HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - October 15, 1996AGENDA TITLE: Request for Marked Pedestrian Crosswalk Across Pine Street at Central Avenue
MEETING DATE: October 15, 1996
PREPARED BY: Public Works Director
RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council review the following report regarding the installation of
a marked pedestrian crosswalk across Pine Street at Central Avenue and
take no action.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The following report has been prepared based on a Council Member's
request following a citizen's complaint. The citizen requested the
installation of a marked pedestrian crosswalk across Pine Street at
Central Avenue to accommodate pedestrian traffic generated by the
First Baptist Church located at the southwest comer of the intersection. During church services, the on-site
parking lot fills and many members park on the north side of Pine Street and cross at Central Avenue. The
overflow parking situation has been observed by staff.
Since a similar issue was reviewed with the City Council at the October 2, 1996 meeting, the following
report only includes additional information about this location and omits the background material provided at
that meeting.
EXISTING CONDITIONS: Pine Street and Central Avenue are two-lane collector streets with residential
uses located adjacent to the intersection, except for the church as noted above. Traffic volumes on
Pine Street and Central Avenue are 6,500 and 1,400 vehicles per day, respectively. Speed limits are 30
and 25 mph, respectively. Available accident data from 1987 to the present indicates there has been no
pedestrian -related accidents at this location. Prior to 1990, a painted crosswalk was in place at this
intersection. it was not replaced following a 1990 pavement overlay. Two complaints were received shortly
after the overlay and the reasoning behind not replacing the crosswalks was explained to the callers.
RECOMMENDATION: Given the lack of accidents, the relatively infrequent use of the crossing, and
other studies which would discourage use of a painted crosswalk in this circumstance, staff
recommends the crosswalk not be replaced.
FUNDING: None.
ac L. Ronsko
Pu
Works Director
Prepared by Richard C. Prima, Jr., City Engineer
JLR/RCP/Im
cc: Police Chief
Street Superintendent
Associate Traffic Engineer
APPROVED:
H. Dixon Flynn -- C Manager
CxWKPNCN.DOC 10/07/96
CITY COUNCIL
DAVID P. WARNER, Mayor
PHILLIP A. PENNINO
Mayor Pro Tempore
RAY C. DAVENPORT
STEPHEN J. MANN
JACK A. SIECLOCK
First Baptist Church
19 S. Central Avenue
Lodi, CA 95240
CITY OF NODI
CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET!
P.O. BOX 3006
LODI, CALIFORNIA 9524-1-1910 »
(209) 333-6706
FAX (209) 333-6710
October 22, 1996
SUBJECT: Installation of Crosswalk Across Pine Street at Central Avenue
H. DIXON FLYNN
City Manager
JENNIFER M. PERRIN
City Clerk
RANDALL A. HAYS
City Attorney
The following letter has been prepared in response to a request received by City Council
from a member of the church to paint a crosswalk across Pine Street at Central Avenue. A
painted or "marked" crosswalk existed at this location prior to 1990 but was not replaced
following a street maintenance project. The decision to not repaint the crosswalk was
based on some interesting findings related to the false perception of safety pedestrians
perceive when using marked crosswalks. The City has been removing some crosswalks
based on this information in hopes of reducing the number of pedestrian accidents in the
City, particularly since an evaluation performed by the State Office of Traffic Safety (OTS)
indicated that Lodi has a higher than average number of pedestrian accidents in
comparison to other cities of similar population. There have been no reported pedestrian
accidents at this intersection from 1987 (beginning of records) to the present.
Publications related to pedestrian safety indicate that while more pedestrians use marked
crosswalks, there is a disproportionately higher number of accidents occurring in marked
than unmarked crosswalks. This appears to be due to the false sense of security
perceived by pedestrians when using marked crosswalks. Based on these factors
crosswalks should be marked to guide pedestrians and not used as a safety device. Two
articles related to this matter are enclosed for your review.
The decision to remove crosswalks is not made arbitrarily. Considerations are given to the
location of the crossing, type of traffic control at the intersection and whether the crossing
is on a suggested school route. Discussion regarding the replacement of a marked
crosswalk at this intersection took place at the October 16, 1996, City Council meeting.
Staff was directed to replace the painted crosswalk only upon receipt of a letter requesting
the replacement from an authorized representative of the church. If, after reviewing this
information, you wish to send this letter, please address it to Richard C. Prima, Jr.,
City Engineer, P.O. Box 3006, Lodi, CA, 95241-1910.
kr'�L
Jack Ronsko
ublic orks Director
JLR/RSK/pmf
Enclosures
cc: City Manager
City Council
City Engineer
Associate Traffic Engineer
BAPTIST.DOC
RESOLUTION NO. 96-155
A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL
APPROVING THE MARKED PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK ACROSS
PINE STREET AT CENTRAL AVENUE
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lodi City Council does hereby approve a marked
pedestrian crosswalk across Pine Street at Central Avenue, as shown on Exhibit A
attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Dated: October 16, 1996
I hereby certify that Resolution No. 96-155 was passed and adopted by the City
Council of the City of Lodi in a regular meeting held October 16, 1996, by the following
vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS - DAVENPORT, MANN, PENNINO,
SIEGLOCK AND WARNER (MAYOR)
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS - NONE
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS - NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS - NONE
7•4�` ,j J
JENNIFER/M. PERRIN
City Clerk
96-155
�4<IFoR�`P
Exhibit A
Pine Street at
Central Avenue
Existing Conditions
Residential
Q Residential
Pine
Street
7
7 a -
C6
Church
Residential
-4--f
(1)
U
LEGEND
-a- - Existing Stop Signs