FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM #17
MEETING DATE November 1, 2023
PREPARED FOR Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY Loren Umbertis, Director of Public Works
SUBJECT Receive report on Traffic Improvement Safety Project at Creek Road, Meernaa Avenue, and Porteous Avenue to improve safety for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians, including the addition of a stop sign and other street markings.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Council receive information regarding a traffic improvement project in the area of Porteous Avenue, Creek Road and Meernaa Avenue, including the addition of a stop sign and other street markings.
DISCUSSION
The Department of Public Works has received concerns about the safety of vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians along the streets of Creek Road, Meernaa Avenue, and Porteous Avenue. Issues include entry from Meernaa Avenue onto Creek Road at an uncontrolled intersection, the currently insufficient yield access from Creek Road onto Porteous Avenue, and poor sight distance issues at two intersections.
Staff from the Public Works Department investigated and determined there was validity to the concerns and asked Parametrix Transportation Consulting, a local traffic safety engineering firm, to review the road conditions and present a recommendation, which is attached and contains photo illustrations.
The intersection of Meernaa Avenue at Creek Road does not have traffic control mechanisms in place, and as a result, cars from Meernaa Avenue may proceed onto Creek Road without stopping and may enter where there is on-coming traffic. Adding a stop sign from Meernaa Avenue will improve safety by preventing moving vehicles from both streets from entering the intersection simultaneously, as they are currently allowed to do. Increasing the length of red curbs near the intersection will also improve sight distance for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians entering onto Creek Road.
As per the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) parking within 20’ of an intersection is typically restricted to allow vehicle drivers adequate sight lines at intersections to improve visibility of pedestrians and oncoming traffic. Increasing the length of red curbs where they are presently located but are not extended long enough near the corners of intersections will improve sight distance lines.
Currently, there is a yield sign at the intersection of Creek Road and Porteous Avenue. During the repaving of the roadway, further examination of the area noted that the sign is an outdated version, and that the location of the yield area was set farther forward which does not give adequate space and distance for a vehicle to react properly and safely when entering into the intersection. The existing outdated sign (red lettering on white background) will be replaced with a currently accepted version (black lettering on yellow background) and the street markings will be located at a more appropriate location. 2 FISCAL IMPACT
There will be costs associated with adding the pavement markings, purchase of sign and placement of pole, and red curb painting that should not exceed $5000 and there will be ongoing maintenance in future years to refresh the markings as they normally fade over time.
ATTACHMENT
Technical Memorandum from Parametrix Transportation Consulting Technical Memorandum
One Harbor Drive, Suite 300 • Sausalito, CA 94965 | 415.649.6000 | Parametrix.com DATE: October 18, 2023
TO: Loren Umbertis, Town of Fairfax
FROM: Maclean Grosel, EIT; David Parisi, PE, TE
SUBJECT: Intersection Striping and Signage Improvememnts This memorandum details recommended striping and signage improvements for three intersections in the Town of Fairfax off Bolinas Road: Meernaa Avenue & Creek Road, Meernaa Avenue and Forrest Terrace, and Porteous Avenue & Creek Road.
Figure 1 Overview Map
1 2
3 Technical Memorandum
Intersection Striping and Signage Improvememnts 2 October 18, 2023
1. Meernaa Avenue & Creek Road
The Meernaa Avenue & Creek Road intersection is a three-legged intersection. Due to the geometric configuration of the intersection, with offset alignments of Creek Road and narrow lanes, there are substandard sight lines for vehicles approaching on Meernaa Avenue. According to the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), Section 2B.06: the use of Stop signs on the minor street approach should be considered if a restricted view exists that requires road users to stop in order to adequately observe conflicting traffic. There was no reported collision history at this intersection in the last five years.
Based on field observations and intersection sight line analysis, the installation of a stop sign, stop bar, and stop stencil are recommended, along with refreshed and extended red curb paint. See the figure below.
Figure 2 Meernaa Avenue & Creek Road Intersection Improvements Plan View Extend Red Curb 17’ Extend Red Curb 15’
Refresh Red Curb
Refresh Red Curb
Extend Red Curb 5’
Extend Red Curb 10’
Stripe 1’ Wide Stop Bar 10’ Long
Refresh Red Curb
Stripe STOP 4’ from Stop Bar
Install STOP Sign on New Pole
Technical Memorandum
Intersection Striping and Signage Improvememnts 3 October 18, 2023 Figure 3 Meernaa Avenue & Creek Road Intersection Improvements Alternate Views Install STOP Sign on New Pole
Stripe 1’ Wide Stop Bar 10’ Long
Stripe STOP 4’ from Stop Bar
Technical Memorandum
Intersection Striping and Signage Improvememnts 4 October 18, 2023
2. Meernaa Avenue and Forrest Terrace
The Meernaa Avenue & Forrest Terrace intersection is a three-legged intersection. There was one recorded collision just east of the intersection in 2017. The collision resulted in property damage only.
Due to the narrow lanes and tight turns, extending the red curb 15’ away from the intersection is recommended to provided better sight lines.
Figure 4 Meernaa Avenue and Forrest Terrace Intersection Improvements Plan View Extend Red Curb 15’
Extend Red Curb 15’
Refresh Red Curb
Technical Memorandum
Intersection Striping and Signage Improvememnts 5 October 18, 2023
3. Porteous Avenue & Creek Road
The Porteous Avenue & Creek Road intersection is a three-legged intersection with an existing YIELD sign on the Creek Road Approach. There was one recorded collision at the intersection in 2022. The collision resulted in property damage only.
In 2023 a new ADA curb ramp was installed on the northeast side of the intersection and the road was repaved. It is recommended to install a new yield sign to replace the existing one on the same pole, to add red curb, and the install yield markings in line with the yield sign. It is recommended to also trim tree branches near the YIELD sign that could reduce visibility of the sign.
Figure 5 Yield Lines Detail
Figure 6 Porteous Avenue & Creek Road Intersection Improvements Install Red Curb
Install Red Curb
Install Yield Lines
Replace YIELD Sign
with New YIELD Sign
Trim tree branches
under 10’ high
Technical Memorandum
Intersection Striping and Signage Improvememnts 6 October 18, 2023 Figure 7 Porteous Avenue & Creek Road Intersection Improvements, Alternate View