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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPT 5 TRAFFIC SIGNING 04-15-85REPORTS No. 5 TO: FROM: $ U B,J ECT: WILLIAM HUSTON, CITY MANAGER BOB LEDENDECKER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY'ENGINEER REDHILL AVENUE AND BRYAN AVENUE TRAFFIC SIGNING RECOMMENDATION: Pleasure of-the City Council. BACKGROUND: On January 21, 1985, the City Council considered a request of Mr. John McCarthy to remove the signs at the intersection of Redhill Avenue and Bryan Avenue indicating "No Right Turn On Red". A copy of the previous staff report is attached for information. At the January 21st meeting, Council directed staff to contact the school di.strict to determine elementary school hours and that the signs be changed accordingly to prohibit a right turn on red when school children would be crossing the intersection of Redhill Avenue and Bryan Avenue. Approximately three to four weeks ago the signs were changed to read: DISCUSSION: No Right Turn On Red Between 7:30 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. and 1:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. ~aturdays, Sundays and Holidays Excepted Mrs. Bonnie Perkins, a resident, has expressed her concern with the recent changing of the times prohibiting right turns on red. Some of her concerns were: The current times do not accommodate the mid-day pedestrian traffic such as children attending kindergarten. Summer use of Pinetree Park will not be entirely covered by the currently posted times. There is poor visibility at three of the Redhill/Bryan intersection corners because of the residential walls. Vehicles negotiating right turns from Redhill Avenue onto Bryan Avenue tend to turn wide resulting in possible contact with vehicles on Bryan Avenue in the inside No. 1 lane. REDHILL AVENUE AND BRYAN AVENUE TRAFFIC SIGNING APRIL 9, 1985 PAGE 2 Mrs. Perkins has requested that the signs be restored to their previous indications that read "No Right Turn On Red" between 7:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. Staff feels that if signs are to be posted for prohibiting right turns on red at any specific times, that they should be revised to read "No Right Turn On Red" which would indicate a full 24 hour prohibition, or they should be removed entirely. Bob Ledendecker Director of Public Works/City Engineer BL:jr Attachment · DATE: JANUARY 7, 1985 TO: WILLIAM HUSTON, CII'Y MANAGER FROM: BOB LEDENDECKER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY ENGINEER SUBJECT: REDHILL AVENUE AND BRYAN AVENUE TRAFFIC SIGNING RECOMMENDATION: Pleasure of the City Counci*l. BACKGROUND: In the mid to late 1970Ls 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. REDHILL AVENUE AND BRYAN AVENUE TRAFFIC SIGNING ~ANUARY 7, 1985 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 Leden~c[er Director of Public Works/City Engineer BL:Jr cc: Sgt. Smith, Tusttn Police Department RECEIVED CITY MANAGER RECEIVED DEC 0 1984 TUSTINBy ,pU,~ORKS cc: City Council 'City Engineer City Manager DEPT. December 18, 1984 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 believe 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. o~/J. McCarthy