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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 Cornuta Avenue and Muroc Street (C.E.# 23-11).
DATE: October 9, 2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On September 19, 2023, the Public Safety Commission considered and subsequently recommended to the City Council the conversion of the existing 2-way ‘Stop’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls pursuant to Bellflower Municipal Code (“BMC”) Chapter 10.04.
This action would approve the conversion of 2-way ‘Stop’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls on Cornuta Avenue and Muroc 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 Cornuta Avenue at Muroc Street; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
The estimated cost to convert the existing 2-way ‘Stop’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls is $1,500.00. Funds are budgeted in Account No. 010-43180-3100.
DISCUSSION
The City recently received a request during a Neighborhood Watch meeting to install additional ‘Stop’ controls at the intersection of Cornuta Avenue and Muroc Street, specifically to convert the existing 2-way ‘Stop’ controls into 4-way (all directions) ‘Stop’ controls. Based upon an engineering assessment of this request, staff determined that the intersection should be considered for conversion from the existing 2-way to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls.
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Staff Report – Conversion of 2-way ‘Stop’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls on Cornuta Avenue at Muroc Street
October 9, 2023
DISCUSSION – Continued
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 intersection under consideration, when the characteristics of intersecting streets are similar (both considered minor streets), and to assign right-of-way more clearly, the conversion from a 2-way ‘Stop’ to a 4-way ‘Stop’ does not require an extensive and detailed traffic engineering study.
The field assessment performed by the City Engineer confirmed that conditions such as limited driver line-of-sight and an irregular roadway exist at the proposed intersection.
As a result, staff is proposing to install ‘Stop’ controls (Stop signs, limit lines and ‘STOP’ pavement legends) on Cornuta Avenue in both travel directions. Therefore, in an effort to enhance safety and more clearly assign right-of-way, the conversion of the existing 2- way ‘Stop’ control measures to 4-way ‘Stop’ control is being recommended. The proposed change is illustrated on the attached aerial photograph.
On September 5, 2023, the City provided notice to area residents of this request and that this matter would be brought before the Public Safety Commission at its September 19, 2023, meeting. To date, the City has received one response to the notification in support of the proposed 4-way Stop control.
ATTACHMENTS:
Aerial Photo ..................................................................................................................... 3 Street View Photo ........................................................................................................... 4 Notification Letter to Residents ....................................................................................... 5
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Printed 9/5/2023
City of Bellflower
Conversion of Existing 2-way 'STOP' to 4-way 'STOP'Scale: 1 in = 40 ftCornuta Avenue at Muroc Street -3-
Installation of Additional 'Stop' Controls
Intersection of Cornuta Avenue and Muroc Street
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