HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-17-2014 BAC Agenda Packet
MISSION: The purpose of the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) is to provide oversight and policy
direction on matters related to bicycle transportation in San Luis Obispo and its relationship to bicycling
outside the City.
ROLL CALL: Jim Woolf (Chair), Howard Weisenthal (Vice Chair), Lea Brooks, Peter Deragon, Catherine
Machado, Paula Huddleston, and Arlene Winn.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
At this time, the public is invited to address the Committee concerning items not on the agenda but are
of interest to the public and within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Bicycle Advisory Committee.
The Committee may not discuss or take action on issues that are not on the agenda other than to briefly
respond to statements made or questions raised, or to ask staff to follow up on such issues.
MINUTES: May 15, 2014 (Attachment 1)
PRESENTATION ITEMS:
1. Annual Traffic Safety Report (Attachment 2)
2. Bicycle Count Data (Attachment 3)
ACTION ITEMS:
3. Land Use and Circulation Elements Update and Draft EIR (Attachment 4 and 5)
4. Bicycle Transportation Plan Implementation Actions (Attachment 6)
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
5. Committee Items
• Way Finding Signage Sub-Committee Report (Attachment 7)
• Bicycle Mode Share Sub-Committee Report
• Bicycling Information for Newcomers Subcommittee Report
6. Staff Items
• Railroad Safety Trail and Bob Jones Trail updates
• Sinsheimer Park Pathways update
• Bike Rodeo Saturday, September 6th – volunteers wanted
• Upcoming City Council Goal Setting process – September and November meetings
ADJOURNMENT: The next regular meeting will be held September 18, 2014
Agenda
Bicycle Advisory Committee
Council Hearing Room, City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
Thursday, July 17, 2014 at 7:00 pm
The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to including the disabled in all of its services, programs, and
activities. Please contact the Clerk or staff liaison prior to the meeting if you require assistance.
PRESENTATION ITEMS:
Agenda Item #1: Annual Traffic Safety Report
City staff will present a summary of the bicycle activity in the draft 2013 Annual Traffic Safety Report.
Attachment 2 is an excerpt from the draft report summarizing the bicycle collision data. Additionally,
details on the top five bicycle collision locations have been provided as well as the top ten collision
locations in the last five years.
Note: This agenda item supports the 2013 Bicycle Transportation Plan Implementation Action 4.13.3,
“Present bicycling related statistics from the City’s Annual Traffic Safety Report to the Bicycle Advisory
Committee for their consideration and input.”
Agenda Item #2: Bicycle Count Data
Beginning in 1996, the City instituted a program to count bicycle traffic at various street intersections
throughout the community. The program continued every two years through 2010, and was made
possible by the voluntary efforts of students from the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
at Cal Poly State University, the San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club, the San Luis Obispo County Bicycle
Coalition and members of the City’s Bicycle Advisory Committee. Locations counted were chosen to
capture all streets entering the Cal Poly campus as well as arterials throughout town. All count locations
contained at least one leg of the intersection as part of the City’s official bikeway network, as identified
in the San Luis Obispo Bicycle Transportation Plan. Published reports through 2008 are available on the
City’s web site.
Due to poor weather and scheduling conflicts, counts were not collected at all 27 locations in 2010. In
2012, the City changed its method of collecting bike count data to a video process incorporated with its
motor vehicle traffic count effort. The new method provides much more information including
additional locations and longer count times (see Attachment 3). The information can also be used to
calculate bike mode share to track the City’s Circulation Element, Climate Action Plan, and Bicycle
Transportation Plan 20% mode share goal. Locations that are not currently counted include bike paths
and the Bill Roalman bicycle boulevard. These locations could be added in the future.
Note: This agenda item supports the 2013 Bicycle Transportation Plan Implementation Actions 4.13.1
and 4.13.2, regarding conducting bicycle counts “at least every two years” and presenting the
information to the BAC.
ACTION ITEMS:
Agenda Item #3: Land Use and Circulation Elements Update and Draft EIR
Progress continues in the City’s focused update of its General Plan Land Use and Circulation Elements.
In July 2013 the BAC reviewed the proposed Circulation Element policy changes related to bicycling and
provided feedback. Now the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Land Use and Circulation
Elements Update (LUCE) has been released for public review and comment. The 45 day public review
and comment period will extend to July 28, 2014. Staff is forwarding bicycle related excerpts
(Attachment 4) from the Draft EIR to the Bicycle Advisory Committee for review and comment during
the public review period. Committee member comments on the Draft EIR will be included in and
responded to as part of the Final EIR. Committee members may also provide individual comments by
email to kmurry@slocity.org by the July 28, 2014 deadline
Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR)
The LUCE update is being evaluated through a type of EIR called a Program (or Programmatic) EIR. This
type of evaluation is typically used when there are broad policy alternatives and programs being
evaluated and is often used when General Plans are being updated. A Program EIR does not evaluate
the potential impacts of specific development projects that may be allowed under the LUCE Update. The
EIR is intended to generally address the potential development impacts envisioned through the LUCE
Update, and to provide an underlying context for future environmental reviews for specific projects.
Classes of Impacts
The results of the environmental evaluation across the topics considered in an EIR are typically grouped
into “Classes” of impacts. The categorization of impacts into classes allows the decision-makers and the
community to understand the magnitude of impact.
• Class I impact = significant and unavoidable. This means that despite identifying ways to address
the impact (termed “mitigation”), the impact remains and cannot be avoided. This category
may include mitigations to lessen the impact but will discuss why the impact remains significant.
• Class II impact = significant impact but one that can be addressed or mitigated to the point
where it is no longer significant. This category will list the mitigations necessary to reduce the
impacts identified to a level that does not exceed a threshold.
• Class III impact = less than significant impact. Typically, this last category does not require
mitigation because the change or impact does not rise to the level of needing to be addressed.
However, these impacts are often listed for informational purposes to be transparent in the
process of how the potential impact was evaluated.
Potential impacts to transportation system are evaluated in Draft EIR section 4.15. The section begins
with a transportation system overview followed by the methodology and significance thresholds,
analysis approach, potential impacts and mitigation. Because the LUCE update include policies that will
actually improve bicycling, the Draft EIR finds that the proposed LUCE would have less than significant
bicycling related environmental impacts and no mitigation measures are required.
Staff Recommendation:
Discuss the Draft EIR impact evaluation for bicycling and provide comments for inclusion and response
as part of the LUCE EIR. Additionally, the BAC may offer any final comments related to the proposed
LUCE policies and programs (Attachment 5) for Planning Commission and Council consideration.
Agenda Item #4: Implementation Actions
This item has been continued from the May 15, 2014 and expanded to include the Committee’s review
of the Implementation Actions Matrix pursuant to Bicycle Transportation Plan Implementation Action
item which calls for the BAC to “review the Implementation Actions Matrix (Appendix B) at least every
two years to evaluate progress on the actions described in the Plan”.
The purpose of this agenda item is to review the Implementation Actions Matrix to evaluate progress on
the actions and identify any actions that Committee members would volunteer to help implement. To
best prepare the Committee for this discussion, staff requests that Committee members review the
Matrix (Attachment 6), identify your top 3-5 Action Items that should be pursued, and email those
priorities to Peggy Mandeville (pmandeville@slocity.org) by 5:00 pm, July 16th. These priorities will then
be compiled and distributed to the Committee for discussion and final prioritization at the meeting.
Staff Recommendation: Review the matrix to evaluate progress on the action items, prioritize the list of
Implementation Actions for the coming year, and determine if BAC members can help complete any of
these items assigning responsibilities where applicable.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
Agenda Item #5: Committee Items
• Way Finding Signage Sub-Committee Report- Brooks and Woolf (Attachment 7)
• Bicycle Mode Share Sub-Committee Report- Brooks and Weisenthal
• Bicycling Information for Newcomers Sub-Committee Report- Brooks, Machado, Winn
Agenda Item #6: Staff Items
• Railroad Safety Trail and Bob Jones Trail Updates
• Sinsheimer Park Pathways Update
• Bike Rodeo September 6th – Volunteers wanted
• Upcoming City Council Goal Setting process – September and November meetings
• Items for next meeting:
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
The next meeting will be held: September 18, 2014
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Minutes of the May 15, 2014 BAC meeting
2. Traffic Safety Report Excerpts
3. Bike Count Data
4. LUCE Update Draft EIR Excerpts
5. Draft Circulation Element Policies
6. Implementation Actions Matrix
7. Way Finding Signage proposal and comments
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MISSION: 10
The purpose of the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) is to provide oversight and policy 11
direction on matters related to bicycle transportation in San Luis Obispo and its relationship to 12
bicycling outside the City. 13
14
ROLL CALL: 15
CM Woolf called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. 16
Present: Jim Woolf (Chair), Lea Brooks, Paula Huddleston, and Arlene Winn. 17
Absent: Peter Deragon, Catherine Machado, Howard Weisenthal 18
Staff: Peggy Mandeville 19
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OATH: Paula Huddleston was sworn in as a new BAC member. 21
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PUBLIC COMMENT: 23
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There were no public comments. 25
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MINUTES: March 20, 2014 27
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Action: CM Brooks moved to approve the minutes as submitted. CM Winn seconded the 29
motion. The motion passed unanimously. 30
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PRESENTATION ITEMS: 32
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Agenda Item # 1: Chorro Valley Trail Project, San Luis Obispo Council of Governments 34
35
Elizabeth Cavanaugh, County Parks representative, made a presentation on the Chorro Valley 36
Trail Project. She discussed the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) project to 37
determine if a trail between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay is feasible, stating that the first 38
phase of the trail building would focus on San Luis Obispo to Cuesta College. 39
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She outlined an overview of the SLOCOG grant and the alignment options for building along the 41
east or west sides of the Highway One. 42
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She noted the Men’s Colony was not in favor of a trail by their facility (northeast side of Hwy. 1) 44
but that Camp San Luis was amenable to a trail on their side of the highway (southwest side of 45
Hwy. 1). She discussed existing culverts and under-crossings by Camp San Luis, as well as 46
various landowners’ varying degrees of acceptance of building a trail through their properties. 47
She reported that at the public forums held on the subject, citizens were highly in favor of 48
building this trail. She stated that there were few significant environmental or engineering 49
constraints that cannot be mitigated or overcome and project costs are reasonable compared to 50
other regional trail projects. Trail segments would generally be multi-use, separated paths, and 51
Draft Minutes
Bicycle Advisory Committee
Council Hearing Room, City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 7:00 pm
would be designed to County Bike Trail Standards, with a 10-foot (minimum) paved or stabilized 1
trail section. 2
3
Public Comment: 4
Myron Amerine discussed narrow pathway width issues along the American River Trail where 5
high use necessitated widening of the path after it was built. He recommended beginning with 6
the widest option available (12’ wide paved path, plus shoulders) so the County doesn’t need to 7
come back to widen. 8
9
CM Huddleston suggested keeping the shoulders dirt for the runners so they could be off trail. 10
Ms. Cavanaugh explained the drainage function of shoulders and noted that they might not 11
create a level surface for running. 12
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Action: 14
CM Brooks moved to enthusiastically support the project as proposed, strongly encouraging 12’ 15
wide paved trails with 2’ decomposed granite shoulders to accommodate runners. CM Winn 16
seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 17
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ACTION ITEMS: 19
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Agenda Item # 2: Officer Elections 21
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CM Woolf indicated that he was willing to serve a second year in the position if nobody else 23
desired to fill the position at this time. 24
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Action: 26
CM Winn moved to nominate CM Woolf to continue as Chair and CM Weisenthal to continue as 27
Vice Chair. CM Brooks seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 28
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DISCUSSION ITEMS: 30
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Agenda Item # 3: Committee Items 32
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Way-Finding Signage Sub-Committee Report 34
35
CM Wolff presented the report, stating that the plan was sent to the Bike Club and the Bike 36
Coalition and was awaiting review and comments. He will bring another presentation back to 37
the next BAC meeting and then explore funding for the signage. 38
39
CM Brooks mentioned that the Land Conservancy was very excited about the Octagon 40
Barn inclusion in the signage. 41
42
Bicycle Mode Share Sub-Committee Report and 43
Distribution of Bicycling Information to Newcomers Sub-Committee Report 44
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CM Brooks stated that there were no reports to present at this time on either sub-46
committee. 47
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Bicycle Transportation Plan Implementation Actions 49
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CM Wolff noted the need for volunteers, including BAC members, to lead or help with 51
enactment of these actions. 52
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Staff gave the example of the Racks with Plaques bicycle rack donation program as a 1
successful Bike Plan implementation action that has improved the bicycling environment in 2
the City. 3
4
Specific actions that were discussed were the need to update the City’s bike map and the 5
creation of an adopt-a-trail program. 6
7
CM Huddleston volunteered to assist CM Brooks on the Adopt a Trail action item. 8
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Public Comment: 10
Mr. Amerine volunteered to help create a city bike map. 11
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CM Wolff requested that the BAC members review the listing and that the topic be revisited 13
at the July meeting. 14
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Agenda Item # 4: Staff Items 16
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SLOCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Requests 18
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Staff discussed the requests and the City’s response which will be provided to the San Luis 20
Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG). 21
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Railroad Safety Trail (RRST) and Bob Jones Trail Updates: 23
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Staff reported that two grants had been applied for: 25
1) RRST, Taft to Pepper segment 26
2) Bob Jones Trail, section behind Target 27
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Staff also reported that the ribbon-cutting ceremony for LOVR connection to the Bob Jones 29
Trail had been well attended. 30
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General BAC Member Comments: 32
33
CM Brooks reported that at the April 28th public workshop on the Laguna Lake Natural 34
Reserve Conservation Plan there was major opposition by residents that live on the lake to the 35
idea of installing a bike/ped bridge over the lake, as described in one of the Bike Transportation 36
Plan projects. 37
38
She also noted that the City Council seemed to be moving towards a compromise regarding 39
putting Measure Y on the ballot. 40
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CM Winn noted that she will not be at the July meeting. 42
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ADJOURN: 44
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CM Huddleston moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 p.m. to the next regular meeting of July 46
17, 2014. CM Brooks seconded the motion. 47
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The motion passed unanimously. 49
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Respectfully submitted, 51
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Lisa Woske 53
Recording Secretary 54
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Public Works and Police Department
July 2014
2013 Annual Traffic Safety Report
DRAFT
2 2013 Traffic Safety Report
April 2014
Executive Summary
The Public Works & Police Departments are pleased to present the 14th cycle of
the City’s annual traffic safety program. The Annual Traffic Safety Program
began in 2002 in an attempt to identify high collision locations within the City and
actively pursue corrective measures that may reduce collision rates and improve
safety for the citizen of San Luis Obispo. This program has had continued
success with 55% collision reduction since the program began despite increasing
traffic volumes. In 2009 the City received the International Public Agency
Achievement award from the Institute of traffic engineers for this program, one of
the highest recognitions a public agency can receive for it traffic engineering
practices.
This safety program has had lasting success and again in 2013 total collisions
are the lowest on record, down by 4% from the previous year. In 2013, injury
collisions increased by 8% from the previous year, but are still down 33% since
the safety program began. The program also includes thorough evaluations of
bicycle and pedestrian safety. Bicycle collision trends show a four year decline
for the first time since 2000. While bicycle collisions peaked in 2009, they had
dropped by 14% in 2013. Pedestrian collisions increased from an average of 24
collisions a year between 2005 and 2012 to 39 pedestrian collisions in 2013.
The following report displays trends in collision history, traffic safety measures
and identifies high collision rate locations in 2013. As in previous Traffic Safety
Reports, staff reviewed all high collision rate intersections and segment locations
and has recommended mitigation measures to increase safety at the top five
locations in each category. Our goal is that the combination of thorough
analysis, appropriate mitigation, and consistent and focused education and
enforcement will continue to reduce traffic collisions and injuries and improve the
safety of our motoring, walking and bicycling public.
This report is typically prepared and presented to Council annually, however this
is the first report prepared in the last three years. Due to budget reductions in
2010 & 2011 production of the report was suspended and the volume of safety
projects were scaled back accordingly to staffing capacity. These cuts included
one and a half positions or %30 staff reduction, overtime budget reduction of
50%, and contract assistance budget was eliminated. These cuts coincided with
a 3.5% increase in citywide traffic collisions. However with the assistance of
grant funding the City is testing a consolidation of intern staffing into a higher
level position, this strategy has allowed staff to resume production of the report
and the ability to engage in a higher volume of safety projects.
4 2013 Traffic Safety Report
April 2014
Pedestrian & Bicycle Collision Trends
Pedestrian Collision Trend
Bicycle Collision Trend*
*The increase in bicycle collisions can be directly related to an increase in bicycle
ridership. The US Census showed an increase from 3.6% of the City’s population
commuting to work by bicycle in 2000 to 5.2% in 2010. However, this percentage
does not account for recreational riders or bicycle commuters to school, shopping
or errands which have also continued to increase.
Source: 2013 Bicycle Transportation Plan
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1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
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7 2013 Traffic Safety Report
April 2014
Traffic Safety Education Campaigns
Bicycle Rodeo
The City hosts a hands-on bicycle training class targeting youth teaching
bicycle skills & operations.
Pedestrian Halloween Safety Campaign
The City provides reflective Halloween bags with safety tips to local schools
free of cost.
Impaired Driver Offender Classes
City officers attend and supplement DUI offender courses to provide a unique
positive opportunity to discuss, face to face, the impacts of driving under the
influence.
Every Fifteen Minutes Program
The City participates in a multi department and agency event simulating the
psychological effects of student fatalities as a result of traffic collisions.
Child Car Seat Instruction & Assistance
The City provides child safety seat installation and inspection free of cost.
Channel 20 Public Safety Announcements
Bicycle Safety Posters
City of SLO Partnerships:
SLO County Bicycle Coalition
Safety Education Courses
Elementary School Safety Assemblies
Safety Brown Bag Lunch at Participating Businesses
SLO Rideshare
Safe Routes to School Program
9 2013 Traffic Safety Report
April 2014
Bicycles
Rank Intersection 5 yr
Collisions
PH Veh.
Vol
PHBike
Vol
REV
1 Olive & Santa Rosa 6 3119 18 5198
2 Montalban & Santa Rosa 4 3419 18 3799
3 California & Monterey 10 1947 46 2116
4 Foothill & Santa Rosa 6 4104 59 2087
5 Broad & Woodbridge 4 2997 30 1998
6 California & Taft 5 1733 54 802
7 101 N/b On/off Ramp & California 3 1473 55 402
8 California & Mill 3 1070 42 382
9 California & Palm 3 1056 44 360
10 Chorro & Monterey 3 630 31 305
PH = Peak Hour
REV = Relative Exposure Value
10 2013 Traffic Safety Report
April 2014
Bicycle Location Recommendations:
Rank Intersection 5 yr
Collisions
PH Veh.
Vol
PHBike
Vol
REV
1 Olive & Santa Rosa 6 3119 18 5198
Pattern: Cyclists vs. NB Motorists turning Right onto Olive
Recommendation: Collaborate with CalTrans and pursue installation of green
bike lane extensions thru intersection.
2 Montalban & Santa Rosa 4 3419 18 3799
Pattern: NB Cyclists vs. NB/SB RT/LT
Recommendation: Collaborate with CalTrans and pursue installation of green
bike lane extensions thru intersection. Continue to monitor in 2014.
3 California & Monterey 10 1947 46 2116
Pattern: Cyclists vs. SB and NB Motorists Turning Right
Recommendation: In May 2012, green bike lanes were installed. Since then two
collisions were reported at the intersection, both of which were determined to
have been caused by the cyclist. Continue to monitor in 2014.
4 Foothill & Santa Rosa 6 4104 59 2087
Pattern: Various Unsafe Cyclist Maneuvers
Recommendation: Five of the six collisions involved circumstances with
inattention and unsafe maneuvers of cyclists. Conduct focused bicycle
enforcement at this intersection, update education materials to highlight these
collision types, and continue to monitor in 2014.
5 Broad & Woodbridge 4 2997 30 1998
Pattern: No discernible pattern.
Recommendation: Intersection planned for reconfiguration and control upgrades
as part of Broad Street Corridor Plan / Circulation Element Update. Continue to
monitor in 2014.
PH = Peak Hour
REV = Relative Exposure Value