REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 8, 2023
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Establish Weight Restriction on Camp Rock Road, Harrod Road, and Northside Road in the Lucerne Area
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution that:
1. Prohibits the use by commercial vehicles over seven tons, pursuant to County Code Section 52.0125(c), on Camp Rock Road from State Route 247 northerly to Harrod Road, Harrod Road from Camp Rock Road northerly to Northside Road, and Northside Road from State Route 247 easterly to Harrod Road in the Lucerne area.
2. Directs the County Road Commissioner to erect and maintain signs indicating such prohibition and to perform such acts as are necessary to implement the terms of the Resolution.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The estimated cost of $1,500 to install the appropriate signs, as well as minor administrative costs to update the Department of Public Works (Department) records, will be financed by Gas Tax revenue. Sufficient appropriation and revenue are included in the Department’s 2023-24 Road Operations budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In response to a request from the public, the Department conducted a traffic engineering investigation regarding the increased use of commercial vehicles bypassing State Route 247 by using Camp Rock Road, Harrod Road, and Northside Road in the Lucerne area. The investigation found that truck traffic had increased to represent 25% of the total traffic volume. The road was initially evaluated and maintained to handle approximately 5-7% truck traffic, which accounts for typical area usage. The added volume of trucks over seven tons will degrade and damage the road surface and significantly increase the maintenance costs to the County.
The area is primarily residential, and the roadway has been maintained to residential standards. California Vehicle Code § 35712 and County Code Section 52.0125(c) allows the Board of Supervisors (Board) to prohibit the use of any street, road, or highway in an unincorporated residential subdivision area to commercial vehicles exceeding a gross weight of 14,000 pounds (seven tons), upon the basis of an engineering investigation, and to direct the Road Commissioner to erect and maintain signs indicating such prohibition in order to protect against damage to a County highway.
Trucks have an available route using State Route 247, which has a road surface that is designed for and intended to handle trucks and other heavy vehicles. Restricting truck and heavy vehicle traffic to the established route on State Route 247 is not expected to significantly impact commercial drivers. Recreational vehicles and delivery vehicles with destinations on Camp Rock Road, Harrod Road, and Northside Road are not affected by this restriction.
The Department recommends establishing a prohibition on the use by commercial vehicles over seven tons, pursuant to County Code Section 52.0125(c), on these sections of roadway to protect the roadway surface on Camp Rock Road, Harrod Road, and Northside Road, in the Lucerne area. Approval of this item will also direct the County Road Commissioner to erect and maintain signs indicating such weight limit prohibition and to perform such acts as are necessary to implement the terms of the Resolution.
This item aligns with the County and the Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives to operate in a fiscally responsible manner by prohibiting commercial vehicles over seven tons on these County maintained roadways.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 14, 2023; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on July 21, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on July 24, 2023.