Senate Bill (SB) 743 Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Policy

In 2013, Senate Bill (SB) 743 was signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown and changed the rules on how a project's traffic impacts are analyzed under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The goal is to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, promote the development of infill land use projects and multimodal transportation networks, and to promote a diversity of land uses within developments.

Traditionally, the City of Hawthorne and other agencies evaluated project traffic impacts based on Level of Service (LOS), which used automobile delay and congestion as a basis for determining significant transportation impacts. Instead of analyzing how traffic changes road congestion, the City is now required to assess how the project changes trip lengths. Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) is a measure of total vehicular travel that accounts for the number of vehicle trips and the length of those trips.

VMT also allows for an analysis of a project's impact throughout the jurisdiction rather than only in the vicinity of the proposed project, allowing for a better understanding of the full extent of a project's transportation-related impact. Adopting VMT thresholds does not preclude the City from using LOS for other planning purposes outside the scope of CEQA.

City staff, in consultation with transportation planning experts, developed a citywide VMT policy to comply with State law and provide established and consistent criteria to analyze transportation impacts under CEQA. The City Council adopted the VMT policy on May 23, 2023.

• City of Hawthorne SB 743 Implementation Guidelines
• City Council Resolution adopting the VMT Policy
• SB 743 Implementation Presentation
• SB 743 Fact Sheet
  
  

Engineering and Traffic Survey (E&TS)

All fifty states base their speed regulations on the Basic Speed Law. In California, California Vehicle Code (CVC) 22350 defines the basic speed law as "No Person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property".

California Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 40802 require that Engineering and Traffic Surveys (E&TS) be conducted every five (5), seven (7), or fourteen (14) years to reevaluate non-statutory speed limits on segments of roadways that have undergone significant changes since the last review.

Speed zones shall only be established on the basis of an E&TS that has been performed in accordance with traffic engineering practices. The engineering study shall include an analysis of the current speed distribution of free-flowing vehicles. Local streets per California Vehicle Code (CVC) 40802 are exempt from the study.

Speed limits in California are governed by the California Vehicle Code (CVC), Section 627, 22348 through 22413 and 40802.

• 2021 Engineering and Traffic Survey for Speed Limits (Full Report)
• Posted Speed Limits Map
• Speed Limit Summary of Recommendations
• Ordinance No. 2224

Speed Humps Policy and Application

Adopted February 2001

It is the policy of the City of Hawthorne to consider requests for speed humps as outlined below.

1. Speed Humps on streets adjacent to schools.
   Speed humps on streets adjacent to schools will be considered for installation upon request from the School District Superintendent. The Police Department Traffic Bureau and the Public Works Department Engineering Division will confer on these requests and make recommendations to the City Manager. Upon approval by the City Council of specific speed hump installations adjacent to schools, it will be the policy of the City to pay for their installation.

2. Speed Humps on streets in residential areas not adjacent to schools.
   Residents may request the City to investigate specific streets for speed hump installation. When such a request is made the following procedure will be followed.
   1. A Petition is Required.
      Before the City will consider such requests, the residents making such a request must submit to the City Clerk a petition signed by at least 2/3rds of the residents on each city block where speed hump installation is requested.
   2. If Standard City Criteria for Speed Humps are met.
      Upon receipt and verification of a petition by the City Clerk’s office, the verified petition will be forwarded to the Engineering Division of Public Works for study and report to the City Council. The Engineering Division report will determine whether the subject street meets the City’s standard criteria for speed hump installation. These standard criteria are as follows:
      1. Traffic volume on the subject street of between 500 to 2000 vehicles per day.
      2. 85% of vehicles are 7 mph or more over the speed limit.
      3. The street is a residential street not over 40 feet in width.
      4. The gradient of the street does not exceed 2.5%.
      If upon investigation the Engineering Division determines that the street meets all of the above criteria, this will be reported to the City Council with the recommendation that a speed hump be installed at City expense.
   3. If Standard City Criteria for Speed Humps are not met.
      In the event that the criteria outlined in paragraph 2 b) are not met, the Engineering Division will report this to the City Council. In this event, the City Council may direct that the speed hump will:
      1. Not be installed. In this case the residents will be informed of the City Council’s decision or
      2. The City Council will direct the installation of the speed hump pending collection and deposit of funds sufficient to install the speed hump and appurtenant signs and striping. The Engineering Division will supply the petitioning residents with the approximate costs of the speed hump installation, and it will be the resident’s sole responsibility to obtain the necessary funds from the residents on the affected street.

Click here to download the speed hump petition and application. Return the completed application in person to City Hall or email dtorado@cityofhawthorne.org

Curb Painting

The following curb markings shall be used to indicate parking and standing regulations.

• Red: Red shall mean no stopping, standing or parking at any time except as permitted by the Vehicle Code of the state, and except that a bus may stop in a red zone marked or signed as a bus zone.
• Yellow: Yellow shall mean no stopping, standing or parking at any time between 6AM and 6PM of any day for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passengers or materials, provided that the loading or unloading of passengers shall not consume more than three minutes nor the loading or unloading of materials more than twenty minutes.
• Green: Green shall mean no standing or parking any longer than twenty minutes at any time between 6AM and 6PM of any day.
• White: White shall mean no stopping, standing or parking for any purpose other than loading or unloading of passengers which shall not exceed three minutes, and such restrictions shall apply between 6AM and 6PM of any day, except as follows:
  • When such zone is in front of a hotel the restrictions shall apply at all times;
  • When such zone is in front of a theater, the restrictions shall apply at all times except when such theater is closed;
  • When such zone is marked or signed as a taxicab stand, it shall be used by taxicabs only, and the restrictions shall not apply.

To apply to have the curb in front of your residence or business painted, use Citizen Self Service or click here to download the application. Return the completed application in person to City Hall or email dtorado@cityofhawthorne.org

Parking T Program

In 2022, the City established the Citywide Parking T Pilot Program with the goal of maximizing available on-street parking on residential streets.

• Optimizes the number of safe and legally-sized on-street parking spaces
• Deters motorists from reserving parking for family and friends
• Prevents intentional, temporary occupying of multiple spaces to prevent others from occupying the space
• Prevents inefficient use of existing parking capacities
  • Reduces improper parking behavior (i.e. "double parking", blocking residential driveways)

The City is currently in the process of marking on-street parking spaces on all residential streets.

Preferential Parking Permit

As of May 28, 2019, the City Council passed Resolution 8103 and directed staff not to accept any additional petitions for preferential parking pursuant to Hawthorne Municipal Code Chapter 10.38.

The City Council may designate by resolution certain residential streets, or any portions thereof, as preferential parking zones for the benefit of residents adjacent to such streets in which vehicles displaying a permit or other authorized indicia may be exempt from parking prohibitions or restrictions otherwise posted, marked or noted, except restrictions for street cleaning purposes.

If your street is designated as a preferential parking zone, use Citizen Self Service or visit Public Works on the second floor of City Hall to obtain a preferential parking permit and bring the following:

• Valid driver's license with address showing current residence
• Vehicle registration

Note: There is a limit of three (3) vehicles for preferential parking per residence.

Policy for Granting an On-Street Handicapped Parking Space

1. The City only grants permits for on-street handicapped parking spaces, if there is no area on the private property for loading and unloading of handicapped persons.
2. The person residing at the location uses the space on a daily basis.
3. The request for disabled parking shall be accompanied by an original physician’s verification including the following information:
4. If location is determined to be possible, and is in a residential neighborhood, a petition will be required and signed by adjacent residents and the three (3) residents directly on the opposite side of the street.
5. If approved, an installation fee of $200.00 is required.

To apply for an on-street handicapped parking space, use Citizen Self Service or click here to download the application. Return the completed application in person to City Hall or email dtorado@cityofhawthorne.org

Traffic Impact Review

The review process works closely with developers and residents to ensure that the General Plan Circulation Element and zoning codes are met by the new development. If the development generates any significant impacts, it must mitigate its impact on the City’s street network system. The process also reviews the development’s on-site circulation, pedestrian amenities, driveway locations/access points and parking evaluation.

Traffic Impact Studies included:

1. Century Business Center (located on Jack Northrop between Crenshaw Blvd. and Prairie Ave.).
2. Central Park Specific Plan (Lee’s Homes located at the southwest corner of 120th Street and Van Ness Ave.). The development consists of a Target Store and residential development.
3. 360 William Lyon Homes (located at the southeast corner of Aviation Blvd. and El Segundo Blvd.-residential development).
4. Primavera Courts Specific Plan (located on Hawthorne Blvd. between 138th and 141stStreet – mix-used development of commercial and residential).
5. Ocean Park Village Specific Plan (Hawthorne mall – mix use of commercial and residential development.

Traffic Warrant Study

Warrant Study for Traffic Signal

The primary function of the traffic signal is to assign right-of-way at an intersection.Through the assignment of time, each movement enters the intersection without conflict. When a signal is properly timed, it can increase intersection capacity and is a valuable device for enhancing the safety and efficiency of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic and may reduce certain types of accidents, most notably, right-angle (broadside) collisions.

To determine if a traffic signal is warranted, evaluation is performed utilizing nationally accepted warrants for traffic signal from both the State of California and Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Device (MUTCD). The warrants analyze the following factors:

1. Minimum Vehicular Volumes Warrant
2. Interruption of Continuous Traffic Warrant
3. Minimum Pedestrian Volume Warrant
4. School Crossing Warrant
5. Progression movement Warrant
6. Accident Experience Warrant
7. System Warrant
8. Peak Hour Delay Warrant
9. Peak Hour Volume Warrant

Special Signal Functions

1. Flashing Red
   According to the California Vehicle Codes, when the red indication on the signal head is flashing, a driver shall stop before entering the intersection. The driver may proceed; subject to the rules applicable to making a stop at a four-way stop controlled intersection.
2. Flashing Yellow
   When the yellow indication on the signal head is flashing, a driver may proceed into the intersection with caution.
3. Dark Signal
   When the signal indications have gone dark due to power failure or other factors then the intersection is to function the same way as an all-way stop intersection. A driver must stop before entering the intersection.
4. Pedestrian Signals
   
   1. “Walk” or the "walking person" indication means that pedestrians facing the signal may start to walk across the street after checking to see that cross traffic has stopped.
   2. “Flashing Don’t Walk” means that the pedestrian should not start to cross the street. For pedestrians who already began crossing (in the crosswalk) there will be sufficient time for the pedestrians to complete crossing the street before opposing traffic enters the intersection.
   3. “Don’t Walk” steady mode, means that a pedestrian should not enter the roadway/crosswalk because the signal is about to change and there won’t be enough time for the pedestrian to clear the intersection.

Warrant Study for Stop Signs

Stop sign requests are one of the more popular requests we get each year. Usually, the stop sign request is to reduce accidents and speeding. Studies have shown that other measures are often more effective than adding more stop signs. For instance, our experience has shown that simply improving the intersection visibility is often more effective in reducing traffic accidents. Improving sight visibility at intersections often reduces the need to install more restrictive intersection control.

Warrants for Stop Signs Installation

The Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices dictates the size, shape and color of all traffic signs. This manual has guidelines for sign installation and therefore sets uniformity between states and cities.The State of California has similar guidelines as the Federal and these are followed by the City of Hawthorne.

Parking T Program, Red Curbs, Speed Hump Policy

Presentation from the March 14, 2023 Council Meeting by DJ Torado, Assistant Engineer

Please review the attached pdf : City of Hawthorne Engineering Presentation