HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPT 4 TRAFFIC SIGNING 01-21-85.REPORTS
DATE' JANUARY 7, 1985
TO:
WILLIAM NUSTON, CITY MANAGER
FROM:
BOB LEDENDECKER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY ENGINEER
SUBJECT: REDHILL AVENUE AND BRYAN AVENUE TRAFFIC SIGNING
RECOMMENDATION:
Pleasure of the City Council.
BACKGROUND:
In the mid to late 1970'~s two pedestrian related traffic accidents occurred at
and/or near the subject intersection. The first accident occurred on Bryan Avenue
easterly of the intersection approximately mid-way between Redhill Avenue and
Diamond Head Drive. Wherein a child was struck by a vehicle while crossing Bryan
Avenue in mid-block. The second accident occurred a short time afterward wherein
a second child ran across Bryan Avenue on the easterly side of Redhill Avenue at
the intersection while the green phase was displayed for the Bryan Avenue traffic.
As a result of these accidents, the City Council directed staff to install the "no
right turn on red" signs at the subject intersection along with other traffic
control devices along Bryan Avenue.
Several years after the installation of these signs, a request was received from a
citizen to remove said signs. Council, at that time, authorized the removal of
these signs and received a concern from a citizen who was also acting as a
representative of the P.T.O. as well as representing herself. As a result of this
individuals concern regarding the sign removals, the City Council directed staff
to reinstall the "no right turn on red" signs with time limitations.
DISCUSSION:
The attached letter from Mr. McCarthy requests removal of the "no right on red"
signs at the subject intersection. It appears that Mr. McCarthy"s request is
based upon the non-enforcement of said signing and the potential liability for
said non-enforcement.
Staff has reviewed this intersection again and cannot substantiate the need for
said signing. Neither of the two original accidents which motivated the initial
sign installation would have helped prevent either of the accidents. Nor has
their been an accident history which would have been prevented by this type of
installation.
PAGE 2
Past claim history against the city indicates the city to be a target for lawsuits-
in any case with or without enforcement as it relates to this situation.
Bob Led~nd~cker
Director of Public Works/City Engineer
BL:jr
cc: Sgt. Smith, Tustin Police Department
CITY MANAGER
RECEIVED
DEC 2 0 1984
TUSTIN PU~/ORK$ DEPT,
BY r ~i
CC:
December 18, 1984
City Council'
City Engineer
City Manager
Mayor Ursula Kennedy
300 Centennial Way
Tustin, California 92680
Dear Madam Mayor:
I wish to express my concern in what I believe is a dangerous situation.
The traffic light at Red Hill and Bryan is posted "no right turn on red
between 07:30 AM & 4:30 PM". I am concerned in that it is violated as much
as it is observed. I have even seen the Tustin police violate it.
I believe it is not enforced enough by the police department and further
believe that it would be too costly to patrol and enforce.
Since it isn't enforced to a satisfactory extent, I believ~ that local
children are being drawn into a sense of false security. The .danger is be-
cause of this false security a child may be less observant of traffic and
step into the crosswalk and be struck by a car making an unauthorized right
turn.
Considering the legal decisions that have been handed down in recent
court actions, the City of Tustin in a'court action may find itself in a "deep
pocket" situation in that the motorist may not have ample insurance coverage
and the plaintiff may then come to the city for settlement because the city
didn't enforce the "no right turn on red". When in fact the cause of the
accident was that the motorist violated the "no right turn on red" that was
not enforced by the city to a satisfactory degree.
I highly recommend that the "no right turn on red" signs be removed from
Red Hill and Bryan Avenues.
Respect. ful.ly,
/~ Jo~q/J. McCarthy