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Home My WebLink AboutAGENDA REPORT 1996 1120 CC REG ITEM 10EAGENDA REPORT C = TY O F MOORPARK TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: Kenneth C. Gilbert, Director of Public Works DATE: November 8, 1996 (Council Meeting 11- 20 -96) ✓ a ,K _ f � � to .��/ SUBJECT: Consider Petition Requesting a Three -Way STOP at the Intersection of Amherst Street and Columbia Avenue DISCUSSION A. Location / Existing Condition Attached as Exhibit 1 is a map showing the location of the subject intersection. Currently, southbound traffic on Columbia Avenue must stop at a STOP sign installed on the orth leg of this "T" intersection. B. Petition Attached as Exhibit 2 is a copy of a letter from Ms. Karen Rosenblum, with a petition signed by many of her neighbors, requesting that the subject intersection be changed from a One - Way STOP to a Three -Way Stop. C. Notice Ms. Rosenblum has been advised that this matter would be discussed by the City Council on the above cited meeting date. Ms. Rosenblum was also asked to attempt to notify all of the signatories on the petition that the City Council would be discussing this issue. D. STOP Sign Warrants As mentioned to the City Council before, a STOP sign is not a speed control device. STOP signs should only be installed at intersections where there have been right -of -way conflicts (accidents). The Caltrans Traffic Manual sets forth guidelines or "Warrants" to assist the Traffic Engineering in determining when it is appropriate to install a STOP sign. A STOP sign installed at an intersection where warrants are not met often renders that intersection less safe than it was before the STOP sign was installed. EXAMPLE: One set of Warrants require there to be traffic volumes through the intersection exceeding 500 vehicles per hour for at least eight hours. When a STOP sign is installed at an intersection with a relatively low traffic volume, drivers become accustomed to this fact and tend to "roll" through the intersection. anhrst Three -Way STOP at Amherst & Columbia November 1996 Page 2 E. Subject Intersection Intersections in most residential neighborhoods do not meet warrants for the installation of STOP signs. However, in certain older neighborhoods built prior to the City's incorporation, STOP sign were installed on the terminating leg of many "T" intersections. This is the case with the subject intersection. There is a STOP sign on the north leg of the intersection. This STOP sign establishes Amherst Street as the "through" street and directs southbound traffic to yield the right -of -way to east -west traffic. This STOP sign is doing its job. A three -way STOP at this intersection would not solve any problems related to right -of -way. The purpose for such an installation would be purely for Speed control on Amherst Street. As mentioned above, this is likely to create more problems than it would solve. In checking with the Police Department, there is no record of an accident history at the subject intersection. It is anticipated, therefore, that this intersection would fail to meet warrants for the installation of a three -way STOP. It is recommended, therefore, that a STOP sign Warrant Study not be performed. The cost of such a study is $500. F. Speed The language in the attached letter and petition seems mainly concerned with a vehicle speeding problem. As you know, this is a problem in almost every neighborhood in this City and is a common problem in every other City. The unfortunate problem is that most of the "speeders" in these residential neighborhoods are local residents. However, there are a number of things which can be done to improve driver awareness with regard to speeding problems. They include: • deployment of the Speed Display trailer; • installation of additional speed limit signs; and, • neighbor -to- neighbor discussions via a Neighborhood Watch program or other such means. The City Council is advised that it is the intent of staff to install a 25 MPH speed limit sign for both eastbound and westbound traffic approaching Columbia Avenue. G. Summary A Three -Way STOP at the subject intersection is not the appropriate solution to speeding problems in this neighborhood. A STOP sign in any residential neighborhood is not an effective speed control measure. A STOP sign installed without warrants, may worsen traffic safety. As discussed above, various public, information efforts appear to have a better chance of addressing this problem. nahrsc Three -Way STOP at Amherst & Columbia November 1996 Page 3 Direct staff to forward a letter to Ms. Rosenblum denying the request set forth in the petition and advising of the City's intent to install additional speed limit signs. emhrst (M U3 MUv -T- 7" LL N0130N I 6cl IS SSVa8]Ao I ' ■ 6�,JA -Z- 4, November 1, 1996 To: Ken Gilbert City of Moorpark From: Karen Rosenblum (805) 529 -8334 Ref: Letter of request for stop sign at E. Amherst & N. Columbia Dear Ken, r�'r.��, � , . � . .: -�•t scar; Please find enclosed a letter of request for a stop sign at the intersection of E. Amherst and N. Columbia. I apologize for the condition of the letter, as it was handled quite a bit as I circulated it to my neighbors on Halloween night. Many of the neighbors who signed this letter shared stories of hazards occurring either while they were driving, or while they were pedestrians, near this intersection. (One neighbor even admitted that a stop sign would be a helpful reminder to her to slow down.) All of the individuals that signed the letter feel that a stop sign would slow the traffic in our neighborhood. I hope that the city gives this request careful consideration. Please confirm that you have received this letter, and keep me up to date on the process. Thank you, aw J'-D & �W\"� The Rosenblum Family 6603 N. Columbia Avenue Moorpark, CA 93021 (805) 529 -8335 October 30, 1996 Ken Gilbert, Public Works City of Moorpark 799 Moorpark Avenue Moorpark, CA 93021 Re: Stop Sign at E. Amherst & N. Columbia Avenue Dear Mr. Gilbert � X C�r 4-i 7Aye anaW Mned resai kx& of Campus Park West reWdfUllY request &e mWAU lion of a three-may stop sign on E. Amherst and N. Columbia Avenue There is a serious and constant problem with vehicles violating the speed limit on E. Amherst. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and children at play are at risk in this area. The speeding problem also creates escalated traffic noise. The intersection of E. Amherst and N. Columbia Avenue is the identical configuration as the intersection of Loyola St. and N. Columbia Avenue. The difference is that the intersection of Loyola St. and N. Columbia Avenue has a three-way stop, and as a result, Loyola St. does not have the traffic problems we experience on E. Amherst. Please help us keep our neighborhood safe and quiet by installing new stop signs at E. Amherst and N Columbia Avenue. Sincerely, r �f n) StCuC and. SG 3/11317�- -D r "� C a-. 14 U3� Calumbc'c. 0i l_ L T l� S-ffe & �- C�rk��.s \A- SIR II Ken Crflbert City of Moorpark October 30, 1996 Page 2 FBI, AJ z % pef ?he unda*xed raA*,N s of CaWas park West rawc*hilly request dice rnstdlr x of a three -way stop sign on E. Amherst and N. Columbia Avenue: e 1 Iytiov -go-it C k IZI C / 7,r Lc 14 s3 to o L N 5-70 LOr�t4 ;v- r q Ken Gilbert City of Moorpark October 30, 1996 Page 3 ?lire undtrugned rex&n& of Ckwrus Pdrk West respec*Wy request j*e in ion of a dsree-my stop sign on E. Amherst and N. Columbia Avenue. kA C� 6 Oj C L4Lk� � T 57� I-Ll- 6 � && / /As -7,,,v e 3 ST C 6, 1 -,SY4— q3 V 0 ? �c Of C-4- 4� (7.)6 Iec (-Lj aAA- A �,� CO/', / -ot 4-L/ - ( f (f N. yAL OVERPASS PRINCETON GD .. ......... . ...... .... 33 kD -VOL ANE AV co 6kk II A Z ,)•� 4� November 1, 1996 To: Ken Gilbert City of Moorpark From: Karen Rosenblum (805) 529 -8334 Ref: Letter of request for stop sign at E. Amherst & N. Columbia Dear Ken, 4 t yr C is tr J Please find enclosed a letter of request for a stop sign at the intersection of E. Amherst and N. Columbia. I apologize for the condition of the letter, as it was handled quite a bit as I circulated it to my neighbors on Halloween night. Many of the neighbors who signed this letter shared stories of hazards occurring either while they were driving, or while they were pedestrians, near this intersection. (One neighbor even admitted that a stop sign would be a helpful reminder to her to slow down.) All of the individuals that signed the letter feel that a stop sign would slow the traffic in our neighborhood. I hope that the city gives this request careful consideration. Please confirm that you have received this letter, and keep me up to date on the process. Thank you, The Rosenblum Family 6603 N. Columbia Avenue Moorpark, CA 93021 (805) 529 -8335 October 30, 1996 Ken Cilbert, Public Works City of Moorpark 799 Moorpark Avenue Moorpark, CA 93021 Re: Stop Sign at E. Amherst & N. Columbia Avenue Dear Mr. Gilbert, Ex 2- The undowned re=kaft of Cew vw Pm* West rewpectfadly request dire waWlaeon of a thre�wrry slop sign on E. Amherst and N. Columbia Avenue. There is a serious and constant problem with vehicles violating the speed limit on E. Amherst. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and children at play are at risk in this area The speeding problem also creates escalated traffic noise. The intersection of E. Amherst and N. Columbia Avenue is the identical configuration as the intersection of Loyola St. and N. Columbia Avenue. The difference is that the intersection of Loyola St. and N. Columbia Avenue has a three-way stop, and as a result, Loyola St. does not have the traffic problems we experience on E. Amherst. Please help us keep our neighborhood safe and quiet by installing new stop signs at E. Amherst and N Columbia Avenue. Sincerely, y16"-b� /q ,tlI iLlu31 61 L/4 C. 03 tc iscS�l fl sL" Ken Ciffbert C4 of Moorpark October 30, 1996 Page 2 0 2- The undersigned rmdm& of CaNVw Pa* We re*w#i* request tke mwdiown of a three-mV stop sign on E. Am k" and N. Cohumbia Avenue. C>4 0, I , tkc- C LA IIZI 7/:- Z 5 IT I 53 s4 L 14 3 L 10! (7 yi lqq, Ken CTM)W City of Moorpark October 30, 1996 Page 3 7ke unda*gxed reaWmo of Cdwipws Aw* We& rexpec#k* request tke insfagm6ox of a urea -mV stop sigh on E. Anakerst and N. Cohumbia Avenue: � L #,C.CCC9,wq,) r 6f (P . /�Of 5 7 / N d. 5 -5r ' '�U� i�VIC �� A jj v� -V