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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNew Business #3 8-17-87 NEW BUSINESS  "~DATE: JULY 24, 1987 TO: WILLIAM HUSTON, CITY MANAGER FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION SUEUECT: REQUEST FOR STOP SIGNS AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF LEAF*WOOD LANE/LORRETTA WAY AND LAURIE LANE/LORREITA WAY RECOMMENDATION: "Stop" controls at the intersections of Leafwood Lane/Lorretta Way and Laurie Lane/Lorretta Way are not recommended. BACKGROUND: Pursuant to the concern of residents near the subject intersections, a request was made by City Counicl to the Engineering Department to evaluate the need for stop signs at each location. EXISTING CONDITIONS: Both Leafwood Lane and Laurie Lane are residential collector streets which intersect with Lorretta Way to form tee intersections. Presently, there are no top controls on Lorretta Lane from Medford Avenue to Santa Clara Avenue. Also, rretta Lane does not function as a through street but as a collector of the other residential streets within the neighborhood. EVALUATION: The State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has developed guidelines for the installation of multi'-way stop controls. These guidelines are consistent with the guidelines published in the National Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The important considerations are vehicular volume, accident history, visibility on the approaches to the intersection, and vehicular speeds. Each of these factors were reviewed and used to evaluate the need for additional "STOP" controls at the intersections of Leafwood Lane/Lorretta Way and Laurie Lane/Lorretta Way. In addition, two field reviews were made of each intersection to observe vehicular and pedestrian activity and to set machine counters to establish the traffic volume on each street. It should be stated that the traffic volumes are very light and there are no correctable accident patterns at either 1 ocati on. Based upon the results of our engineering investigation, neither intersection meets any of the minimum State guidelines for the installation of "STOP" signs. For informational purposes, we have attached a copy of a report published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers on stop signs. ob Ledendecker Dennis Barnes Director of Public Works/City Engineer Consulting City Traffic Engineer DB/lg k~, Attachment STOP ¥IG 8 WHY DON'T THEY PUT IN MORE STOP SIGNS? A stop sign is one of our most valuable and effective control devices when used at the right place and under the right conditions. It is intended to help drivers and pedestrians at an intersection decide who has the right-of-way. One common misuse of stop signs is to arbitrarily interrupt through traffic, either by causing it to stop, or by causing such an inconvenience as to force the traffic to use other routes. Where stop signs are installed as "nuisances" or "speed breakers," there is a high incidence of intentional violatior~. In those locations where vehicles do stop, the speed reduction is effective only in the immediate vicinity of the stol~ sign, and frequently speeds are actually higher between intersections. For these reasons, it should not be used as a speed control device. A school crossing may look dangerous for children to use, causing parents to demand a stop sign to halt traffic. Now a vehicle which had been a problem for 3 seconds while approaching and passing the intersection becomes a problem for a much longer period. A situation of indecision is created as to when to cross as a pedestrian or when to start as a mdtorist. Normal gaps in traffic through which crossings could be made safely no longer exist. An intersection which previously was not busy now looks like a major intersection. It really isn't - it just looks like it. Itdoesn't even look safer and it usually isn't. Most drivers are reasonable and prudent with no intention of maliciously violating traffic regulations; however, when an unreasonable restriction is imposed, it may result in flagrant violations. In such cases, the stop sign can create a false sense of security in a pedestrian and an attitude of contempt in a motorist. These two attitudes can and often do conflict with tragic results. Well-developed, nationally recognized guidelines help to indicate when such controls become necessary. These guidelines take into consideration, among other things, the probability of vehicle= =rriving at an intersection at the same time, the length of time traffic must wait to enter, and the availability of safe crossing opportunities. EDWARD V. COLBURN 13681 Loretta Drive Tustin, California 92680 (714) 838-1719 August 4, 1987 The Honorable Richard Edgar Mayor CITY OF TUSTIN City Hall 'Fustin, CA 92680 Dear Dick: As a friend and neighbor, I'm sure you are aware of our esteem for the City of Tustin generally, and specifically the pride we have in our immediate neighborhood. Recently the vehicular traffic seems increasing and is definitely traveling faster. An accident last week involving two neighbors as victims of a fast, reckless driver has caused us to discuss what we can do to restore order and safety to Loretta Drive. The Foxs and Cannons have suffered both property damage and trauma because of last weeks' accident. The following day another driver appears to have lost control of his cay when it jumped the curb and traveled the width of Cannons lawn with wheels spinning or skidding. Last evening, about I~1:00 pm, two cars were racing or playing tag on Loretta Drive to the point where we telephoned the police I hope you can have your traffic specialists study the patterns of travel from 17th Street to Santa Clara in the vicinity of Yorba and nearby residential streets to determine what speed limits or signs might improve our chances for survival. Edward F. Colburn August $, 19B7 13682 Loretta Drive Tustin, CA 92680 714-544-0596 Richard Edgar Mayor of Tustin 13622 Loretta Dr ve Tustin, CA ~2680 Dear DicK: I Know that you and I and our wives have been concerned for many years about the traffic and the speed of the cars driven on Loretta Drive. Unfortunately, it seems to be getting worse. - Three instances happened in the last weeks to really bring home the point. The first one was a two car accident about 4 PH on Wednesday July 29, 1987. It is a miracle that no one was injured or Killed in this accident! While my wife, Betty and I were in our living room studying for a bridge class we are taKing thru the Tustin Community Services we heard a terrible noise in the front yard area. We rushed to the front door and there in the middle of our garden near our front' door was a new Ford pickup truck with a smashed front end and badly shaken up driver. We had property damage, too. Our mailbox and its post were destroyed, many plants and bushes were ruined, and some of brick work in the retaining wall that extends across our front yard was damaged by the trucK. We discovered that the driver of the truck had crashed into a car making a left turn into a driveway north of us. Both vehicles had been driving south on Loretta from Santa Clara. The truck unsafely tried to pass on the left. The impact of the truck was such that the struck car made a half circle going south up over curbing and down finally stopping facing Cotburn's driveway. The truck came within inches of hitting the street light on Foxes' property and continued sooth on our property demolishing the mail box and parkway garden, going over our driveway and up over the retaining wall(planter) and finally into the garden in our front yard. We believe this driver had to be going pretty fast to do al! this damage. Fortunately, there were no cars p~rKed in our driveway or at our curb. And, even more important, there were no children playing in this garden area, We were impressed by the efficiency of the 911 telephone number and the Tustin Police who had a police officer here within five minutes of the accident. The report number is 87-7586. Another car problem occurred to us two days later. About 2:30 AH Friday morning July 31, 1987 a neighbor heard a speeding car. About six in the morning, my wife found car tracks apparently made by a car going north. It appears the car left the street and entered Francis' driveway at an angle, came across our lawn and sidewalk, and went back to the street through our driveway, You can still see the tire skid marks on the two driveways and in the road. At this time you can, also, see tire marks on our lawn. My wife asked that a Tustin police officer on his routine patrol of area take note of these tire marks. Thirdly, about 11:30 PM on another night recently in front of our house, two cars were apparently playing tag with each other: stopping, changing directions, one backing up very fast and then contipuing the chase at high speeds. We, also, get extra traffic from motorists who want to avoid the four way stop at ¥orba and Santa Clara. Could a three way stop be made at Laurie Lane and Loretta? This would slow down speeders and might discourage some traffic from our residential street. Doesn't Bryan have similar stops between Newport and Red Hill in Tustin? We are obviously very concerned about all these speeding cars on Loretta in front of our house.. Someone could easily have been injured or even killed. It could have been us, or someone walking down the sidewalk, or a little child. We would appreciate any action you can take in the City Council of Tustin. Please consider stop signs at Laurie Lane and Loretta Drive. Thank you very much. Sincerely, John J. Cannon