HomeMy WebLinkAbout01. Truck Route Firestone
AGENDA MEMO
DATE:
September 28, 2010
TO:
Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Office of the City Manager
By: John Oskoui, P.E., Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: FIRESTONE BOULEVARD BRIDGE OVER THE SAN GABRIEL RIVER –
AMEND DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE 3179 (c)(4) – TITLED TRUCK
ROUTES / FIRESTONE BOULEVARD
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council introduce:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL AMENDING SECTION 3179 (c)(4) –
TITLED TRUCK ROUTES / FIRESTONE BOULEVARD OF THE DOWNEY
MUNICIPAL CODE
.
BACKGROUND
The Firestone Boulevard Bridge over the San Gabriel River was constructed by the
State of California in 1934. At that time, two traffic lanes in each direction were
constructed. In 1949, the state added two lanes in order to provide a higher level of
service and improved traffic flow. In 1994, the state relinquished ownership of the
bridge to the cities of Downey and Norwalk with each city owning the half of the bridge
within their respective city boundaries, which in this case is the center of the San
Gabriel River.
Inspection and maintenance activities are the responsibilities of the two Cities.
Currently the Cities contract with the County of Los Angeles, Department of Public
Works to provide these services. Personnel from the County and/or their consultants
inspect the structure every two years and provide documentation in the form of a written
report and pictures formalizing the findings and recommendations for maintenance
activities.
Repairs to the bridge, based on the recommendations in the biannual report, are the
responsibilities of the Cities. The City of Downey includes the estimated repair costs in
the Capital Improvement Program portion of the City’s budget. The repair work is
typically performed by the County Department of Public Works Road Maintenance
Division under the General Services Agreement between the cities of Downey and
Norwalk, and the County.
DISCUSSION:
At a meeting held on August 26 at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
Road Maintenance Division Hollydale Yard, the City was informed that the load rating
for the Firestone Bridge was being reduced from forty (40) tons to twenty (20) tons. Due
CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
Mayor and Members of the City Council
Firestone Boulevard Bridge Over the San Gabriel River
September 28, 2010
Page 2
to concerns for public safety, temporary programmable electric sign boards and
permanent signs were installed to inform the public and truck drivers of the new weight
limit restrictions for the bridge. California Vehicle Code Section 35754 allows the local
authority to temporarily erect, for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days, suitable signs
at all entrances to a bridge specifying the maximum weight that it is believed the bridge
will safely sustain.
The electric sign boards were installed on the truck routes approaching the bridge on
st
August 31. The permanent signs, which were a special order from a local sign
thth
manufacturer, were installed between September 13 and 15. The electric sign
boards and permanent signs were installed on Firestone Boulevard, Stewart and Gray
Road, and Regentview Avenue.
On September 8, 2010, the City received the County’s official report on the condition of
the bridge. Due to the results of their inspection, testing and load carrying capacity
analysis, the County has confirmed that the bridge be posted for a weight limit of twenty
(20) tons. This weight restriction will result in fully loaded tractor-trailer trucks and
overweight permit loads, as well as heavily loaded commercial vehicles not being
allowed over the bridge. This weight restriction will remain in place for up to four (4)
years until the bridge can be replaced.
The Public Works Department and the Police Department have been working together
to ensure that adequate and correctly worded signage is in place to allow the Police
officers to cite those drivers that do not follow the new weight restrictions. The City has
also been coordinating with the City of Norwalk and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs
Department to ensure that similar signage and enforcement efforts are being
addressed.
In order to restrict vehicles with a weight exceeding twenty (20) tons from utilizing the
bridge, the City Council must amend the section of the Downey Municipal Code (DMC)
that deals with truck routes within the City. Section 3179 deals specifically with truck
routes and subsection (c) identifies those streets and parts of streets that have been
declared to be truck routes. Subsection (c)(4), more specifically, identifies Firestone
Boulevard as a truck route.
In order to allow the City to limit the weight of vehicles using the bridge and to provide
an enforcement tool for our Police Department that will allow officers to cite drivers
whose vehicles exceed the weight limit, the portion of Firestone between the bridge and
Stewart and Gray Road must be eliminated as an approved truck route. The proposed
Ordinance will revise the DMC to limit the Firestone Boulevard truck route to that
section between Stewart and Gray Road and the west City limit. The ordinance will
become effective thirty (30) days following the adoption by the City Council.
Mayor and Members of the City Council
Firestone Boulevard Bridge Over the San Gabriel River
September 28, 2010
Page 3
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The cost for the rental of the six (6) electronic message boards amounts to approximately
$10,000. The message boards are expected to be removed by the end of September
2010. To date, approximately $2,000 has been spent for the permanent signs that were
installed by Public Works Department staff. It is expected that additional permanent signs
will be required as feedback from the public and the Police Department is addressed.
The City’s FY 2010/11 Capital Improvement Program, includes Miscellaneous Bridge
Repairs (Account No. 26-1-6624), which is being utilized to pay for this project.
Attachment:
Ordinance
Affidavit of Noticing
S:\AgendaMemosCC2010\09-28-10\Firsetone Bridge Introduce Ord.
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY AMENDING
SECTION 3179 OF THE DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE
WHEREAS
, in 1934, the State of California constructed the four lane Firestone
Boulevard Bridge over the San Gabriel River; and
WHEREAS
, in 1949, the State of California added two lanes to the structure in order to
provide a higher level of service and improved traffic flow; and
WHEREAS
, in 1994, the State of California relinquished ownership of the bridge to the
cities of Downey and Norwalk with each city owning the half of the bridge within their respective
city boundaries, which is the center of the San Gabriel River; and
WHEREAS
, the cities of Downey and Norwalk contract with the County of Los Angeles,
Department of Public Works to provide biannual bridge and roadway inspection and
maintenance services under the General Services Agreement between the cities and the
County; and
WHEREAS
, on September 8, 2010, the City of Downey received the County’s latest
report on the condition of the Firestone Boulevard Bridge; and
WHEREAS,
the County is recommending posting the bridge for a weight limit of 20
(twenty) tons; and
WHEREAS
, this weight restriction will result in fully loaded tractor-trailer trucks and
overweight permit loads, as well as heavily loaded commercial vehicles not being allowed over
the bridge; and
WHEREAS
, Section 35750 (b) of the California Vehicle Code allows the city council of a
city to determine the maximum weight of vehicles and loads, lower than the maximum weight
otherwise permitted (forty tons) under the California Vehicle Code, which a bridge under its
jurisdiction will safely sustain; and
WHEREAS,
Section 35751 (a) of the California Vehicle Code requires that an
engineering investigation be made and that a public hearing be held whenever such a
determination appears necessary; and
WHEREAS,
Section 35751 (b) of the California Vehicle Code requires that upon the
basis of the investigation and all evidence presented at the hearing, the city council shall
determine by order in writing the maximum weight of vehicle and load which the bridge will
safely sustain; and
WHEREAS,
Section 35752 of the California Vehicle Code requires that the authority
having jurisdiction over the bridge shall erect and maintain suitable signs, in accordance with
Section 21400 of the California Vehicle Code, specifying the maximum weight so determined, at
a distance of not more than 500 (five hundred) feet from each end of the bridge or any approach
thereto; and
ORDINANCE NO.
PAGE TWO
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
In order to protect the public, the City of Downey accepts the findings and
recommendations of the latest County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Bridge
Report and Load Rating Analysis limiting the maximum weight and load of vehicles utilizing the
Firestone Boulevard Bridge over the San Gabriel River to 20 (twenty) tons.
SECTION 2.
The City Council hereby establishes a weight and load restriction of 20
(twenty) tons on the Firestone Boulevard Bridge over the San Gabriel River.
SECTION 3.
Subsection (c)(4) of Section 3179 the Downey Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
(c)(4) “Firestone Boulevard from Stewart and Gray Road to the westerly City limits, and”
SECTION 4.
The City of Downey, Department of Public Works shall erect and maintain
suitable signs in accordance with Section 21400 of the California Vehicle Code.
SECTION 5.
The Mayor shall sign this ordinance and the City Clerk shall attest thereto
and shall cause the same to be published and posted as required in a newspaper published and
circulated in the City of Downey; and thereupon and thereafter, this Ordinance shall take effect
and be enforced according to law.
ADOPTED AND SIGNED
this day of October, 2010.
___________________________________
ANNE M. BAYER, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________________
KATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk
AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICING
FIRESTONE BOULEVARD TRUCK ROUTE
September 28, 2010
PUBLIC HEARING DATE: _
BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )
CITY OF DOWNEY )
Edwin J. Norris
I, ____, hereby state:
Deputy Director of Public Works with the Department of Public
That I am
Works
for the City of Downey.
That I have caused Notice of Public Hearing for the above referenced
matter to be made at least five (5) days prior to the date set, in the following
manner:
September 21, 2010
That Notice was posted on the subject property on.
That a copy of the Notice referenced above is attached hereto and made a part
thereof, and
I hereby affirm under penalty of perjury und the laws of the State of California
that the foregoing is true and correct.
Edwin J. Norris
Deputy Director of Public Works
__September 22, 2010___
Dated:
CITY OF DOWNEY
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
AMENDING TRUCK ROUTE ON
FIRESTONE BOULEVARD
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that on September 28, 2010 at 7:30 p.m., the Downey City
Council will hold a Public Hearing at the Downey Council Chamber located at 11111 Brookshire
Avenue to consider amending the Truck Route on Firestone Boulevard, Downey Municipal
Code Section 3179.
For further information, please contact Brian Ragland at (562) 904-7102.
Dated: September 17, 20010
Kathleen L. Midstokke, City Clerk