EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: May 17, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Patrick Heisinger, Interim City Manager
BY: Batool Zaro, Assistant Civil Engineer
Humza Javed, City Engineer
SUBJECT: Installation of a multi-way stop sign at the western leg of Bell Street and Cooley Avenue
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution authorizing the installation of a multi-way (three-way) stop sign at the Bell Street and Cooley Avenue intersection at the western leg.
Background
Based on a request received from a resident regarding limited visibility and safety, the City of East Palo Alto’s Engineering Division performed a multi-way stop sign analysis for the Bell Street and Cooley Avenue intersection. This analysis is used to verify if a multi-way stop sign installation is warranted and recommended based on standard guidelines. Current conditions consist of two three-way intersections. Cooley Avenue runs in the north/south direction and Bell Street runs in the east/west direction. The east and west legs of Bell Street were analyzed separately as two different intersections. See Image 1 for the location map.
Image 1: Location Map, City of East Palo Alto
Analysis
The City of East Palo Alto follows state guidelines outlined in the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) when determining if traffic control devices should be installed, such as a multi-way stop sign. The manual outlines minimum guidelines regarding traffic volumes, collisions, and visibility. The use of multi-way stop signs should be considered if engineering judgment indicates that a stop is required because of one or more of the following conditions:
Condition 1:
As an interim
measure where
traffic control signals
are justified.
and/or Condition 2:
Reported crashes – five or
more in a 12-month period
that are susceptible to
correction by a multi-way stop
installation.
Results:
Satisfied.
Seven (7) collisions reported
in a three-year period.
and/or Condition 3:
Minimum traffic
and pedestrian
volumes,
speeds, and
delay as outlined
in the analysis.
West Leg
Results:
Satisfied.
East Leg
Results:
Not Satisfied.
N
The California MUTCD outlines if one or more of the conditions are met a multi-way stop sign is warranted, and since the collision and volume requirement have been satisfied on the west leg, a multi-way stop sign is warranted. The volume requirements for the east leg were not satisfied; see Attachment 1 for the full multi-way stop sign report for additional details.
Staff performed field visits as part of the analysis to check visibility at both intersections. Based on field observation, staff found that when looking south from the west leg it is challenging to see oncoming vehicles due to the slight angle of the intersection and due to the fact that the southern curb is not red curbed like the northern curb. Drivers must encroach far past the stop bar to see oncoming vehicles. Installing a multi-way stop sign at the western leg would also potentially help provide sufficient gaps for vehicles making turning movements from the eastern leg.
Based on MUTCD warrant requirements, staff recommends the installation of a multi-way stop sign for the three-way intersection at the western leg. The Public Works and Transportation Commission reviewed this item at the April 20th, 2022, meeting and recommended the City Council approve Staff’s recommendation.
Attachments
1. Multi-Way Stop Sign Analysis at Bell & Cooley
2. Resolution