Date: August 28, 2023
To: Public Works and Sustainability Commission
From: Department of Public Works
Subject: ALL WAY STOP CONTROL AT GARNET STREET AND SOUTH
JUANITA AVENUE
TITLE:
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PROCEEDING WITH AN ALL
WAY STOP INSTALLATION AT THE INTERSECTION OF GARNET STREET AND SOUTH JUANITA AVENUE.
SUMMARY:
In response to a resident request staff is bringing forward a recommendation for all-way stop (“AWS”) controls at the intersection of Garnet Street and S. Juanita Avenue. In accordance with the City Council’s policy for AWS requests, staff initiated a survey of residences within 150 feet of the intersection and received insufficient resident support to carry the item forward on those grounds. However, the City’s Traffic Engineer performed a site analysis and believes a relevant obstruction to sight lines exists, and that the operation of the intersection could be made safer with the installation of all way stop controls. Therefore, staff recommends the installation of an AWS at Garnet Street and S. Juanita Avenue and is seeking the input of the public and the Public Works and Sustainability Commission before bringing the matter to City Council.
BACKGROUND:
S. Juanita Ave. is classified as a local street and has a 25-mph residential prima facie speed limit. For the purposes of this discussion, S. Juanita Ave. runs north-south. It is approximately 40 feet wide with one travel lane in each direction that are separated by a dashed yellow centerline north of Garnet Street and by double yellow solid lines south of Garnet Street. Parking is allowed on each side of the street. S. Juanita Ave. is stop controlled approximately 675 feet (one block) to the north of the subject intersection at Emerald Street Avenue and stop controlled approximately 850 feet to the south at Torrance Blvd.
Garnet Street is classified as a local street, has a 30-mph residential prima facie speed limit and runs east-west with one travel lane in each direction. It is approximately 50 feet wide with parallel parking allowed on both sides of the street. Garnet Street is not stop controlled at the subject intersection. There is an all-way stop control approximately 350 feet to the east of the subject intersection at S. Lucia Avenue and an all-way stop control approximately 350 feet to the west at S. Irena Avenue. The subject intersection is the only intersection Administrative Report
without AWS on the seven-block stretch of Garnet Street between Prospect Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway.
Fronting development in the vicinity of the intersection is predominantly single family and small multifamily residential. There are sidewalk, curb and gutter improvements on all legs.
Parras Middle School is approximately two blocks away at the corner of Emerald Street and S. Lucia Ave. Due to its proximity to the school, there are yellow crosswalks across S.
Juanita Ave on the north and south legs of the intersection.
The California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD) provides guidance for the installation of all-way stop controls. It suggests that all-way stop controls should be considered when:
• Criteria A - Where traffic control signals are justified, the multi-way stop is an interim measure that can be installed quickly to control traffic while arrangements are being made for the installation of the traffic control signal. • Criteria B – When there are five or more reported crashes in a 12-month period that are susceptible to correction by a multi-way stop installation. Such crashes include right-turn and left-turn collisions as well as right-angle collisions. • Criteria C - Where the vehicular volume entering the intersection from the major street approaches (total of both approaches) averages at least 300 vehicles per hour for any 8 hours of an average day; and combined vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle volume entering the intersection from the minor street approaches (total of both approaches) averages at least 200 units per hour for the same 8 hours, with an average delay to minor-street vehicular traffic of at least 30 seconds per vehicle during the highest hour. When the 85th-percentile approach speed of the majorstreet traffic exceeds 40 mph, the minimum vehicular volume warrants may be reduced to 70 percent of the above values.
• Criteria D - Where no single criterion is satisfied, but where Criteria B and C are all satisfied to 80 percent of the minimum values.
The CA MUTCD also provides other criteria that may be considered, including:
• The need to control left-turn conflicts;
• The need to control vehicle/pedestrian conflicts near locations that generate high pedestrian volumes;
• Locations where a road user, after stopping, cannot see conflicting traffic and is not able to negotiate the intersection unless conflicting cross traffic is also required to stop; and,
• An intersection of two residential neighborhood collector (through) streets of similar design and operating characteristics where all-way stop control would improve traffic operational characteristics of the intersection.
DISCUSSION:
Staff received an AWS request for this subject location in June 2023. The concern is due to limited sight lines viewing cross traffic when vehicles are advancing southbound on S.
Juanita through the intersection. The intersection has stop control only on S. Juanita Avenue.
Staff forwarded by US Mail a survey to 24 residences within 150 feet of the intersection per the City’s AWS request policy approved by City Council. The letter included for the first time a QR code to more easily allow respondents to complete the survey electronically. The responses were due by July 23rd and at that time the City had received 10 responses from surveyed residences, all in support. Of the ten responses, six were received via use of the QR code. Because there were no negative responses, the response rate and the support rate were both 10 of 24, or about 42%. This is below the threshold to advance the AWS request on the merits of resident support alone. Two additional responses in favor were received (electronically) but were not counted as they came from addresses outside of the survey area. The survey letter and a table summarizing responses are included in the attachments.
The City’s Traffic Engineer visited the site in August 2023 and concurred with the requestor that the visibility challenges for vehicles traveling southbound through that intersection could be mitigated by the introduction of AWS controls at the intersection. Staff also collected and analyzed reported traffic collision data from SWITRS. A review of the available SWITRS crash data at both intersections during the five-year period revealed one potentially correctable collision between 1/1/2018 and 12/31/2022. Despite the low crash history, the City’s Traffic Engineer is recommending addition of the AWS control based on the reduced visibility at the intersection.
Engineering staff also noticed some evidence of “scarring” on the pavement at the east and west approaches (on Garnet Street) to the intersection. This scarring is present just beyond the concrete ribbon gutter that crosses Garnet on each side of the intersection, and is likely the result of east and west bound vehicles “bottoming out” as they pass too fast over the gutter and through the intersection. While not a reason to install a stop control by itself, vehicles stopping at the east and west approaches would reduce the occurrence of such damage.
Staff recommendation for AWS control is based on the CA MUTCD “other criteria” listed above, specifically related to reduced visibility for conflicting traffic due landscaping along Garnet Street and the potential for pedestrian / vehicle conflicts in this school area intersection. Additional benefit may be gained for intersection operation and vehicle safety due to the undulation in the roadway surface (due to cross gutters). Staff also recommends the addition of yellow continental crosswalks across Garnet Street, if the AWS is approved.
ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE:
1. Recommend staff advance consideration of AWS control at Garnet Street and S.
Juanita Avenue to the City Council.
2. Do not support the recommendation from staff.
3. Other actions as determined by the Public Works and Sustainability Commission.
COORDINATION:
Coordination of the resident survey and the safety evaluation and this report took place within the Public Works Department.
Prepared by:
Andy Winje, City Engineer
Submitted by:
Ted Semaan, Public Works Director
ATTACHMENTS:
1. All Way Stop Survey Response
2. Notice to Residents