Yellow Timing and the Grand Jury Report

On Monday June 16th, the Ventura County Grand Jury released a report about the City of Ventura’s and the City of Oxnard’s red light camera enforcement programs. Overall, the Grand Jury concluded that red light cameras programs are effective in enforcing traffic law and reducing collisions and that the City should continue to use red light cameras as an enhancement to traditional enforcement.

The report also found that all of the intersections they reviewed in the City of Ventura met or exceeded the State of California required yellow interval clearance times. However, the report did question the yellow timing at the intersection of Thompson Boulevard and California Street. The issue raised is that the yellow time for California Street at Thompson Boulevard is not the same as the other yellow lights along California Street. There are specific engineering reasons this is the case such as a different pedestrian environment and unique traffic conditions within the intersections in the downtown core area.

The yellow time is calculated so that there is enough time for a vehicle to travel the safe stopping distance needed by a reasonable driver and enter the intersection before it turns red. The yellow intervals are based on the speed limit. In this case the speed limit of 25 mph (speed limit on California Street) calculates to a yellow time of 3.0 seconds; that is what the City provides.

Increasing beyond the recommended yellow change intervals decrease the efficiency of the intersection. We are reviewing the yellow times for all of the intersections in the vicinity and determine if any appropriate changes will be made. If a change is made to the California Street at Thompson Boulevard intersection we will need to consult with Caltrans since a decrease in efficiency of the signal timing would affect the freeway offramp.

Bike to Work Week

Bike to Work Day on May 14 offers pit stop for free snacks, raffle & tune up

Bicyclists are invited to a “Pit Stop/Energy Station” on Thursday, May 14 from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Santa Clara and California Streets in celebration of Bike to Work Day. The energy station offers new and regular riders a stop on the way to their destination for morning refreshments and a chance to celebrate together. Cyclo-commuters may also receive a free mini-tune-up on their bicycle and enter a raffle for great prizes.

City staff will be at the event Thursday morning to greet cyclists and distribute information on bike lockers available at the city’s downtown parking structure on Santa Clara Street. In addition, bicyclists will have an opportunity to provide input on the placement of over 100 bike racks and bollards be installed throughout the city. “The bike racks are a way to promote cycling and contribute to the general bike-friendliness of Ventura”, said City Transportation Manager Tom Mericle. If there is a specific location that you would like to see a bike rack installed, you may suggest a location at our bicycle link at www.cityofventura.net or by e-mailing biking@cityofventura.net.

California Bike Commute Week is a project of the California Bicycle Coalition, a non-profit bicycle advocacy organization and sponsored by the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS). May is National Bike to Work Month and May 11- 15 is Bike to Work Week. Ride share agencies, employers, bicycle advocacy groups, bike shops and others who support bicycle transportation in our community have organized other special activities locally.

Ventura’s event supports the city’s 2005 General Plan goal to improve mobility by accommodating bicyclists and pedestrians. Opportunities to bike, walk, and use public transit instead of automobiles also help keep the air clean and reduce greehouse gas emissions. The City reminds bicyclists to follow traffic rules and always wear a helmet. Have your bicycle checked out by a local bike shop to ensure safety when you ride and look for a safe bike route with wide travel lanes and low traffic. You can follow City bicycling activities on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VenturaBike.

Reductions in Transportation Funding

Gold Coast Transit (GCT) and the City are working on solving some serious budget issues with transportation funding. The adoption of the State budget cut a little more than $1.5M in transit funding for the County. These State Transit Assistance funds are mostly used for funding Metrolink services. The Ventura County Transportation Commission will be considering the potential to cut Metrolink and other countywide services to make up this difference. Those cuts would also affect GCT service in Ventura.

In addition, since sales tax revenue is down because of the economy, there is a large reduction in transit funding (which is funded from a portion of the sales tax in California). The City will be receiving about $700k less for next year than this current year. All of this adds up to an approximately $1.2 million shortfall in transit funding for the City if we were to maintain the current transit service levels.

To make up the difference, the City is working with GCT at potential service modifications. These modifications include cutting Route 12 (Downtown harbor Shuttle), and cutting back on service to Routes 6, 10/11, and 16.

This issue will be discussed with the City Council and GCT Board sometime in the next few months to see where we will go. Stay tuned....

The State of Transportation Funding

The recent passage of a budget in California coupled with the economic downturn marks a big reduction in funding for local transit services.

The state's budget eliminates as major source of funding for transit operations for a period of 5 years beginning with the second half of this fiscal year. These State Transit Assistance (STA) funds are designated for use by regional and local agencies to fund transit services. Currently the county uses the majority of STA funds allocated in the county for operation of the Metrolink commuter rail service (approximately $3.2 Million). With the elimination of the state funding the burden to fund Metrolink falls on local agencies.

A statewide sales tax of 1/4% (TDA funds) currently provides much of the funding for local transit service. This funding source will now have to also be used to fund Metrolink service. Unfortunately the local agencies have no say in the funding of Metrolink because this service is funded by the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and they have the legal authority to take funding from the TDA fund pot "off the top" prior to distributing any of it to the local agencies. This is occurring at a time when the TDA funds are also decreasing because of the economy.

In the City of Ventura we fund local transit by paying for service through Gold Coast Transit using our local share of TDA funds. If VCTC pulls $3.2 M of TDA funding off the top and with the reduced funding due to the economy, we will have %700,000 less in available funds for next year. This will surely result in reduces transit service. Stay tuned.....

NEW Bus Service on Thompson Boulevard

Beginning next week the Gold Coast Transit Route 16 service will be moving to Thompson Boulevard from Main Street. The Route 6a and 6b service will remain on Main Street. There is also a move of the VISTA Coastal Express bus service to a new combined stop at Thompson/Oak to improve service connections.

The VISTA stop was also needed because of the following things:

1. The VISTA buses don’t fit in the existing stop location and it is difficult for them to maneuver through the narrow streets.
2. Reduce commuter parking impacts on downtown businesses
3. Reduce impact of paid parking implementation on VISTA commuters

The City is moving the existing shelter as well as adding an additional shelter with the next shelter project that is funded for later this year. The existing lighting on Thompson Boulevard is being evaluated and any suggested changes will be forwarded to SCE.

There are two parking lots on Oak Street that can be used; one allows all day parking and lightly used. The other lot is currently 4-hour parking. The City will be evaluating the impact and adjusting time restrictions as needed.

Neighborhood Traffic Management Program Closeout

As a part of this fiscal year budget the City Council eliminated the City's Neighborhood Traffic Management Program. There were several projects in process that are in the final stages of being completed. The status is as follows:

Anacapa Estates - A letter and final postcard survey was sent out and we are awaiting the response from the community to determine if the speed cushions should remain permanent or be removed. As of this morning, we have received 24% of the surveys back with almost 88% stating they want the cushions to become permanent. The final determination will be made by the City Council on October 6, 2008.

N. Saticoy Avenue - A letter and final postcard survey was sent out and we are awaiting the response from the community to determine if the speed cushions should remain permanent or be removed. As of this morning, we have received 50% of the surveys back with almost 81% stating they want the cushions to become permanent.The final determination will be made by the City Council on October 6, 2008

Ocean Avenue - The 6 month trial period is underway. Once the trial period is complete a before-after analysis will be completed and surveys will be sent to the property owners to ask their opinion on the cushions.

Halifax Street - The 6 month trial period is underway. Once the trial period is complete a before-after analysis will be completed and surveys will be sent to the property owners to ask their opinion on the cushions.

All other NTMP projects have been eliminated.