14-C
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
ATTENTION: Jeffrey L. Stewart, City Manager
FROM: Len Gorecki, Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Jerry Stock, City Engineer
SUBJECT: Consideration and possible action to authorize the Director of Public Works, or designee, to convert the existing 2-way ‘Stop’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls on Bixby Avenue at Beach and Walnut Streets (C.E. #22-11).
DATE: July 11, 2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On June 21, 2022, the Public Safety Commission considered and subsequently recommended to the City Council the conversion of existing 2-way ‘Stop’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls pursuant to Bellflower Municipal Code (“BMC”) Chapter 10.04.
This action would approve and authorize the conversion of the existing 2-way ‘Stop’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls on Bixby Avenue at Beach Street and Walnut Street.
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Authorize the Director of Public Works, or designee, to convert the existing 2-way ‘Stop’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls on Bixby Avenue at Beach Street and Walnut Street; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
The estimated cost to install the ‘Stop’ controls, including signage and street striping, is estimated to be $2,500. The required funds are contained within the current fiscal year budget.
DISCUSSION
The City recently received a request to install additional ‘Stop’ controls at the intersection of Bixby Avenue at Beach Street; specifically, to convert the existing 2-way ‘Stop’ controls into 4-way (all directions) ‘Stop’ controls. Based upon an engineering assessment of the request, staff determined that the intersection of Bixby Avenue at -1-
Staff Report – Conversion of existing 2-way ‘Stop’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls on Bixby Avenue at Beach and Walnut Streets
July 11, 2022
DISCUSSION – Continued
Walnut Street should also be considered for conversion from the existing 2-way to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls. In summary, the intersections being considered for conversion are as follows:
• Bixby Avenue at Beach Street
• Bixby Avenue at Walnut Street
The guidelines for ‘Stop’ control installations are contained within the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD). The guidelines state that ‘Stop’ signs should be used on a less important road (minor street) that intersects with a main road because the application of the normal vehicle right-of-way rule would not be expected to provide reasonable compliance with the law. For the intersections under consideration, when the characteristics of intersecting streets are similar (both considered minor streets), the lack of driver line-of-sight would justify the conversion from a 2-way ‘Stop’ to a 4-way ‘Stop’ without an extensive and detailed traffic engineer report.
The field assessment performed by the City Engineer confirmed that conditions such as limited driver line-of-sight exist at each proposed intersection. As a result, staff is proposing to install ‘Stop’ controls (Stop signs, limit lines and ‘STOP’ pavement legends) for all previously mentioned intersections in all four travel directions. Therefore, in an effort to enhance safety and more clearly assign right-of-way at each intersection location, the conversion of the existing 2-way ‘Stop’ control measures to 4-way ‘Stop’ control is being recommended.
The proposed changes are indicated on the attached aerial photograph.
On June 7, 2022, the City Engineer provided notice to area residents of this request and that this matter would be brought before the Public Safety Commission meeting scheduled for June 21, 2022. To date, the City has received three responses to the notifications in support of the 4-way ‘Stop’ controls. One resident was present at the Public Safety Commission meeting to verbally express their support of the 4-way ‘Stop’ controls.
ATTACHMENTS
Aerial Photo ..................................................................................................................... 3 Street View Photo ........................................................................................................... 4 Notification Letter to Residents ....................................................................................... 6
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Scale: 1 in = 40 ft
Printed 6/7/2022
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