FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM #17
MEETING DATE July 17, 2024
PREPARED FOR Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY Loren Umbertis, Director of Public Works
SUBJECT Receive Update on Red Curb Painting within Town of Fairfax per AB 413
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and File Report on Red Curb Painting per AB 413
DISCUSSION
To improve the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles within the State of California, the California Assembly passed AB-413 which amended the previous bill relating to vehicles stopping, standing and parking on California Streets and Roads. The amendment to the Bill that was approved and enacted into law states that vehicles may not be parked as follows:
- (n) (1) (A) Within 20 feet of the vehicle approach side of any marked or unmarked crosswalk or within 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension is present. o (B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a local authority may establish a different distance if both of the following requirements are met:
(i) A local authority establishes the different distance by ordinance that includes a finding that the different distance is justified by established traffic safety standards.
(ii) A local authority has marked the different distance at the intersection using paint or a sign.
- (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a local authority may permit commercial vehicle loading or unloading within 20 feet of the vehicle approach side of any marked or unmarked crosswalk or within 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension is present if both of the following requirements are met:
o (A) A local authority authorizes the commercial vehicle loading and unloading by ordinance and identifies the crosswalk or crosswalks in the ordinance. o (B) A local authority has marked the commercial loading and unloading areas with paint or signage.
- (3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a local authority may permit parking for bicycles or motorized scooters within 20 feet of a crosswalk.
- (4) Prior to January 1, 2025, jurisdictions may only issue a warning, and shall not issue a citation, for a violation unless the violation occurs in an area marked using paint or a sign.
The purpose of the legislation is intended to provide additional sight line distances for cross traffic by pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles to prevent collisions or accidents from occurring.
In Fairfax, at a number of locations listed in the list below, the curbs along the vehicle approach to a marked or unmarked crosswalk are not painted red or required refreshed painting and vehicles will often be found parked in those spots reducing the ability to see on-coming traffic by vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians.
2 - Spruce at Sequoia
- Sequoia at Scenic
- Manor at Scenic
- Scenic at Manor
- Refresh red at Marinda and SFD
- Refresh red at Oak Tree and SFD
- Extend red slightly at Oak Tree and SFD
- Add red at Glen at Wheaton
- Extend red at Glen around curve at parking area and continue short distance beyond crosswalk towards SFD
The Department of Public Works has added some red curb painting to provide a visual cue of the prohibition of parking within those zones to improve safety. Per AB 413, parking is prohibited whether the curb is painted red or not; the curbs were painted in their recent locations due to the high volume of pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles that use these particular routes, currently along the Scenic, Tamalpais, Spruce and Park corridor which encompasses some of the Bicycle Routes to School path as well as significant pedestrian traffic to access Peri Park playground, Town services and the downtown business district.
Not all locations in other parts of Fairfax may be painted or signed with parking prohibitions even though the law remains in effect and enforceable for locations that meet the bill’s stipulations.
FISCAL IMPACT
Department of Public Works staff will have minimal costs to apply and maintain the red paint in the future.
Recent painting required less than $100 in materials and approximately one (1) Full Time Equivalent (FTE) day of 8 hours for application of the red paint.
ATTACHMENT
None.