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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2001-122 Removal of four trees within the Right of way of three Arterial Street Intersections.RESOLUTION NO. R-2001- 122 A RESOLUTION authorizing the removal of four trees located within the City right- of-way at three arterial street intersections within the City of Yakima, Washington. WHEREAS, one tree is currently located in the City right-of-way, adjacent to a private residence at 301 North 8th Street; two trees are located adjacent to retail businesses at 5th Avenue and Walnut and one tree is located adjacent to a retail building at Front Street and Yakima Avenue; and WHEREAS, the City of Yakima Traffic Engineering Division recommends complete removal of these four trees in order to improve vehicle safety at these intersections and no replanting of these trees are recommended; and WHEREAS, the adjacent property owners have been contacted and advised of this recommendation; and WHEREAS, if permitted to remove the trees, the City of Yakima will cover the total cost of removal which is estimated to be $1,320 ; and WHEREAS, the City Council deems it to be in the best interest of the City of Yakima to remove the subject trees located in the City right-of-way adjacent to the following locations. Tree 1A: Catalpa Tree, NE corner of Lincoln & 8th St $780 Tree 2A: Sweetgum Tree, NE corner of Walnut & 5th Ave $520 Tree 2B: Locust Tree, SW corner of Walnut & 5th Ave $520 Tree 3: Oak Tree, NW corner of Front & Yakima $520; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA: The City of Yakima Public Works Director is hereby authorized and directed to remove the four subject trees at the expense of the City of Yakima. ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL this 21 day of August, 2001. ATTEST. City Clerk Ma�,r ° lace, Mayor City of Yakima Department of Public Works Traffic Engineering Staff Report For the City Council Meeting of August 21, 2001 Subject: Recommended Removal of Trees Within Public Right of Way Staff: Joan Davenport, Supervising Traffic Engineer Summary A total of 5 trees are recommended to be removed from street right of way, at the expense of the City of Yakima. The subject trees conflict with traffic signal poles or intersection clear view areas. The total cost of removing all five trees is estimated to be $3,620 which would be covered by the City of Yakima Street Maintenance budget. Specific information related to each trees is included in this report. Location 1: East Lincoln Avenue and North 8th Street Two trees are recommended to be removed from the northeast comer of this intersection. The tree closest to the intersection is a Catalpa tree and is located with in vision clearance triangle. Approximately 15 feet east of this tree is a substantial maple tree which is very large and also obscures the visual clearance of Lincoln Avenue for drivers of southbound vehicles on 8th Street. Two Trees (Trees 1 A and 1 B) Recommended for Removal at Lincoln & 8`h St Traffic safety at this intersection is a concern to the City of Yakima. This location experienced a total of 20 collisions between 1998 and 2000 which is a rate of 1.76 collisions per million entering vehicles (MEV). Of these 20 collisions, 16 were right angle accidents, which indicates a concern for good vision clearance at the intersection. The Catalpa tree (Tree 1 A) is estimated to take a day and a half to remove at a cost of $780. The larger Maple tree (Tree 1B) will take two and a half days to remove at a cost of Tree Removal Staff Report Page 1of3 $1,300. Total cost for this project is $2,080. These trees are not recommended to be replaced at this location due to the intersection clear view restrictions. Location 2: Walnut Street and Fifth Avenue Intersection A total of two trees are recommended to be removed from this intersection. The CBD Signal Project requires replacement of the traffic signal poles at this location with larger poles and mast arms in order to support left turn signals. Installation of the larger poles requires adjustment of the pole base location. Two trees are in conflict with the new signal poles. A Sweetgum tree is located at the Northeast corner of 5th Avenue and Walnut (Tree 2A), adjacent to the "5h Avenue Deli". The tree currently obscures the pedestrian indicator display and is located within the clear view area. Removal of the tree is estimated to cost $520. Sweetgum Tree (Tree 2A) NE corner of 5 Ave & Walnut A Locust tree is also recommended to be removed from this intersection. The Locust Tree is adjacent to the "Maid of Clover" in the Southwest corner of the intersection. Removal of this tree is estimated to cost $520. Locust Tree (Tree 2B); SW comer of 5`h Ave & Walnut Tree Removal Staff Report Page 2 of 3 Location 3: Front Street and Yakima Avenue Intersection The CBD Signal project will replace the signal poles at the intersection of Front Street and Yakima Avenue. The two signal poles on Front Street are very old and in poor condition. The mast arm signal poles on Yakima Avenue are substandard in the length of the arm. Upgrading the visibility of the traffic signals at this location is very important. This intersection experienced a total of 44 collisions between 1998 and 2000, with a collision rate of 2.04 accidents per Million Entering Vehicles (MEV). Due to the presence of the railroad crossing near the signal, it is very important to improve the safety of this intersection. The signal has railroad pre-emption to coordinate vehicle traffic with the presence of trains. Oak Tree (Tree 3) to be removed at Yakima Ave & Front St The Oak Tree (Tree 3) located in the Northwest corner of Yakima Avenue and Front Street (adjacent to the previous "Paper Station" store) needs to be removed in order to locate a larger traffic signal pole. The tree is currently very close to the pole base, which will need to be slightly adjusted in order to accommodate the new pole. Removal of the Oak Tree is estimated to cost $520. Recommendation Staff respectfully requests City Council authorization for removal of the five trees described in this report. Each of the five trees compromise traffic safety at arterial street intersections. Due to the location of these trees at the street intersections, none of the trees should be replaced. The City has a contract with a local, bonded tree service company for removal at a fixed rate. Total cost is estimated at $3620. Tree 1A: Catalpa Tree, NE corner of Lincoln & 8th St $780 Tree 1B: Maple Tree, NE corner of Lincoln & 8th St $1,300 Tree 2A: Sweetgum Tree, NE corner of Walnut & 5th Ave $520 Tree 2B: Locust Tree, SW corner of Walnut & 5th Ave $520 Tree 3: Oak Tree, NW corner of Front & Yakima $520 Tree Removal Staff Report Page 3 of 3 (ortFieast Yakima (ei9Fhorhiood Association Lynne Kittelson, President . 305 North Ninth Street . Yakima, WA 98901. 509-573-4927 Eg al## I313I� .1£I m mo#li m pop 1!! II€p€I III€�€f111 August 20, 2001 To: The Yakima City Council From: Lynne Kittelson, President NE Yakima Neighborhood Association Re: Trees and their removal Under the guise of the second WHEREAS in the Tree Removal Resolution, the City of Yakima plans the removal of five of our City's Public Trees "to improve vehicle safety" at the designated intersections. The fifth WHEREAS states that "the City Council deems it to be in the best interest of the City of Yakima to remove the subject trees"! We take exception to both statememts! Item 1: the removal of the two trees on the NE corner of East Lincoln and N. 8th Street: * these are well established trees that provide shade for the entire half block, * the Maple Tree is a large tree estimated to be 50 to 100 years old, * the smaller Catalpa Tree may well be in the clearview area, however, the documentation indicates 20 collisions (16 right angle) but gives no time period for this data. We maintain that the problem comes not from the trees obstructing the intersection, but a much greater problem -- SPEED and impatient drivers! Since the completion of the Lincoln / B Street couplet, we have a "race track" through our neighborhood on both streets of the couplet. The whole traffic pattern for the area, bounded by I-82 on the east, 8th Street on the west, Yakima Ave. on the South and Lincoln on the north, is a MESS! The problem begins on Yakima Ave. with the north/south exits from I-82. The traffic from both directions is channelled into the north curb lane -- a right turn only lane exiting at N. 9th Street. There is a very short distance between the end of the exit and 9th Street to change to the through lanes -- especially with the SPEED problem! Hence a major part of this traffic -- including log trucks and semi -trucks -- is directed onto residential N. 9th Street -- with a 25/MPH limit. This traffic then continues on N 9th Street to Lincoln. This senario compounds the problem on Lincoln. With heavy traffic on Lincoln plus all the traffic turning from 9th Street left onto Lincoln, at peak times combined with the excessive SPEED of a major portion of the westbound vehicles and driver impatience, the 20 collisions do not surprise me. That the removal of two beautiful, well-established trees is the City's solution to this major problem does. All Northeast Residents & Businesses Are Most Welcome to Become Members! OFFICERS Lynne Kittelson President Greg Bohn Vice President Mary Harris Acting Secretary -Treasurer BOARD OF DIRECTORS Betty Gaudette Mary Harris Art Prall Don Videgar Trees and their removal Page 2 The next problem -- again SPEED -- is a problem of the construction, designation and SPEED limits on the couplet itself * Westbound from the I-82 / Fair Ave. end of the couplet, the SPEED limit is 35/MPH with an arterial designation. * Approximately at the front of Office Max, the limit changes to 25/MPH continuing through to 8th Street with this section designated as residential. * At 8th Street, the designation is again becomes an arterial with a 35/MPH limit. * Most importantly, rarely does it appear that any drivers slow to the 25 mile limit for these two blocks and only a few even observing the 35 mile limit. The map submitted indicates the traffic patterns, the street designations and the speed limits for this area. The following diagram shows an additional problem withthe 8th and Lincoln intersection. On Lincoln east of the intersection there are two lanes of traffic while west of the intersection the street widens to accommodate I I three lanes. The Stop Bar is set back in relation to the { bicycle west sidewalk. lane stop The picture below was taken from approximately two feet Bar behind the Stop Bar. The car is immediately west of the North 8th Street intersection at 9th and Lincoln and is clearly visible. Lincoln sidewalk X X N subject trees The SPEED, the position of the Stop Bar and the lane configuration plus the residential/arterial confusion and the three block long 25/MPH limit all make this section of the area a problem. Trees and their removal Page 3 Looking west from Lincoln, these pictures show the offset between the east and west sides on the north side of the street. Repositioning the Stop Bar closer to the intersection would be an intermediate solution for the traffic southbound on 8th Street. It would certainly be a less drastic more cost effective measure to try before taking such a drastic step as the destruction of two beautiful, much needed shade trees. A four-way stop also needs to be considered to mitigate the "race track" scenario on Lincoln. We "deem it to be in the best interest of the Historic North(east) Yakima Neighborhood to preserve these valuable trees". They, as all the other trees in the northeast area and the whole city of Yakima, contribute to our quality of life. They also constitute an economic asset to the City and enhance that "image" that everyone is touting. They contribute especially to the quality of life for the pedestrians of Yakima. The time has come to give them equal consideration to the automobile (and their drivers). We ask that this "tree removal project" be put on hold until the "TRAFFIC MESS" herein described can be studied and evaluated. We additionally request the Northeast Neighborhood be included in the search for a long term solution to this major problem especially the excessive SPEED! Some needed information: * a current traffic count on Lincoln, * a current traffic count on N. 9th Street from Yakima Ave. * surveillance on both Lincoln and B Streets to clock the actual speed of the vehicles especially at the peak times, * a trial period with the Stop Bar moved since there is do marked crosswalk, and * a four-way stop or other traffic calming device placed at 8th Street (and possibly 6th Street). Thank you for your consideration of this request on behalf of the Historic North(east) Yakima Neighborhood. BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 11 For Meeting Of August 21, 2001 ITEM TITLE: Consideration of Resolution Authorizing City of Yakima Removal of Five Trees within the Right -of -Way of Three Arterial Street Intersections SUBMITTED BY: Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Shelley Willson, Streets and Traffic Manager Joan Davenport, Supervising Traffic Engine, SUMMARY EXPLANATION: The City of Yakima Traffic Engineering Division recommends a total of five trees be removed from street right of ways at the following arterial street intersections in order to improve traffic safety: Tree 1A: Catalpa Tree, NE corner of Lincoln & 8th St $780 Tree 1B: Maple Tree, NE corner of Lincoln & 8th St $1,300 Tree 2A: Sweetgum Tree, NE corner of Walnut & 5th Ave $520 Tree 2B: Locust Tree, SW corner of Walnut & 5th Ave $520 Tree 3: Oak Tree, NW corner of Front & Yakima $520 The attached staff report details the situation for each of these trees. Property owners adjoining these street trees have been notified of this City Council meeting and the staff recommendation for tree removal. Resolution X Ordinance _Contract _ Other (Specify) staff report including pictures Funding Source Street Maintenance bud p,e APPROVAL FOR SUBMITTAL: ity Manar STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends City Council approve resolution to authorize removal of the five trees specified in this report. BOARD RECOMMENDATION: COUNCIL ACTION: The resolution was amended to delete the maple tree at Lincoln and 8th Street from the removal list to do further analysis. The resolution as amended was adopted. RESOLUTION NO. R-2001-122