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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 STOP WASS/ELIZABETH 02-22-05 AGENDA REPORT Agenda Item 10 Reviewed: City Manager Finance Director MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 22, 2005 TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO INSTALL ALL-WAY STOP CONTROLS AT WASS STREET AND ELIZABETH WAY SUMMARY In a cooperative effort with the County of Orange, an analysis of traffic control at the intersection of Wass Street and Elizabeth Way has been completed. It has been determined that the installation of all-way stop controls at this intersection is appropriate for assignment of vehicular right of way. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 05-33, authorizing the installation of all-way stop controls at the intersection of Wass Street and Elizabeth Way, subject to approval by the Orange County Board of Supervisors. FISCAL IMPACT There will be no initial cost because the County of Orange will be installing the required signs and pavement markings. There will be minimal future costs to maintain the signs and pavement markings that lie within the City of Tustin. BACKGROUND The jurisdiction of the intersection of Wass Street and Elizabeth Way is shared between the County of Orange and the City of Tustin, with the County controlling the northerly half and the City controlling the southerly half. The City and the County received a petition from residents to install all-way stop controls at the intersection. With heavy volumes of school traffic present in the morning and afternoon, there is congestion at the intersection that can sometimes lead to driver confusion with only the existing two-way stop control. DISCUSSION The intersection of Wass Street and Elizabeth Way is a four-legged intersection with stop signs for northbound and southbound Elizabeth Way. The southerly approach of Elizabeth Way is a private street. Barbara Benson Elementary School is located on Elizabeth Way north of the intersection. When school is in session, it generates substantial pedestrian and vehicular traffic volumes at the intersection for about an hour each morning and afternoon. There are also two day care centers/preschools easterly of the intersection with access to Wass Street. School crosswalks are painted on the north, south and east legs of the intersection across Elizabeth Way. Authorization to Install All-Way Stop Controls at Wass Street and Elizabeth Way February 22, 2005 Page 2 The installation of stop controls is typically determined by satisfying established Caltrans Warrants along with other site-specific conditions that justify the placement of stop signs at certain locations. The warrants, which are one means of justifying the installation of stop signs, require evaluation of numerical data collected at the subject location, including traffic volumes and accident data. There have been no reported accidents. At this location the Caltrans Warrants for stop sign installation are not satisfied. However, it has been acknowledged that local residential areas represent unique situations where engineering judgment may be utilized in determining the installation of stop signs. To fully analyze a location for the installation of stop controls, roadway characteristics and traffic conditions need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. At this location it is appropriate to analyze other roadway characteristics and traffic conditions that may provide more pertinent considerations. Field observations indicated that there is a subtle crest vertical curve on the easterly approach of Wass Street that restricts visibility of vehicles approaching the intersection. Parked vehicles and vegetation on Wass Street also hamper visibility. With relatively similar traffic volumes on each street, reduced visibility to the East, and periodic heavy congestion related to the nearby school, an all-way stop is recommended to improve assignment of vehicular right-of-way at this intersection. On January 20, 2005, after a public discussion of the matter, the Orange County Traffic Committee recommended the installation of an all-way stop at Wass Street and Elizabeth Way. This recommendation will be carried to the March 15, 2005 Board of Supervisors meeting for their approval. Resolution No. 05-33 recommends that the Tustin City Council approve the designation of an all-way stop at Wass Street and Elizabeth Way, subject to approval by the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Tim D. Serlet Director of Public Works/City Engineer Dana R. Kasdan Engineering Services Manager TDS:DRK:ccg:Auth to Install Stop Controls at Wass & Elizabeth and Reso 05-33.doc Attachments: Resolution No. 05-33 Location Map RESOLUTION NO. 05-33 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA DESIGNATING THE LOCATION OF CERTAIN ALL-WAY STOP CONTROL INTERSECTIONS WHEREAS, Section 5323 of the Tustin City Code provides for the designation of stop intersections by resolution of the City Council upon the making of certain findings; and WHEREAS, the City Council hereby finds and determines that the placement of stop signs at the intersection listed below is necessary to facilitate the flow of traffic and provide for the assignment of vehicular right-of-way; and WHEREAS, said findings are made subsequent to receipt of a traffic engineering report summarizing traffic survey data relative to said intersection; and WHEREAS, the City of Tustin and the County of Orange each has jurisdiction over one half of the intersection of Wass Street and Elizabeth Way; and WHEREAS, the Orange County Traffic Committee on January 20, 2005, recommended the placement of all-way stop controls at the intersection of Wass Street and Elizabeth Way; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Tustin that the intersection set forth below is hereby designated as an all-way stop controlled intersection, subject to approval by the Orange County Board of Supervisors, and the Orange County Public Works Director is hereby authorized to place stop signs at all entrances to said intersection as herein specified on behalf of the City of Tustin, and that Resolution No. 05-33 shall take effect upon placement of said signs. INTERSECTION Wass Street and Elizabeth Way BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each agency shall maintain the signs and markings within its respective jurisdictional boundaries. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Tustin held on the 22nd day of February 2005. Lou Bone, Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk IL ~ ~ ~ I ...J ...J < ~ ~ ili ID < N :J w tu ~ æ ~ w :¡; < z t> w .., ~ IL