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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - January 2, 1991 (30):k CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO: City Council FROM: City Manager MEETING DATE: January 2, 1991 AGENDA TITLE: Washington Street and Acacia Street - Intersection Control RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council review -he following report on Washington Street and Acacia Street and determine the appropriate action. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: At the November 28, 1990 City Council meeting, a pet -tion re^,uesting installation of four-way stops at Washington and Acacia was referred to the Public Works Department. The petitioned request for this installation received from residents of the area is attached as Exhibit A. Normally such a request received directly by staff is prioritized for future or immediate study based on accident rate and other factors. When the request is made directly to the City Council, staff would report back at a later meeting with a recommendation based on the information used to establish the priority. In this case, since we already had data due to previous complaints, the number of signatures on the petition and the fact that it is the first of many four-way stop requests that the new Councilmembers will receive, we have prepared a more detailed report with additional background material. The installation of four-way stop signs is designed to control traffic at the intersection of streets with high volumes and near -equal volume splits, or where acc4dents correctable by their use can be eliminated, after trying less restrictive remedies. Existing Conditions Currently, Acacia Street yields at Washington Street. The prima facie speed limit on both streets is 25 mph. Approach volumes on Acacia Street and Washington Street are aproximately 300 (35%) and 560 (65%) vehicles per day, respectively (Exhibit Bg. Study Results As shown on the attached Exhibit C, Caltrans guidelines for the installation of four-way stops are not satisfied at this location. The number of correctable accidents and traffic volumes are far below the required minimums. A review of accidents on Washington Street from Watson Street to Kettleman Lane from 1987 to the present indicates that one of the nine accidents in this segment occurred at Acacia Street. This 1987 acciuent (left turn versus APPROVED: FILE NO. NOmA' A. PE-1ERS0N,C_i__tY Manager CWASHING/TXTW.02M (CO.COM) December 26, 1990 City Council January 2, 1991 Washington and Acacia Streets Page 2 thru) was not speed -related. None of the other eight accidents in this segment were identified as being caused by excessive speed. It does not appear that the alignment offset, on Acacia as it crosses Washington has been a problem. Discussion The submitted petition indicates that four-way stops are desired to reduce speeds on Washington Street. Studies show that the installation of stop signs has little or no effect on reducing overall speeds except at the immediate vicinity of the stop sign. In many cases, speeds will increase on segments adjacent to stop signs as drivers will attempt to 'make-up" travel time after having to stop at an unwarranted stop sign. In a similar situation, staff found that 85th percentile speeds increased by 1 to 2 mph on School Street after the installation of an unwarranted four-way stop at Vine Street (Exhibit D). In addition to the possible increase in speeds, unneeded stop signs may increase accidents (particularly rear -end accidents), waste time and energy, cause air and noise pollution, and encourage noncompliance. Recommendation Based on the study results and proven ineffectiveness of stop signs used for speed control, staff does not recr-mend the installation of four-way stop signs at this location. Increasea enforcement is the most effective way to control speeds in these types of situations 14 � W1L_ Jack L. o nsko Public Works Director JLR/RSK/mt Attachments cc: Police Chief Street Superintendent Assistant Civil Engineer -Traffic Concerned Citizens CWASHING/TXTW.02M (CO.COM) December 27, 1990 I - Z, 13 3eo —jolt 51;1 1117. LL 17. 3-c), Cks-o-c-lia- 170 — 7X - Of G/C - Exhibit B CITYOFL� D I - ��xc�ShNr Gjw6�o��h►Ia7�1T0�0"-5 PNT h T r Y( r, 7 °� straF-�I -c - s CITY OF LODI PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Exhibit C _.s MULTI -'JAY STOP SIGN WARRANTS INTERSEECTION OF ��.%tA� �and wm✓fi�l�'t�µ DATE j 2 t'% 'r'1 8Y-t__iG'_ Any of the following conditions may warrant a multi -way STOP sign installation. 1. 'Where traffic signals are warranted and the need is urgent, the four-way stop is an interim measure that can be installed quickly to control traffic while arrangements are being made for the signal installation. Satisfied Not Satisfied ✓ 2. An accident problem, as indicated by five or more reported accidents of a type susceptible of correction by a multi -way stop installation in a 12 -month period. Types of accidents susceptible of correction include right angle and left turn collisions. Time period�1 .1 Number of correctible accidents a Total number of accidents Satisfied Not Satisfied 3. Minittann volume warrant: a. The total vehicular volume entering the intersection from all approaches must average at least 500 vehicles per hour for any eight hours of an average day, and Q PJ It 4, Highest S hours a.m. to p.m. Hour % ' Total volume vehicles Major scree= 1321 _,2! A v ci Average per hour90 vehicles minor Street I t o t1 IZ 32 19 ! I" 'T b. The combined vehicular and pedestrian volume from the minor street or highway must average at least 200 units per hour for the same eight hours with an average delay to minor street vehicular traffic of at least 30 seconds per vehicle during the maximum hour. �,�� �/ ti� ^�b�0Highest 8 hours a.m. to P.M. flour Average per hour_ l lal vehicles — 11 r1's*e` 110 j 11 111 1'�L 1 let 12 1'1 .7 Average per hour pedestrians (EST) Pede�i.ms I I I Average units per hour 1,+0 P1c��V-T2 Satisfied Not�a'tis ied_,Z- 4. When the 85 -percentile approach speed of the major street traffic exceeds 40 miles per !lour, the minimum vehicular volume warrant is 70 percent of the above requirements. 85 -percentile speed` �0 MPH Satisfied Not Satisfied ✓ A four-way STOP sign installation is a useful traf`ic control measure when other available means of control are not adequate. It should not be used unless the volume of traffic on the intersecting roads is about equal and is undesirable at low volume intersections. Traffic major street (� : �5f- v�iJ Traffic minor street CITY OF LOD] PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO: City Council FROM: City Manager MEETING DATE: April 20, 2988 Exhibit D COUNCIL COMMUNICATION AGENDA TITLE: Traffic Studies - Discussion and Appropriate Action c) School Street at Vine Street, Before and After Study RECOMMENDED ACTION: None. Information only. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: In September 1987, City Council received a petition from a School Street neighborhood regarding speed problems on School Street near Vine Street. City Council directed staff to perform a traffic study on School Street. Staff's study included 24-hour vehicle counts, radar speed surveys, a four-way stop control study, and an accident review at School Street and Vine Street. The requested four-way stop at School Street and Vine Street did not meet the warrants. Staff's study concluoed the primary solution to speed problems is enforcement and suggested the Police Department continue enforcement on School Street. The City Council voted to install four-way stop signs at School Street and Vine Street. Staff indicated to the City Council that there were studies that showed installing stop signs may actually increase speed. At the request of the City Council, staff sent the Council the attached memo dated November 9, 1987 transmitting the studies and stop sign installation versus speed. Under the November 9, 1987 memo, the Public Works Department shared with the Council that we would be performing a "before" and "after" speed study on School Street. Radar surveys were performed in October 1987, one day before four-way stop signs were installed. These results were compared with recent radar surveys. The Public Works Department recently performed a radar study on the same day of the week and in the same time frame as the work done last October. The 85th percentile speed increased by 1-2 mph after the installation of stop signs. The following table presents the radar speed results: Direction NB SB APPROVED: School Street N/Vine Street Before After 32 33 32 34 S/Vine Street Before After 33 35 36 37 naaer FILE NO. CTRAFFI3/TXTW.02M April 13, 1988 City Council April 20, 1988 Page 2 The traffic volumes on School Street have decreased. In September, the daily traffic volume on School Street north of Vine Street was 1,910 vehicles per day. A recent count of 1,690 vehicles per day was taken at the same location. Staff feels this could be due to seasonal variation or vehicles have re-routed to other streets due to the inconvenience of stop signs. The Council should be aware that stop signs do not necessarily reduce speed. If City Council desires to reduce speeds on School Street, consideration should be given to removing the School Street stop signs and increasing enforcement. 4Lo �� , .Rsko Wrks Director JLR/PJF/ma Attachments cc: Street Superintendent Police Chief Richard Mullins CTRAFFI3/TXTW.02M April -13, 1988 MEMORANDUM, City of Lodi, Public Works Department TO: City Manager City Council FROM: Public Works Director DATE: November 9, 1987 SUBJECT: Studies Related to Unwarranted Stop Sign Installations At the request of the City Council at the October 21, 1987 meeting, we are providing the following attachments: 1. Automobile Club study showing that unneeded stop signs have a major affect on the traveling public in the area of wasted hours, dollars, gasoline, and safety. 2. City of E1 Monte study showing that stop signs have a questionable value as a speed control measure and that their unwarranted installation has a financial impact on the motoring public. 3. City of La Mirada study showing that vehicle speeds do not change after the installation of regulatory speed signs, nor after the installation of stop signs. Stop signs only slow traffic at the stop sign location and vehicles are back to normal speed within a few hundred feet from the stop sign. Stop signs do not reduce mid -block vehicle speeds. In fact, it was found Lhai vehicle speeds actually increased slightly. 4. Article from Traffic Engineering magazine entitled "Stop Signs for Speed Control?". This study points out that the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways c ear y states that stop signs Should not be installed for speed control. This study also shows that tWe—difference in average speeds is not significant after installation of stop signs, but speeds do increase slightly. It also indicated that unwarranted stop signs installed for speed control are generally disregarded by approximately one-half of the motorists (i.e., making only a rolling stop). 5. Publication of the Western District Institute of Transportation Engineers entitled "Lee Street; A Twelve -Year Case History of Residential Street Traffic Management Problems". This study indicated that for unwarranted stop signs, only 14.5% of the drivers came to a complete stop. The study showed there is little effect on vehicle speed other than in the immediate vicinity of the stop sign controls. It also pointed out that the installation of stop signs had no effect on intersection accidents. The final action of the Lakewood, Colorado City Council was to remove all the unwarranted stop signs. City Manager, et al. November 9, 1987 Page 2 Prior to the installation of the stop signs at School and Vine Streets, I directed the Traffic Engineering personnel to do additional radar speed studies north and south of the new stop sign installation. In three to four months, we will bring back to the City Council the School Street tiefore and after traffic data results. The Public Works staff feels that additional emphasis should be placed on effects on the motoring public when stop signs are installed. Unwarranted stop signs waste time and energy, cause air and noise pollution, and most importantly, encourage noncompliance. This increases the hazard to pedestrians, bicyclists, and the motoring public. In addition, it is felt that this noncompliance can be habit-forming and increase the City-wide safety problem rather than decrease it. Jac L. Ronsko Publ'c Works Director JLR/ma Attachments cc: City Attorney Police Chief bcc: Public Works Director Lodi News Sentinel RESOLUT70M N0. 91-7 A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL APPROVING THE CONVERSION OF "YIELD" SIGNS TO "STOP" SIGNS AT THE INTERSECTION OF WASHINGTON STREET AND ACACIA STREET, AND THEREBY AMENDING TRAFFIC RESOLUTION NO. 37-163 RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Lodi does hereby Y approve the conversion of "yield" sions to "stop" signs at the intersection of Washington Street and Acacia Street, as shown on Exhibit A attached; and FURTHER RESOLVED, that City of Lodi Traffic Resolution 87-163, Section 2C "Stop Intersections" and Section 2D "Yield Intersections" is hereby amended by designating the conversion of "yield" signs" to "stop signs" at the intersection of Washington Street and Acacia Street. Dated: January 2; 1991 I hereby certify that Resolution Nn. 91-7 was passed and adopted. by the Lodi City Council in a regular meeting held January 2, 1991 by the following vote: Ayes: Council Members - Pennino, Pinkerton, Sieglock, Snider and Hinchman (Mayor) Noes: Council Members - None Absent: Council Members - None Alice M. Reimche City Clerk 91-i' RES9107/TXTA.OIV L'xhlblt A CITY( )F LO DI �CIA � ,w ����To� IST EX 1511 NG God-1t'�11�of-15 PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY COWNCIL DAVID M_ HINCHMAN. Mayor JAMES W. PINKERTON, Jr. Mayor Pro Tempore PHILLIP A PENNING JACK A. SIECLCICK JOHN R ;Randy) SNIDER i CITY OF LODI CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET P.O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 9 5241-1 91 0 (209) 334-5634 FAX (2091333-6795 December 27, 1990 THOMAS A. PETERSON City Manager ALICE M. REIMCHE City Clerk 608 McNATT City Attorney SUBJECT: Washington Street and Acacia Street - Intersection Control Dear Property Owner/Resident: Enclosed is a copy of background information on an item that will be discussed at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, January 2, 1991, at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the City Council Chamber, Carnegie Forum, 305 West Pine Street. You are welcome to attend. If you wish to communicate with the City Council, please contact Alice Reimche, City Clerk, at (209) 333-6702. If you have any questions about the item, please call Richard Prima or me at (209) 333-6706. die Jack LaRonsko Public Works Director JLR/mt Enclosure cc: City Clerk LWASHIN2/TXTW.02M