15-E
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 Virginia Avenue at Olive Street, Virginia Avenue at Mayne Street, Virginia Avenue at Oak Street, and Virginia Avenue at Laurel Street (C.E.# 23-15).
DATE: December 11, 2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On November 21, 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 at the following intersections: Virginia Avenue at Olive Street, Virginia Avenue at Mayne Street, Virginia Avenue at Oak Street, and Virginia Avenue at Laurel 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 Virginia Avenue at Olive Street, Virginia Avenue at Mayne Street, Virginia Avenue at Oak Street, and Virginia Avenue at Laurel 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 $6,000.00 for all four (4) intersections listed above. Funds are budgeted in Account No. 010-43180-3100 (Street Maintenance Street Signs).
-1-
Staff Report – Conversion of 2-way ‘Stop’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls on Virginia Avenue at Olive Street, Virginia Avenue at Mayne Street, Virginia Avenue at Oak Street, and Virginia Avenue at Laurel Street
December 11, 2023
DISCUSSION
The City recently received a request to install additional ‘Stop’ controls at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Laurel 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 this intersection along with the intersections at Virginia Avenue and Oak Street, Virginia Avenue at Mayne Street and Virginia Avenue at Olive Street should all be considered for conversion from the existing 2-way to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls.
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), 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 exist at the proposed intersections. As a result, staff is proposing to install ‘Stop’ controls (Stop signs, limit lines and ‘STOP’ pavement legends) in both travel directions at each intersection. At the November 21, 2023, Public Safety Commission meeting, the Commission recommended the inclusion of the intersection at Virginia Avenue at Belmont Street. However, this intersection is currently 4-way ‘Stop’ controlled. 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’ controls at the other four intersections is being recommended. The proposed changes are illustrated in the attached aerial photograph.
On November 7, 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 November 21, 2023, meeting. To date, the City has received no response to the notification of the proposed 4-way Stop controls.
ATTACHMENTS:
Aerial Photo ..................................................................................................................... 3 Street View Photo ........................................................................................................... 4 Notification Letter to Residents ....................................................................................... 8
-2-
Printed 11/7/2023
City of Bellflower
Conversion of Existing 2-way 'Stop' Controls to 4-way 'Stop' Controls Virginia Ave. at Olive St., Virginia Ave. at Mayne St., Virginia Ave. at Oak St. and Virginia Ave. at Laurel St.Scale: 1 in = 190 ft -3-
Conversion of 2-way 'Stop' Controls to 4-way 'Stop' Controls Virginia Avenue at Olive Street
-4-
Virginia Avenue at Mayne Street
Conversion of 2-way 'Stop' Controls to 4-way 'Stop' Controls -5-
Conversion of 2-way 'Stop' Controls to 4-way 'Stop' Controls Virginia Avenue at Oak Street
-6-
Virginia Avenue at Laurel Street
Conversion of 2-way 'Stop' Controls to 4-way 'Stop' Controls -7-
-8-