either a centerline or edge line I don't see these as
being any different from other markers except that they are brighter than the reflectors we
have for night. I don't think it's so different as to affect how a motorist reacts to them. I
have enough confidence in our legal staff that I know the proposal will be drafted in a
manner that wi I I not expose the city to any I iabi I ity.
!f there is no other discussion the Chairman calls for a vote on the Motion:
� e�YES: Unanimous
Tape#CTC 99.04 of this City Traffic Commission meeting is available for your review.
� Please contact the Recording Secretary at(714) 744-553b in this regard,advance notice is appreciated.
�Printed on Recycled Paper
Minutes of a Regular Meeting-City Traffic Commission-June 9, 1999 Page 9
�/. ORAL PRESENTATION
None from the audience.
Hamid Bahadori-�ust a follow up from our previous meeting for information only as we advise
you of appeals of previous decisions. An appeal has been filed regarding the proposed truck
weight restriction on Chapman Ave. between Batavia St. and Tustin St., and will be agendized
for the)uly 13"', 1999 Cifiy Council meeting, under NAdministrative Reports" and will be heard
at the 4:30 p.m. Session.
V1,ADJUURNMENT �
After discussion of today's Agenda items of the City Traffic Commission was concluded, and as
there were no further requests for action under Oral Presentations, the Chairman adjourned this
session of the City Traffic Commission at 4:15.p.m.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Traffic Commission will be Wednesday -
August 11'; 1999.
tZespectfully submitted,
CITY OF ORANGE
Phyl I is Then
Record i ng Secretary
Traffic Engineering Division
CITY OF ORANGE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DIVISION
300 E. CHAPMAN AVE.
ORANGE CA 92866
PH: (714) 744-5536
FAX: (714) 744-6961
�jUNE-MINUTES [DISK#20/THENP]
.��.� Tape#CTC 99.04 of this City.Traffic Commission meeting is available for your review.
= Please contact the Recording Secretary at(714) 744-5536 in this regard,advance notice is appreciated.
�Printed on Recycled Paper