Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2022
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: MEG McWADE, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
PREPARED BY: DAVID ROSEMAN, CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER
SUBJECT: SUNSET LANE SCHOOL NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS
SUMMARY
Consideration of a Transportation and Circulation Commission (TCC) recommendation to approve the City Traffic Engineer’s proposed installation of additional stop control at select intersections in the vicinity of Sunset Lane School.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Approve TCC recommendations for safety enhancements for the Sunset Lane school neighborhood.
Adopt Resolution No. 2022-XXX.
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-XXX – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL STOP CONTROLS AT SELECT INTERSECTIONS
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
None.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statement:
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Fiscal Year 2022-23 Adopted Operating Budget includes an adequate appropriation. Sunset Lane improvements cost $8500 and Chapman Avenue improvements cost $40,000.
DISCUSSION
The City Engineer recently met with the Fullerton School District’s Risk Manager to discuss student safety and traffic operations in the immediate area of Sunset Lane Elementary School. The Risk Manager pointed out two primary safety concerns as follows:
Student safety at the marked crosswalk at El Rancho Vista and Sunset Lane where drivers reportedly frequently encroach into the crosswalk during student drop-off and pick-up, potentially limiting motorist visibility of students crossing in the west leg school crosswalk.
Staff confirmed that parents dropping off and picking up students during school arrival and dismissal periods frequently stop their vehicles at the intersection in such a manner as to limit the visibility of students and pedestrians legally crossing at the intersection. Although this is primarily an enforcement matter, the City Traffic Engineer believes installing additional red zones and painting parking “T”s to better define appropriate parking area could improve safety. Attachment 2 outlines the proposed parking modifications.
Occasionally heavy student and pedestrian crossing activity at the Camino Centroloma and Conejo Lane intersection during school arrival and dismissal periods creates congestion and queuing impacts the flow of traffic to, from and around the school.
All-way stop signs control the Camino Centroloma and Conejo Lane intersection. Staff confirmed that traffic at the intersection can queue at times. However, at no time did staff find the motorist wait or the queues unreasonably excessive. Staff considers the all-way stop at this intersection a necessity due to the brisk student and pedestrian activity within all four crosswalks and need to control vehicular traffic through positive assignment of right-of-way. The assignment of an Adult Crossing Guard may improve intersection progression and efficiency, however, observations of traffic operations during this investigation did not reveal an immediate need or justification for such a measure. Should the School District submit a formal request for an Adult Crossing Guard, staff will conduct a formal investigation into the matter in accordance with guidelines established in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
Staff also assessed traffic controls in the neighborhood around the school to determine their condition and the feasibility of implementing other measures to enhance motorist, student and pedestrian safety. Staff determined that the following changes in traffic and parking controls would be prudent:
Installation of stop controls at “T” intersections - In observing both the physical environment and motorist behavior in the vicinity of the school, staff observed that some motorists do not fully yield the right-of-way to through traffic at “T” intersections. Failure to yield increases the risk of a crash between vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. The City has installed stop controls on the discontinuous approaches at “T” intersections in recent years to positively assign right-of-way and enhance intersection safety. The City Traffic Engineer recommends that the City apply this same “T” intersection stop control treatment for the streets in the immediate vicinity of the school. This change in traffic controls will also provide a more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly environment in a neighborhood with significant walking and cycling activity. Attachment 1 shows the proposed stop controls.
Installation of red curb at intersection corners - Staff observed several instances of vehicles parked too close to intersection corners, impeding motorist sight distance of conflicting traffic, pedestrians and bicyclists. Some intersection corners in the vicinity of the school already have red zones installed and motorists tend to park appropriately at those locations. To better demark where motorists should not park, staff determined it prudent to install red zones at all intersection corners in the vicinity of the school. Attachment 2 identifies the corners for red zone installation.
Installation and upgrade of school crossing warning signs and markings – Staff found each of the uncontrolled yellow school crosswalks within the vicinity of the school to have signs and markings in good condition, visible and installed appropriately. Staff determined it prudent to add a second, more visible crosswalk warning sign to the far-left side of the road in each direction to complement the existing signs and add an extra measure of visibility for the uncontrolled yellow crosswalks. Additionally, the City will remove the crosswalk warning and markings for those crossings receiving upgraded stop controls. These changes should significantly improve visibility and enhance safety for the crosswalks serving the school. Attachment 3 shows the signage and marking changes.
The four residential collector streets in the vicinity of the school (Sunset Lane, Sunrise Lane, Conejo Lane and Camino Centroloma) have 25-mile per hour prima facie speed limits. All four streets are 36-feet wide and have improved curb, gutter and sidewalks. The City allows unrestricted parking on both sides of each street except for various segments of either red curb or time-restricted parking. The City prohibits early morning parking between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on all four streets. Average daily traffic volumes on the four streets averaged approximately 575 vehicles per day for school days, except for El Rancho Vista with 268 vehicles recorded over a 24-hour period and Camino Centroloma with 905 vehicles recorded over that same period.
Staff conducted pedestrian and bicycle counts during the school arrival and dismissal period at each of the intersections in proximity to the school. Attachment 4 summarizes the results of those counts. The south leg crosswalk located at the Sunrise Lane and Loma Verde Drive intersection at the back of the school had the highest activity level with over 150 crossings during the morning arrival period. The City recorded no bicycle crossing activity at any of the five intersections studied.
A review of collision records over the past five years did not reveal a pattern or concentration of crashes on the streets in the immediate vicinity of the school that would suggest further investigation or additional traffic control measures.
Staff also conducted automated speed surveys of the streets in the immediate vicinity of the school and found most motorists traveled at prudent and reasonable speeds on school days. The survey results revealed that 85% of all traffic recorded traveled at or below the 25 mile per hour prima facie speed limit (Attachment 4).
Staff presented this information to the Transportation and Circulation Commission on August 1, 2022. TCC recommended all safety enhancements for approval and implementation. Staff has mailed notification of the City Traffic Engineer’s recommendation to all property owners affected by the proposed change.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Resolution No. 2022-XXX
Attachment 2 – Proposed Red Curb and On-Street Parking “T” Markings Attachment 3 – Proposed School Crossing Warning Signs
Attachment 4 – Speed, Volume and Pedestrian Counts
Attachment 5 – Combined Enhancements
Attachment 6 – TCC Staff Report
cc: City Manager Eric J. Levitt
Sunset Lane School Neighborhood Traffic Safety Enhancements September 20, 2022 - Page PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT 2