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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/21/2017 04Bii Crosswalk Proposal for Mead Avenue and South 10th AvenueBUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDASTATEMENT Item No. B.ii. For Meeting of: March 21, 2017 ITEM TITLE: Davis High School Civics Class Crosswalk Proposal for Mead Avenue/S 10th Avenue SUBMITTED BY: Dominic Rizzi, Chief of Police Scott Schafer, Public Works Director SUMMARY EXPLANATION: Students of the Davis High School Civics class have identified a traffic safety issue in the area of Lewis & Clark Middle School and Hoover Elementary School. Students have researched the issue and created a proposal to improve safety for students walking in the area. The attached report includes their research, findings, and proposal for a crosswalk at South 10th Avenue and Mead Avenue. ITEM BUDGETED: STRATEGIC PRIORITY: z1 Public Safety APPROVED FORcl*� SUBMITTAL: `City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: ATTACHMENTS: Description Upload Date Type D Datis HS cities class proposal 3/1612017 Go r Merno p - Alt Now Apk Adw Objective: Due to traffic and child safety concerns around Lewis & Clark middle school and Hoover elementary we the citizens need a school zone from 6th Ave through 14th Ave with a crosswalk installed on 10th Ave and Mead to protect our students and pedestrians. Problem: There are many students who try to cross the street on Mead Avenue, but have difficulty in doing so due to the speed limit and large amount of cars that pass by. All students who live in the district have to run or wait approximately 6-7 minutes while crossing on Mead. On December 13, 2016 only 2 cars in a 50 minute time period, willingly stopped to allow the crossing of students. There were on average 70-75 cars in a five minute observation period, there were 56 students who attempted to cross from 2:40 to 3: 30 pm. There were 11 students who chose to run across the street without waiting for a lapse in time to cross. In winter the roads are icy and the numbers of pedestrians are reduced however in fall and spring the number of students quadruples according to Many's Market located at 811 West Mead Ave. Meaning more students, no winter driving conditions and an increase in speed and possible injury to students. In winter cars still are traveling too fast for the road conditions preventing vehicles from stopping quickly. Interview Results of Problem: We interviewed citizens in our community about traffic and school safety around Lewis & Clark and Hoover Elementary schools, all of the interviews proved that traffic and school children safety is an issue on Mead from 3rd to 16th Ave. (See list of references) Surveys of students: We surveyed students who walk to Lewis & Clark Middle School and Hoover Elementary 90% of students agreed that traffic and school safety is an issue that needs to be solved .The missing percentage is non -applicable as not all students use this route or walk. Research Law: RCW 46.61.235 — Vehicles shall stop at intersections to allow pedestrians and bicycles to cross the road within a marked or unmarked crosswalk. There isn't any crosswalk on mead Ave so this law doesn't require cars to stop and let students cross the street; therefore allowing students to jaywalk. RCW 46.61.245 — Every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon any roadway and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary. This law doesn't help the pedestrian after the accident. RCW 46.61.240 can be used against the pedestrian if found to be jaywalking and driver made attempt to stop. RCW 46.61.240 -No pedestrian shall cross a roadway at an unmarked crosswalk where an official sign prohibits such crossing. This allows motor vehicles to not receive an infraction or citation if they can state the student just ran out in front of them and can be charged with only a negligent driving citation as in the case in Union Gap of 2016. Alternatives to help the problem: First Alternative: Install a Crosswalk with appropriate signs signaling pedestrian crossing on 10th Ave and Mead. Advantages of Alternative 1: Visible to the drivers, allows pedestrians to cross without jaywalking and is cost efficient. Disadvantages of Alternative 1: The crosswalk with signage can be found on 7th Ave and Tieton for Davis High School students. Students still have to wait for traffic, running to avoid injury, and drivers ignore the crosswalk. The crosswalk is not enforced by law and there is no repercussion unless a pedestrian is struck by a car. Second Alternative: School Zone Advantages: 20 MPH school zone would help alert drivers that there may be children walking in the area. Cars traveling at the speed of 20 MPH stop two seconds faster than a car traveling at 35 MPH. This would allow for slower traffic during times of student crossing. This is easier to enforce for local law enforcement. Disadvantages: There is no crosswalk for students to cross at, even though it would allow for slower traffic there is still no safe place to allow students to cross and make cars stop. Third: Speedometer Advantages: Alerts the driver to the speed he or she is travelling at, as located on 64th and Nob - Hill. If driver sees a visual of his or her speed they are more likely to slow their speed as the flashing lights alert the driver. Disadvantages: Drivers, especially teen drivers, will accelerate their speed to see how fast their car will go through it. Others do not recognize there are students still attempting to cross or become oblivious to the posting. Fourth: 4 -Way Stop Signs Advantages: It stops the traffic that is preventing the students from crossing. The vehicle is already stopped so it may allow the pedestrian to cross. Disadvantages: A simple $75 stop sign suddenly becomes a $500+ item. It will cause traffic build up/backup creating a possible hostile environment as students may take their time as evident on Walnut and 7th Ave by Davis High School. Fifth: Caution Signs Advantages: It is a bright yellow color so it may catch someone's attention. Signs are placed in a visible area. Signage clearly defines the areas that pedestrians may need to cross or students are in the area. Disadvantages: Again the signage becomes It may not be big enough for someone to spot right away. Something can obscure the view of the sign. Just alerts the driver someone may need to cross, not that they have to stop. Sixth: 25 mph on Mead Ave Advantages: If a pedestrian crosses abruptly, vehicle is expected to stop quicker than a car traveling at 35 mph. This is the set speed for Yakima for all streets not otherwise marked. Disadvantage: There will be drivers who will not follow the speed limit resulting in no significant change to the problem; meaning students will still not be able to cross the road safely. Traffic will be affected throughout day and night with an increase in congestion. Survey Results of Citizens Directly Affected: Our class surveyed citizens who live on Mead and parents of students who attend Hoover and LC schools and found over 94% were in favor of a crosswalk on 10 Ave with a school zone sign during school times. Overwhelmingly citizens did reject a four way stop from being placed on 10th Ave as well as a 25 mph zone being established. 4% were open to just a crosswalk and 2% were open to caution signs. Policy: When: Before the start of the next school year the citizens of Yakima would like to see some attempt made to fix the issue on Mead Ave for pedestrian safety; preferably a school zone and crosswalk. Where: We are requesting a speed sign of 20 mph to be placed on 6th and 14th Ave. This has been scientifically proven that a car going 20 mph will stop faster than a car going 35mph, and cross walk on 10th Ave will provide additional pedestrian safety. Why: We want to lower injury rates and traffic accidents on Mead Ave and prevent rather than react for the safety of the students and other pedestrians. How: This has helped in the past by making cars slow down. Cops are able to enforce a ticket that cannot be lowered in court, helping the city to be compensated for the cost of instillation of the crosswalk and school zone. Time: The second column times are represented by both elementary and middle school start times. The third column is the end time for middle schools and the fourth column is the elementary schools zone end time. Sunday -N/A- -N/A- -N/A- Monday 7:30a.m-8:45a.m 1:30p.m-1:55p.m 2:10p.m-2:40p.m Tuesday 7:30a.m-8:45a.m 2:30p.m-2:55p.m 3:10p.m-3:35p.m Wednesday 7:30a.m-8:45a.m 2:30p.m-2:55p.m 3:10p.m-3:35p.m Thursday 7:30a.m-8:45a.m 2:30p.m-2:55p.m 3:10p.m-3:35p.m Friday 7:30a.m-8:45a.m 2:30p.m-2:55p.m 3:10p.m-3:35p.m Saturday -N/A- -N/A- -N/A- Benefit/Common Good: It is the job of government to help protect the people as much as it is the job of the people to participate in Civics and help bring attention to issues that may hurt the citizens. We work as one to establish a safe community for everyone. There will be some opposition to the proposal as Mead is the only street without stoplights or speed restrictions; however at the potential cost of lives it does not compare to minor inconveniences of arriving 14 seconds later to your destination. Sincerely, A.C. Davis Students 3rd Period Civics Class Interview References: • Belinda Allred -Civics teacher at AC Davis High School • Jack Iron- Superintendent of Yakima School District • Chief Dominic Rizzi Jr. -Chief police of Yakima • Luz Juarez -Stump -Principal at Hoover Elementary School • Alej andra Rodriguez -Assistant Principal at Hoover Elementary School • Maria Urena- College Prep Advisor at AC Davis High School • Lora Nava- Selah Medical Nurse • Mamie Barboza- Executive Administrator of epic • Armando Gonzalez -Pastor • Sandra Ramos- Child Development teacher at AC Davis High School • Jorge Herrera- Math Teacher at Ac Davis high school • Gabriela Rodriguez -Parent • Lisa Garcia- Biology teacher at AC Davis high school • Vanessa bravo- Parent • Maria Silva- Parent • Norma Calderon -Parent • SRO lyn Thorn -Officer at AC Davis high school • Emilia Miller —Parent • Dana lybeck-math teacher at AC Davis high school • Sonia Bahena- teacher assistant • Gerardo Galins-student assistance professional -Parent- active community participant • Keith Johnson —Security at AC Davis high school • Diane Main- IB Coordinator English teacher at AC Davis high school Students: ALCALA-BENAVIDES DANIEL, CALIXTRO LIZBETH V, CHAVEZ-CERDA ADRIAN, CORDOVA BRIANA G, CORTES BIANKA M, DELGADO BENITEZ LETICIA, FARIAS DAISY M, GARCIA ORTIZ ABIGAIL, GOMEZ YESENIA M, JIMENEZ GUEVARA MARIA S, LOPEZ NATALIE E, MEZA NUNO OSCAR A MONTIEL LOPEZ LUCID A, OJEDA MAYRA, OROZCO ALEXA M, ORTIZ MARTIN, ROBLEDO-VELADOR SARAI , RODRIGUEZ ALEXIZ , SERRANO SALGADO JAVIER , SILVA ISRAEL, SOLIS FABIAN G, TAPIA ESEQUIEL L, TORRES ARACELI , and VALENCIA-HARO EMILY Distributed at thip Meeting 3 al / 7 �{ 0iii 3/21/2017 Yakima Valley SunDome Event Days 617c Increase Y A K I M A V A L L E Y 150 �vNDOME 125 118 126 2016 YE Report for 100 ■2015 75 City of Yakima ■2016 50 v STATES FAIR FAM SUND0IV�' Total Attendance Visitors from Outside 50+ We Radius 4% �` 411 40 30%T e9000 0 0 458,487 00,00 440,781/ 2016 0 r2016 � 201 � :� :, Q SUNDOIVj '. SUNDOME Lodging Room Nights Estimated Economic Impact s0000 18,213 15,445 28%+ 15000 10000 $15.1 mil $19.4 mil 8%T Ift 5000 2015 2016 A SUHDOMEa , SUHDOME 2015 2016 £ 1 3/21/2017 Events WA Music Educators Assn Increases Attributed to the Following Held at the Yakima Valley Sunibme at multiple other facilities 1 WA Music Educators Assn Biennial Conference Attendees outside 50+[Hiles z Bernie Sanders Presidential Campaign 4 3 Celtic Woman Concert Yam} 21000 a Banda MS Concert �� ;i-t�f�•� � ��� 5 Central WA State Fair A Bernie Sanders Democratic Presidential Campaign WIAA 1A/2A Boys&Girls Basketball a 4 �r rry Estitnated attendees Tickets/ppl outside_50+miles 1,050 ouWde50+miles 6,400 WIAA Dance&Drill Banda IBIS Tickets/ppl Tickets/ppl outside 50+miles 31900 outside 50+miles 2,520 2 3/21/2017 2 488/Wen Website User Origin °'�'"` •-+- ^-� Website User Involvement �' from Seattle ,91 /a - fl � , ' 30 ►w. 19% t Accounts for 34% 145,262 122,195 016 c�Rve6 esoo ' 2016 / ': 2p ..,.�.. gas Hemd21 eroa .. 111/MINan•Freeweter - o R i ' PACnet '16/PollStar Live/IAVM/IAFE HAItf!'I PARK International Association of Venue Managers E 1[ e ` :... , 2016 NETWORK! 8 LIVE fYFHiS A GLIMPSE OF 2 O 17 EVENTS �i �♦v ��� X ♦10 J.�S�t�0 Y A K I M A VALLEYSUNDORIE O `QyNO BOG � ■ NEW MEDIA' 3 3/21/2017 WIAA STATE 1A/2A CHAMPIONSHIPS FEBRUARY 25, 2017 EVENT MARCH 1-4, 2017 ;�.. _. 7,200 OUTSIDE 38,000 TOTAL ATTENDANCE Outside 50+Ti miles 3 t. "4 50+ MILES 1600 _.._.._.... a"ttC 1400 i A 1200 f 800 •Outside _ ,rr 50+ _ 800 i-- miles e YAKII A VALLEY Attendees SUNDOME MARCH 12, 2017 EVENT MARCH 15, 2017 EVENT Attendees/Tickets Tlckets/Attendees Outside 50+Miles Outside 50+miles p; st 1600 1200 1400 1000 -- - 1200 " • 00 600 .Outside 600 } ._.._......_ r.._.......... 600 es 400.................. ............ s, za,. Attendees MORE MARCH 2O17 EVENTS UPCOMING APRIL 2017 EVENTS WIAA DANCE AND DRILL MARCH 24-28wr r � i 1 � •N� � .. Wes. M ♦ s i O r 4 3/21/2017 UPCOMING MAY 2017 EVENTS THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT YAKIMA VALLEY SUNDOME Y A K I M A V A L L E Y summms F StIMIOK 5