Title
Community Development Agency, Transportation Division, recommending the Board adopt Resolution 057-2015 sanctioning the closure of portions of Pioneer Trail, South Upper Truckee Road, Portal Drive, Cornelian Drive, Mulberry Drive, Cheyenne Drive, Apache Avenue and Mandan Street on Saturday, May 9, 2015 for the 2015 "AMGEN Tour of California Women's Stage Race", subject to the conditions set forth in Resolution No. 110-79 and in the "Application for Road Closure". There will be two loops around the route, which covers State Highways, City Roads and County Roads in the Tahoe basin. The race will start at 10:30 a.m. and the race event is estimated to be completed by 12:50 p.m.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION:
The Transportation Division is recommending Board approval of the road closures to provide for the safety of participants, volunteers and spectators along the road, and to assist in the success of this regional and community event. Other involved agencies have made no objections to these closures.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The 2015 Amgen Tour of California Women's UCI Stage Race is a professional style bike race modeled after the professional men's Amgen Tour of California.
The 2014 Amgen Tour of California drew over two million spectators along the 750-mile route and quickly became the largest sporting event in the history of California. AEG Sports will broadcast HD live TV coverage on every stage of the 2015 tour to more than 200 countries.
The race is self-contained. Aside from the 84 professional racers, they also have approximately 50 vehicles that travel within the race package. This includes the California Highway Patrol, team cars, medical support, mechanical support, race officials, motorcycle marshals, TV crews, etc. The entire race moves as one entity at an average speed of approximately 24 MPH. It takes the race about five minutes to pass any given spot on the road.
AEG Sports require a total road closure that is managed by the California Highway Patrol. There are four elements to the closure: cross traffic that flows across the course at an intersection, traffic moving the same direction and ahead of the race, traffic moving the same direction and behind the race, and traffic moving towards the race. California Highway Patrol will allow cross traffic and traffic turning onto the course and heading away from the race until approximately 5-10 minutes before the race reaches the intersection but will prevent cars from turning onto the road heading into the race. Traffic moving the same direction and ahead of the race will be allowed to flow until the race is approximately 10 minutes behind the traffic. Traffic that is behind the race will not be allowed to pass. Traffic that is moving into the race will be stopped approximately 10 minutes before the race reaches any given point.
Traffic management is variable based on the type of road, the amount of traffic, and the type and number of opportunities where traffic can be pulled off the road for a short period. The courses have been reviewed and approved by both Caltrans and California Highway Patrol.
AEG Sports are expecting much smaller and manageable crowds for the women's event. The vast majority of crowds come in three areas: start line, finish line and various long and steep climbs the riders encounter. Many people watch from their driveway, but it is rare to find more than a few hundred spectators in one location.
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Risk Management has approved the certificate of insurance and concurred with Road Closure.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
CAO recommends approval of the Resolution sanctioning road closures for the various County Roads for the 2015 "AMGEN Tour of California Women's Stage Race"
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The requested Board action has no associated fiscal impact or Net County Cost.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1. The Clerk will obtain the Chair's signature on the Resolution.
2. The Clerk will send an executed copy of the Resolution to the Transportation Division.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT: N/A
CONTACT
Bard R. Lower, Transportation Division Director
Community Development Agency