For Transportation Commission Special Meeting [December 11, 2019]
TO: Honorable Chairperson and Commission
APPROVAL: Sean Grayson, Acting Public Works Director
FROM: Azzam Jabsheh, P.E., T.E., Associate Engineer
Title
Focused Traffic Impact Analysis - Warehouse Development on the Northeast Corner of Baseline Road and Palmetto Avenue.
(ACTION ITEM)
Body
BACKGROUND:
On August 1, 2019, the first scoping agreement was submitted for the proposed warehouse development at the northeast corner of Baseline Road and Palmetto Avenue. The 1st TIA was submitted on September 3, 2019, it was reviewed and review comments prepared. On September 24, 2019 a revised 2nd TIA was submitted along with a response matrix to address review comments made. The project proposed is a warehouse development with a total of 92,620 square feet. Proposed completion is estimated to be 2021.
The site location is shown on Page 5 of the TIA in Figure 1-2, which is included as Attachment 1, while the site plan is shown on Page 2 in Figure 1-1 of the TIA, which is included as Attachment 2.
The proposal is for one driveway onto Baseline Road and one driveway Palmetto Avenue. The driveway onto Baseline Road are proposed as right in/right out access only. The Palmetto Avenue driveway is proposed as full access. Both driveways will be used for both trucks and cars. Driveways are not fully dimensioned but the turning templates in the TIA show the Palmetto Avenue driveway to be 30 feet with 25-foot radius returns while the Baseline Road driveway is 40 feet wide with 25-foot radius curb returns. The north side of Baseline Road and the east side of Palmetto Avenue are yet to be developed with curb, gutter and sidewalk, which will be required as a part of this project. The west side of Palmetto Avenue is the City of Fontana as the dividing line is the centerline of Palmetto Avenue. The west side of Palmetto Avenue is undeveloped to the northerly limit of this project and fully developed north of the north property line of this project as residential property without access to Palmetto Avenue.
The trip impacts were estimated using data from ITE land use 150 - Warehouse - 9th Edition. Trips are shown on Page 50 Table 4-1 of the TIA, which is included as Attachment 3. Project daily trips from this development are estimated at 554 trips with the AM/PM peak hour being 45/49 in PCE trips.
Traffic and intersection counts provided were collected in August 2019. This project has been to DRC for Preliminary Review on July 17, 2019 and will receive conditions upon final review.
This site is in the Renaissance Specific Plan Area and appears to comply with zoning on the property.
The TIA identified one intersection operating at an unacceptable LOS with existing plus project and the same intersection at a lower level of service with the project and cumulative projects in 2021. Additionally, Alder roadway segments would exceed capacity in 2021 with cumulative traffic. The TIA did not include a specific roadway segment analysis but Alder Avenue from the westbound SR-210 south to Baseline Road will exceed the capacity of a four-lane roadway in terms of PCE trips and Baseline Road will exceed its four-lane capacity as well. The TIA has included fair share contributions to address this issue
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
The TIA analysis used 9th Edition ITE trip rates for the anticipated land use which is consistent with the Renaissance Specific Plan Traffic Analysis. The TIA analyzed forecast peak hour intersection operations to determine potential impacts on peak hour level of service for the anticipated 2021 opening year.
The TIA did include other proposed projects in the area and did show impacts at intersections that would be considered significant based on City policy. Impacts can be partially mitigated with improvements.
2021 traffic plus Project conditions indicates one intersection and the Alder Avenue/Baseline Road roadway segments impacted by this development when combined with cumulative growth and background traffic growth (LOS E or F). These recommended improvements are shown on page 77. Page 9, Table 1-2 lists mitigations along with fair share estimates. From other TIA’s, we know that traffic along Alder Avenue from Renaissance Parkway to the E/B SR 210, the ADT is projected to be 55,800 trips, between Renaissance Parkway and Walnut Avenue, 44,600 and dropping to 33,500 trips between Miro Way and Baseline Road. Per adopted City policy, over 33,000 trips on a four-lane facility would be LOS E and should be mitigated. Prior to 2013, the SBCTA’s CMP list of projects included widening of Alder Avenue to 6-lanes as a part of the regional improvements. Along with changes initiated by the Renaissance Specific Plan, the CMP list was altered by Rialto to reduce Alder Avenue to a four-lane facility. According to the projections in this and other TIA’s in the area, the roadway requires 6-lanes in order to meet the LOS of D or better at some point in the future. Baseline Road projections for 2021 are 32,000 or only 1000 vehicles short of being LOS E. Baseline Road in both the General Plan and Renaissance Specific Plan calls for median islands and all projects along Baseline Road in Renaissance have been conditioned to construct the median. The median exists east of Alder Avenue and is currently conditioned on three projects west of Alder Avenue with this project being the fourth. The TIA proposed mitigation of the impacts is with the payment of fair share payments of $38,124 improvements. The improvements and fair share costs are shown on pages 9 in Table 1-2, which are included as Attachment 4. The fair share will be in addition to the Renaissance Specific Plan Traffic Fee and the City’s other Traffic Development Impact Fees. Fair share fees are inclusive if improvements partially in Fontana or within Caltrans jurisdictions but as shown as paid to Rialto as Rialto will be the lead agency in initiating those improvements.
One of the listed mitigations is the installation of a traffic signal at Baseline Road/Palmetto Avenue. This location is also a shared intersection with the City of Fontana responsible for 75% of the intersection. Previous TIA’s have shown the need for a traffic signal at Baseline Road and Tamarind Avenue which is approximately 1,300 feet east of Palmetto Avenue and is also shared 50/50 with Fontana. Baseline Road/Tamarind Avenue is number one on the traffic signal prioritization list and did meet signal warrants in 2016 when the location was considered in the updated priority list and likely would be constructed before a signal at Baseline Road/Tamarind Avenue.
Conclusion
Staff was provided the first version of the TIA for this Project on August 1, 2019. The second version of the TIA was submitted on September 24, 2019 along with a response matrix. This project is conditioned to complete roadway improvements adjacent to the project site. Intersections studied are projected to operate at LOS D or better with improvements. The TIA concludes that payment of fair share fees along with other traffic impact fees and construction of site adjacent roadway improvements are adequate mitigation measures. The study implies Alder Avenue and Baseline Road will eventually be required to be 6 lanes unless a higher LOS is to be permitted.
The project appears to be consistent with zoning and the General Plan.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff requests that the Transportation Commission:
• Set final conditions and recommendations related to approval.
• Recommend dedication for Baseline Road for a 60-foot half width right of way for ultimate 6-lane facility.
• Recommend construction of the median island in Baseline Road with appropriate payback for other developments that share responsibility
• Accept a fair share contribution of $38,124, construction of site adjacent improvements and payment of applicable development impact fees as adequate mitigation.
• Recommend approval to the City Council.