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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 Linden Street and Leahy Avenue and install red curb parking restrictions at 15561 Leahy Avenue (C.E.# 24-03).
DATE: April 22, 2024
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This action would approve and authorize the conversion of the existing 2-way ‘Stop’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls on Linden Street and Leahy Avenue and install red curb parking restrictions at 15561 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’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls on Linden Street and Leahy Avenue; and
2) Authorize the Director of Public Works, or designee, to install red curb parking restrictions at 15561 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 $1,500.00. Funds are budgeted in Account Nos. 010-43180-3100 (Street Maintenance Street Signs) and 010-43170-3100 (Street Maintenance Traffic Paint).
DISCUSSION
The City received a request to install additional ‘Stop’ controls at the intersection of Linden Street and Leahy Avenue, specifically to convert the existing 2-way ‘Stop’ controls into 4-way (all directions) ‘Stop’ controls. Currently only Linden Street is STOP controlled. Based upon an engineering assessment of this request, staff determined that this intersection is recommended 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 Linden Street at Leahy Avenue and installation of red curb parking restrictions at 15561 Leahy Avenue
April 22, 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), both streets are in a residential neighborhood, both streets are between thirty (30) and forty (40) feet in width, 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 intersection. As a result, staff is proposing to install ‘Stop’ controls (Stop signs, limit lines and ‘STOP’ pavement legends) in both travel directions at the 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 the intersection is being recommended.
The proposed change is illustrated in the attached aerial photograph.
The conversion of the existing 2-way ‘Stop’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls at this intersection was previously discussed by the Public Safety Commission at its February 20, 2024, meeting but not recommended for approval. The City Engineer moved the request for both the Jefferson Street at Leahy Avenue and Linden Street at Leahy Avenue item forward for City Council consideration at its March 11, 2024, meeting. The City Council subsequently approved the conversion at the intersection of Jefferson Street at Leahy Avenue but requested that the item be brought back to the Public Safety Commission for reconsideration for the intersection of Linden Street at Leahy Avenue.
On April 2, 2024, Public Works staff re-noticed the residents within the area of this intersection that this matter would be brought back before the Public Safety Commission at its April 16, 2024, meeting.
It was noted at the February 20, 2024, Public Safety Commission meeting that vehicles parked near the curb return fronting 15561 Leahy Avenue may impede egress from the garage fronting 15560 Leahy Avenue. With the recent passage of Assembly Bill 413, which took effect on January 1, 2024, no vehicle may be parked within twenty (20) feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk therefore the Public Safety Commission requested that the twenty (20) foot area fronting 15561 Leahy Avenue be painted red as part of their recommendation for approval of the ‘Stop’ conversion at the April 16, 2024, Public Safety Commission Meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
Aerial Photo ........................................................................................................................... 3 Street View Photos ................................................................................................................ 4 Notification Letter to Residents ............................................................................................. 6 -2-
Printed 4/2/2024
City of Bellflower
Scale: 1 in = 100 ft
Proposed Conversion of Existing 2-way 'Stop'
Controls to 4-way 'Stop' Controls - Linden St. at Leahy Ave.
Proposed Installation of 20' Red Curb Parking Restrictions at 15561 Leahy Avenue -3-
t. at Leahy Ave.
Proposed Conversion of 2-way 'Stop' Controls to 4-way 'Stop' Controls -4-
15561 Leahy Avenue
Proposed 20' of Red Curb Parking Restrictions
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