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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1988/02/09 Item 9• COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT Item 9 Meeting Date 2/9/88 • ITEM TITLE: SUBMITTED BY: Resolution~~S~ Appropriating funds for 2-way flashing red stops and follow-up report regarding the all-way stop signs at Third Avenue and "D" Street Director of Public Works REVIEWED BY: City Pianager~ At the meeting of August 18, follow-up on the installation hospital pavement markings at report. (4/5ths Vote: Yes X No 1987, the City Council directed the staff to of the all-way stop signs and look into the Third Avenue and "D" Street and return with a RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council accept this report and install 2-way flashing red stop on Third Avenue at "D" Street intersection. BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION: Not applicable. DISCUSSION: Third Avenue is a north-south collector street. The segment of Third Avenue between Fredericka Parkway and "D" Street is provided with two through lanes for traffic in each direction, separated by a double yellow centerline stripe. There are also left-turn pockets on Third Avenue at "D" Street. The average daily traffic (ADT) on Third Avenue and on "D" Street is approximately 9,090 and 2,850 vehicles per day respectively. The posted speed limit is 35 mph on Third Avenue. Speed surveys prior to the installation of the all-way stop signs indicated that the 85th percentile speed was 37 mph. After the installation of the all-way stop signs, advance stop ahead signs, and stop pavement markings on September 14, 1987, speed surveys indicated that the 85th percentile speed is now 38 mph. on Third Avenue between "D" Street and "E" Street. Staff also completed a stop sign compliance study on December 9, 1987, which shows 15 percent of the vehicles coming to a complete stop. Forty-eight (48) percent of the vehicles in this survey slowed down to less than 3 mph. Twenty-eight (28) percent of the vehicles slowed down to a speed between 3 mph and 10 mph. Seven (7) percent of the vehicles reduced their speed only slightly, to between 10 mph and 25 mph. Finally, 2 percent of the vehicles did not stop or slow down at all. A review of our accident records show that during the period between 1/1/84 to 9/14/87 there were a total of 12 reported accidents at the intersection of Third and "D". None of these accidents involved pedestrians. Page 2, Item Meeting Date 2 9/88 • Pedestrian counts done on Tuesday, June 23, 1987, between 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p. m. before the all-way stop signs were installed show 1^c pedestrians on Third Avenue of which four were jay-walking. A pedestrian count done on Wednesday, December 2, 1987 after the installation of all-way stops, between 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., shows 8 pedestrians on Third Avenue, of which four were jay-walking. There have been three reported traffic accidents at the intersection since the all-way stop signs were installed four months ago. These accidents were all right-angle collisions. Four months prior to installation of stop signs, from 5/14/1987 to 9/14/1987, there were two reported accidents. Both of these were left-turn accidents. This intersection will be placed on the traffic signal priority list and be evaluated annually. City Council requested that staff look into the hospital pavement markings or other traffic control measures. Currently, there is no recommendation or restriction iri the California Traffic Manual or Vehicle Code regarding painting "hospital" on the pavement. Staff would not recommend installing hospital markings on the street because (1) there is not a full service hospital at this location and the sign may mislead people that they could receive treatment during an emergency; and (2) it is not a standard pavement marking in California and staff believes would not be effective. • One option would be to remove the 4-way stop signs. Staff would not recommend removing the signs for the following reasons: 1. Once a 4-way stop is installed at an intersection and the motorists get used to it, removing the signs could cause additional accidents by the minor street drivers believing that the major street traffic will stop; and 2. Third Avenue drops off to the north creating a ride quality and sight distance problem. The 4-way stop sign, in effect, relieves the City of the necessity of reconstructing the vertical curve. This represents a future savings of $150,000 to $200,000. Due to the stop sign compliance study and the accident history, staff recommends the installation of 2-way flashing red beacons on Third Avenue. Funding to cover the installation of 2-way flashing red stop ($7,000), staff time ($1,000), and contingency ($1,500) amounts to approximately $9,500. It is appropriate that funding for this project come from Traffic Signal Fund. FINANCIAL STATEMENT: Traffic Signal Fund - $9,500 appropriation - Annual maintenance and energy costs for the beacons is estimated at $1,000. ~, .,.~~ WPC 3388E • - _~ _. ._. _. _..~~~1` Ci~uia Vista, C~fifornia Dated