Agenda Report
Fullerton Transportation and
Circulation Commission
MEETING DATE: NOVEMBER 7, 2022
TO: TRANSPORTATION & CIRCULATION COMMISSION
SUBMITTED BY: PUBLIC WORKS/TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DIVISION
PREPARED BY: DAVID ROSEMAN, CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER
SUBJECT: NICOLAS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL REVIEW
SUMMARY
In response to Commission direction , the City Traffic Engineer is returning to the Commission with additional recommendations after compl eting a review of the recently implemented traffic and parking controls along O live Avenue adjacent to Nicolas Junior High School.
RECOMMENDATION
1. C oncur with the City Traffic Engineer ’s proposed implementation of additional traffic and parking controls.
2. Reaffirm the Commission ’s previous decision to deny the as signment of an Adult Crossing Guard.
DISCUSSION
On February 7, 2021, the Commission heard a request for an Adult Crossing Guard at the intersection of Olive Avenue and Citru s Avenue adjacent to Nic olas Junior High School. After hearing testimony from staff and the public, the Commission discussed the matter and ultimately concurred with the City ’s Traffic Engineer ’s assessment and denied the request for the Adult Crossi ng Guard. The Commission also moved to approve a series of traffic and parking controls along Olive Avenue recommended by the City Traffic Engineer. Additionally, the Commission directed the City Traffic Engineer to monitor traffic and parking operations for a period of 90 days after the implementation of the traffic and parking changes to assess their effectiveness and report back to the Commission with his findings . On March 15, 2022 , City Coun cil considered and
Nicolas Jr. High School Review
November 7, 2022 - Page 2
reaffirmed the Commission’s action by approving the implementation of an all -way stop at the intersection of Olive Avenue and Citrus Avenue.
The City Traffic Engineer has completed his 90-day review of the recently implemented traffic and parking modifications and has concluded tha t the changes made have improved traffic and parking operations at the school. Specifically, the new all-way stop is clearly assigning right -of-way and there are fewer observed vehicle/pedestrian conflicts. However, p arental behavior dropping off and picking up students remains problematic. Parents were observed running stop signs, parking wit hin red zones, stopping in the middle of the intersection to drop off students, and making ill-advised U- turns. Additionally, several vehicles belonging to visitors or school st aff were observed parked all-day within the st udent loading/unloading area, negatively impacting the flow and efficiency of student drop off and pick up activities. The behaviors observed appear to be willful violations of traffic and parking laws by parents that are best addressed through enforcement. Staff has alerte d the Police Depart ment’s Tra ffic Burea u of the illegal motorist activity for their consideration and action as they deem appropriate.
Based on the traffic and parking observations, the C ity Traffic Engineer recommends the following additional improvements to enhance safety and efficiency while deterring inappropriate and illegal motorist behavior:
• Install 12”-wide limit lines immediately upstream of the existing crosswalks. This will provide further visual c lues to motorists that the intersection is a controlled all-way stop and that they are to stop behind the crosswalk. • Install 40 feet of yellow centerline on each approach to the Olive A venue and Citrus Avenue intersection. This will provide further visual clues to motorists that the intersection a controlled all-way stop.
• Install “NO U- TURN” signs for both eastbound & westbound Olive A venue at Citrus Avenue to prohibit U-turns within this narrow intersection. • Install additional “NO STOPPING ANYTIME” signs along the south curb of Olive Avenue to further reenforce the existing red zone.
• Expand the existing “ NO PARKING” student loading/unloading area to the west by approximately 215 feet. This additional length is designed to accommodate approximately ten additional vehicles.
The proposed traffic and par king control modifications are visually outlined in Attachment 1.
Staff continues to receive inquiries regarding the need for an adult crossing guard at the intersection of Olive Avenue and Citrus Avenue. The Commission ha s recently heard similar testimony suggesting that the Commission’s previous decision should be reconsidered. The City Traffic Engineer would like to highlight that th e intersection of Olive Avenue and Citrus A venue does not meet any of the State- established criteria for the deployment of an adult crossing guard. The City Traffic Engineer acknowledges that the intersection experiences brisk pedestrian and vehicle activity in the thirt y minutes before and after school; however, brisk intersection activity does not necessari ly constitute an unsafe environment or the need for an adult crossing guard. Furthermore, during the 90-day review period, the City Traffic Engineer did not find any remarkable Nicolas Jr. High School Review
November 7, 2022 - Page 3
conditions or circumstances that would suggest additional consideration should b e given to the assignment of an adult crossing guard. Therefore, the City Traffic Engineer suggests the Commission provide an opportunity for public testi mony regarding the request for assignment of a n adult c rossing guard and then reaffirm its previous decision denying the request.
Attachments:
• Attachment 1 – Additional Traffic & Parking Improvements Extend exisƟng “Student Loading/
Unloading” area 215’ further west
of current start point. Total length
to be 505’.
OLIVE AVENUE
CITRUS AVENUE
OLIVE AVENUE & CITRUS AVENUE
AddiƟonal Traffic & Parking Improvements