CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
December 5, 2022
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: James Makshanoff, City Manager
Submitted By: Rene Guerrero, Public Works Director
SUBJECT: ALL-WAY STOP SIGNS AND/OR CROSSWALKS AT VARIOUS INTERSECTIONS RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Direct staff to install all way stop signs at the following intersections:
Ninth Street at Eleanor Street
Park Avenue at Commercial Street
Dudley Street at Vejar Street
North Ranch Road at Rock Bluff Road, and
Direct staff to install four crosswalks at the intersection of Park Avenue and Commercial Street, as funding allows.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There will be minor costs for the installation of two stop signs and associated pavement legends at each intersection of the four intersections listed in the table below. Each listed intersection is proposed to have two new stop signs installed at the appropriate locations at an approximate cost of $1,600 for each intersection. Said costs will be absorbed into the existing Public Works Operations budget (208-2562-52750-00000). Regarding the proposed installation of new crosswalks (four), new pavement legends, and the removal of existing, conflicting striping and pavement legends at the intersection of Park Avenue and Commercial Street, the estimated cost is $7,500. At this time, there are sufficient funding to install the all way stop signs. Additional funds will have to be identified prior to installation of new crosswalks.
Item
Location
Install Two Stop Signs
Install Four Crosswalks
Total Cost
1. Ninth St. @ Eleanor St.
$1,600.00
-
$1,600.00
2. Dudley St. @ Vejar St.
$1,600.00
-
$1,600.00
3. N. Ranch Rd. @ Rock Bluff Rd.
$1,600.00
-
$1,600.00
4. Park Ave. @ Commercial St.
$1,600.00
$7,500.00
$9,100.00
Total Construction Cost
$13,900.00
DISCUSSION:
City Staff was directed to review various intersections for potential intersection enhancements, including the addition of stop signs and crosswalks. Stop signs are installed to regulate traffic flow and assign vehicle right-of-way; stop signs are not recommended for the purpose of reducing vehicle speeds, per the California Manual on Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD). The City of Pomona (City) uses the CA MUTCD criteria when considering the installation of stop signs at intersections. City Staff reviewed intersections 1-3 with available existing traffic data and determined that the listed CA MUTCD criteria were not satisfied. However, constituents have consistently voiced concerns to the City regarding, 1) drivers failing to slow down and yield to neighborhood traffic and/or 2) obstructed visibility from parked vehicles. Driver behavior is best addressed through traffic enforcement. However, even though these three intersection do not meet the criteria listed in the CA MUTCD, the City Council may direct Staff to install all-way stop control at intersections to help regulate traffic flow and assign vehicle right-of-way.
Park Avenue and Commercial Street – Staff recently received a petition to install marked crosswalks at the intersection of Park Avenue at Commercial Street. Currently, there are stop signs on Commercial St. in both directions, but no marked crosswalk in any direction. The submitted petition is requesting that the City install marked crosswalks to increase visibility to and from the recently constructed Veterans housing on the southwest corner of the intersection. The nearest existing marked crosswalk on Park Avenue is located 250 feet north at an all-way stop-controlled intersection. Existing railroad tracks are located 200 feet south of this intersection. Although it may be common to see uncontrolled marked crosswalks in other cities, it is the least preferred option. As part of the proposed crosswalk installations, Staff recommends the installation of an all-way stop at this intersection to provide enhanced visibility of the proposed marked crosswalks.
Approval of the recommended actions will direct Staff to install all-way stop signs at four intersections and new crosswalks at Park Avenue and Commercial Street.
Along with reviewing various intersections for potential intersection enhancements, Staff is often asked to review large corridors for similar traffic issues. One such corridor is Grand Avenue. Grand Ave. is a very wide street with one travel lane in each direction. Often, motorists speed on Grand Ave. or illegally pass slower vehicles. For future consideration, one type of enhancement to implement would be a “road diet” via striping. Staff is currently having a consultant design the appropriate striping to implement a “road diet” on the entire stretch of Grand Ave. from Hansen Ave. to the east City limit. The preliminary estimated cost for this striping is $206,000. Currently, no funding has been identified for this striping work.
COUNCIL PRIORITIES & GOALS:
This item supports the June 21, 2021 City Council Priorities and Goals, Priority 5: Infrastructure – Goal P: Improve condition of streets, alleys, and associated sidewalks ALTERNATIVE(S):
The City Council has the following alternatives:
Direct City Staff to install stop signs and crosswalks; or Leave the intersection(s) as-is.
Prepared by:
Ron Chan
Principal Traffic Engineer
Proposed Stop Signs and/or Crosswalks at Various Intersections