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TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
ATTENTION: Ryan Smoot, 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 Jefferson Street at Leahy Avenue and Linden Street at Leahy Avenue (C.E.# 24-03).
DATE: March 11, 2024
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This action would approve and authorize the conversion of the existing 2-way ‘Stop’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls on Jefferson Street at Leahy Avenue and Linden Street at Leahy Avenue pursuant to Bellflower Municipal Code (“BMC”) Chapter 10.04.
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Authorize the Director of Public Works, or designee, to convert the existing 2-way ‘Stop’ control to 4-way ‘Stop’ control on Jefferson Street at Leahy Avenue; and
2) Consider the conversion of the existing 2-way ‘Stop’ control to 4-way ‘Stop’ control on Linden Street at Leahy Avenue; or
3) 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 $3,000. Funds are budgeted in Account No. 010-43180-3100 (Street Maintenance Street Signs).
DISCUSSION
The City recently received a request to install additional ‘Stop’ controls at the intersections of Jefferson Street at Leahy Avenue and Linden Street at Leahy Avenue, 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 these intersections should both be considered for conversion from the existing 2-way to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls.
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Staff Report – Conversion of existing 2-way ‘Stop’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls on Jefferson Street at Leahy Avenue and Linden Street at Leahy Avenue March 11, 2024
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 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. 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 both intersections are being recommended.
The proposed changes are illustrated in the attached aerial photograph.
On February 6, 2024, the City provided notice to area residents of this request and that this matter would be brought before the Public Safety Commission at its February 20, 2024, meeting. Prior to the Commission meeting, the City Engineer received one response to the notification supporting the proposed 4-way Stop controls. The City Engineer presented an overview of the staff report at the meeting and answered questions from the Commission. During the meeting, the resident at 15560 Leahy Avenue spoke in opposition to the conversion of the ‘Stop’ controls on Linden Street at Leahy Avenue citing that vehicles required to stop at a new stop sign would make backing out of his driveway difficult. After hearing public testimony, the Commission recommended approval of the conversion of the ‘Stop’ controls on Jefferson Street at Leahy Avenue and did not recommend approval of the ‘Stop’ controls for Linden Street and Leahy Avenue.
On February 21, 2024, the resident at 15734 Leahy Avenue came in to the Public Works Department to inquire on the outcome of the Public Safety Commission specifically about the conversion of the ‘Stop’ controls on Linden Street at Leahy Avenue. The resident was informed that the Public Safety Commission did not recommend approval of that intersection to the City Council. In light of both residential support and opposition to the proposed ‘Stop’ conversion at Linden Street and Leahy Avenue, Public Works staff is requesting City Council to consider the ’Stop’ conversion of Linden Street and Leahy Avenue as the intersection meets the parameters of minor streets and the conversion would more clearly define vehicle right-of-way control currently lacking at the intersection and direct staff accordingly.
ATTACHMENTS
Aerial Photo ..................................................................................................................... 3 Street View Photo ........................................................................................................... 4 Notification Letter to Residents ....................................................................................... 6 -2-
Printed 2/6/2024
City of Bellflower
Scale: 1 in = 100 ft
Proposed Conversion of Existing 2-way 'Stop' Controls
to 4-way 'Stop' Controls
Jefferson St. at Leahy Ave. and Linden St. at Leahy Ave. -3-
Jefferson St. at
Proposed Conversion of 2-way 'Stop' Controls to 4-way 'Stop' Controls -4-
t. at Leahy Ave.
Proposed Conversion of 2-way 'Stop' Controls to 4-way 'Stop' Controls -5-
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