For City Council Meeting [November 15, 2022]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Marcus Fuller, City Manager
FROM: Alberto Paiva, P.E., Director of Engineering Services/City Engineer
Title
Request City Council to (1) Receive and Approve the 2022 City Wide Truck Route Study and (2) Set a Public Hearing for December 13, 2022, to Consider Adopting an Interim Urgency Ordinance to Restrict Truck Traffic on Certain Segments of City Roadways Proposed to be Decommissioned as Truck Routes.
POWERPOINT
(ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND
To accommodate the large volumes of truck traffic for businesses and growth in industrial and distribution sectors, the City of Rialto has designated City arterials and roadways as Truck Routes per the City’s 2010 General Plan. This network was developed to facilitate commercial vehicles/trucks for goods movement along strategic corridors to minimize impacts on collector and local streets, and to protect the residential neighborhoods from truck traffic.
Since, the last Truck Route evaluation was completed there has been substantial growth and developments within the City. This includes residential, shopping centers, and major growth in industrial and distribution sectors. With major distribution centers and "big box" type warehouses at full operation, many roadways have seen an increase in heavy truck traffic traveling in designated truck routes, as well as residential and non-industrial areas where trucks are prohibited.
In addition, a moratorium was previously enacted by City Council for truck traffic on Ayala Drive between the 210 Freeway and Baseline Road within the Renaissance Specific Plan. This moratorium was extended multiple times before ultimately expiring.
The City of Rialto’s Municipal Code, Chapter 10.40, “Trucks”, addresses trucks routes. This includes guidance, resolutions, requirements, and policies to designate truck routes; as well as prohibiting trucks on certain streets. Any updates to existing Truck Routes will adhere to the City’s Municipal Code with City Council’s review and approval.
The City of Rialto continues to experience substantial growth as new developments arise in the industrial and distribution sectors. With major distribution centers at full operation, many roadways have seen an increase in heavy truck traffic traveling in designated truck routes, as well as residential and non-industrial areas where trucks are prohibited.
To keep up with the growth of developments, there are posted truck route signage in some areas that are not consistent with the latest approved Truck Route per the City’s 2010 General Plan. This study documents the inconsistencies, evaluates these routes as well as proposed routes, and analyzes current vehicle and truck traffic volumes. Overall, this study will update the City’s existing Truck Route arterials per the General Plan, including a new truck route map and recommended truck route signage for truck drivers and to be used for enforcement by the Rialto Police Department.
This updated Truck Route Study incorporates related requirements, standards, and guidance from the City of Rialto’s Municipal Code, Chapter 10.40, “Trucks", the California Manual and Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD), and the California Vehicle Code (CVC). With the approval of the study from City Council, the City will formally adopt and/or change specific Truck Routes, which shall be incorporated as an amendment to the City's General Plan. In addition, if approved, staff recommends that the City Council set a public hearing for December 13, 2022, to consider and adopt an Interim Urgency Ordinance to restrict truck traffic on the segments of City roadways proposed to be decommissioned as truck routes.
Accordingly, on November 10, 2020, the City Council awarded a Professional Services Agreement to ADVANTEC Consulting Engineers to conduct a Citywide Speed Survey and Truck Route Study. Their Truck Route Study was completed in September 2022 and will serve as the formal documentation and justification for the updated Truck Routes citywide. A copy of the Truck Route Study is included as Attachment 1.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The Truck Route Study incorporates related requirements, standards, and guidance from the City of Rialto’s Municipal Code, Chapter 10.40, “Trucks", the CAMUTCD, and the CVC.
Truck routes provide legal access for legal load trucks to travel through the City with no specific destination within the City (i.e. trucks can pass through the City on these streets).
State law allows trucks with an origination or destination point within the City to use any public street provided the route is the shortest trip to or from a truck route.
The truck route study considered these facts and evaluated whether any existing truck routes should be decommissioned (removed) or added (new).
Relevant sections of the City's Municipal Code are excerpted below.
Chapter 10.40 TRUCKS
10.40.010 Routes.
A. Whenever any resolution of this city designates and describes any street or portion thereof as a street the use of which is permitted by any vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight limit of five tons, the city engineer is authorized to designate such street or streets by appropriate signs as "truck routes" for the movement of vehicles exceeding a maximum gross weight limit of five tons.
B. When any such truck route or routes are established and designated by appropriate signs the operator of any vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight limit of five tons shall drive on such route or routes and none other except that nothing in this section prohibits the operator of any vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight of five tons coming from a "truck route" having ingress and egress by direct route to and from restricted streets when necessary for the purpose of making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares and merchandise from or to any building or structure located on such restricted streets or for the purpose of delivering materials to be used in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling or construction of any building or structure upon such restricted streets for which a building permit has previously been obtained therefor.
C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
1. Passenger buses under the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission.
2. Any vehicle owned by a public utility while necessarily in use in the construction, installation or repair of any public utility.
3. The parking or storing of a commercial vehicle on a residential lot that has been approved by a conditional development permit of the planning commission under the provisions of Section 18.58.040(C)(6).
D. Those streets and parts of streets established by resolution of the council are declared to be truck routes for the movement of vehicles exceeding a maximum gross weight of five tons
10.40.020 Commercial vehicles prohibited on certain streets.
A. Whenever any resolution of this city designates and describes any street or portion thereof as a street the use of which is prohibited by any commercial vehicle, the city engineer shall erect and maintain appropriate signs on those streets affected by such ordinance.
B. Those streets and parts of streets established by resolution of the council are declared to be streets, the use of which is prohibited by any commercial vehicle towing a trailer and by any commercial vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight limit of ten thousand pounds is prohibited.
C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
1. Passenger buses under the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission;
2. Any vehicle owned by a public utility while necessarily in use in the construction, installation or repair of any public utility;
3. The parking or storing of a commercial vehicle on a residential lot that has been approved by a conditional development permit of the planning commission under the provisions of Section 18.58.040(C)(6).
As discussed at the last EDC meeting, existing and new truck routes were discussed and evaluated. As a result, the following summarizes the recommended truck routes:
• Decommission (Eliminate)
o Ayala Drive from I-210 freeway to Baseline Road (restore expired moratorium)
o Pepper Avenue from I-210 freeway to Rialto Avenue
o Slover Avenue from Cactus Avenue to Riverside Avenue
o Santa Ana Avenue between west city limits and east city limits
• Add (New)
o Foothill Boulevard between Maple Avenue and Cedar Avenue
o Arrow Boulevard between Maple Avenue and Cedar Avenue
o Agua Mansa Road between south city limits and Riverside Avenue
If approved, Staff recommends that the City Council set a public hearing for December 13, 2022, to consider and adopt an Interim Urgency Ordinance to restrict truck traffic on the segments of City roadways proposed to be decommissioned as truck routes:
• Ayala Drive from I-210 freeway to Baseline Road
• Pepper Avenue from I-210 freeway to Rialto Avenue
• Slover Avenue from Cactus Avenue to Riverside Avenue
• Santa Ana Avenue between west city limits and east city limits
With the approval of the study from City Council, the City will formally adopt and/or change specific Truck Routes, which shall be incorporated as an amendment to the City's General Plan.
The Rialto Police Department will rely upon the document to enforce the established truck routes.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The requested City Council action is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a “Project” does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
The City of Rialto has outlined key Goals and Objectives through which the City looks to minimize congestion on the local road network, create opportunities and incentives for people to avoid use of their cars for short trips and maintain a circulation system that supports local businesses’ needs. These efforts will contribute to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to State mandates.
The City of Rialto has outlined goals and policies in their general plan for facilitating the movement of goods along its corridors. These include:
Goal 4-10: Provide a circulation system position as a logistics hub.
Policy 4-10.1: Designate and enforce truck routes for use by commercial trucking as part of the project approval process.
Policy 4-10.2: Coordinate truck routes with adjacent jurisdictions.
Policy 4-10.3: Develop appropriate noise mitigation along truck routes to minimize noise impacts on nearby sensitive land uses.
Policy 4-10.4: Encourage the development of adequate on-site loading areas to minimize interference of truck loading activities with efficient traffic circulation on adjacent roadways.
Policy 4-10.5: Work with appropriate law enforcement agencies to regulate speed on Riverside Avenue to minimize conflicts between high-speed private vehicles and lower-speed truck traffic.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and supports this staff report and Interim Urgency Ordinance.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
The City’s Maintenance and Facilities Department will install truck route signage as recommended. There will be approximately 80 new signs installed on Foothill Boulevard between Maple Avenue and Cedar Avenue, Arrow Boulevard between Maple Avenue and Cedar Avenue, and Agua Mansa Road between south city limits and Riverside Avenue.
The cost to install signage is estimated at a cost of $16,000. Funding is available in the General Fund, Maintenance and Facilities Traffic Safety Division Account Number 010-500-7308-2021.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
There is no impact to the Capital Improvement Budget.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
• Receive and Approve the 2022 City Wide Truck Route Study.
• Set a Public Hearing for December 13, 2022, to Consider Adopting an Interim Urgency Ordinance to Restrict Truck Traffic on Certain Segments of City Roadways Proposed to be Decommissioned as Truck Routes.