Staff received a petition from residents on or near Cypress Street between Trask Avenue and Garden Grove Boulevard requesting a permanent barrier be installed on Cypress Street south of Central Avenue.  The main concerns were the high traffic volumes and traffic collisions.  This issue was presented to the Traffic Commission at the March 5, 2019, meeting and was not approved.

 Staff was then directed by the Traffic Commission to perform a study of the existing street closures and diverters on Flower Street, Hope Street, Bowen Street, and Adland Street at Trask Avenue to determine the feasibility of revising the access restrictions to help relieve the traffic volumes on Cypress Street. 

Flower Street and Bowen Street currently only allow right-turn out movements onto Trask Avenue.  Hope Street and Adland Street are completely closed at Trask Avenue.  Per the attached resolution adopted by the City Council on March 12, 1996, these barriers were approved.

Staff collected traffic counts and speed survey data at various locations in the study area to determine the overall traffic circulation.  Attached is a map showing the data collected.  After reviewing the data, it appears that a large portion of motorists enter Cypress Street from Trask Avenue to access the neighborhood to the west.  The speed surveys did not show any apparent speeding issues in the area.

Staff also conducted a neighborhood meeting on June 6, 2019, to inform the neighborhood of the study and to receive input from the affected residents.  Approximately 31 households attended the meeting.  Most of the residents that spoke were not in favor of re-opening any of the streets.  They felt that it would increase traffic and be detrimental to the safety in the area.  They were also concerned about the effect on property values.  Some residents did speak in favor of providing additional access from Trask Avenue because it would help decrease traffic volumes on Cypress Street and help rebalance the traffic circulation.

At the July 2, 2019, meeting, the Traffic Commission approved recommending to the City Council to open Flower Street for right-in and right-out only traffic and to open Bowen Street to all movements (see attached exhibits).  Hope Street and Adland Street are to remain as is.  Public hearing notices were mailed to property owners within on September 12, 2019.

There is no impact to the General Fund.  Initial cost estimates are approximately $50,000 to reconstruct Flower Street and $75,000 to reconstruct Bowen Street.  If approved, the project will be placed on the 5 Year Capital Improvement Project List and prioritized for construction.

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Conduct a public hearing to receive testimony from residents notified within the affected area; and

• Adopt the Resolution amending City Council Resolution No. 7852-96 and approving the recommendation of the Traffic Commission to modify the existing right-turn diverter on Flower Street at Trask Avenue to allow right turns in and out only, and to modify the existing right-turn diverter on Bowen Street at Trask Avenue to allow all movements.

By: Dai C. Vu, T.E., City Traffic Engineer