TO: Chair and Members of the City Traffic Commission
THRU: Larry Tay, City Traffic Engineer
FROM: Maria Flores, Assistant Engineer
1. Subject
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Installation of red curb at various locations along the east side of N. Canal Street to serve OCTA bus stops.
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2. Summary
The requested parking restrictions along the east side of N. Canal Street are intended to reserve curb space for the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), ensuring reliable access for passenger pick-up and drop-off operations.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
1. Approve approximately 350 feet of red curb along the east side of N. Canal Street, between Meats Avenue and Cumberland Road, for Bus Stop ID: 5309.
2. Ratify the installation of approximately 150 feet of red curb along the east side of N. Canal Street, north of Meats Avenue for Bus Stop ID: 5308.
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4. Fiscal Impact
None. Implementation involves minimal staff time and minimal expenditures that have already been approved in the City’s operating budget.
5. Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 5: Improve Infrastructure, Mobility, and Technology
6. Discussion and Background
City staff received multiple requests to install red curb along the east side of N. Canal Street to support transit operations at Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Bus Stops 5308 and 5309. The requested red curb would ensure dedicated curb space for safe and efficient passenger pick-up and drop-off.
Bus Stop 5308 is located approximately 130 feet north of E. Meats Avenue and Bus Stop 5309 is located approximately 560 feet north of E. Meats Avenue. Both stops are on the east side of N. Canal Street.
N. Canal Street, between E. Meats Avenue and E. Heim Avenue, is a two-lane roadway with a width of 44 feet. Parking is currently permitted on both sides of the street. Adjacent land uses include single-family residential homes, commercial retail, educational institutions, and private recreational facilities.
Following recent parking restrictions implemented on the west side of Canal Street, motorists have increasingly utilized the east side for parking, resulting in frequent obstruction of the OCTA bus stops.
A field review conducted by City staff identified approximately 250 feet of existing curbside parking between Meats Avenue and the first driveway of The Village at Orange shopping center, located at 2100 N. Tustin Street, accommodating roughly eleven vehicles.
Due to safety concerns with vehicles parked near the intersection, staff installed 150 feet of red curb from Meats Avenue to Bus Stop 5308 on September 11, 2025, leaving approximately four parking spaces available to the public. This red curb provides more margin for buses turning right onto Canal Street, helping bus drivers do so without encroaching into the opposing lane.
To assess the appropriate length of parking restrictions at Bus Stop 5309, City staff consulted with OCTA. OCTA requested a 350-foot red curb zone to facilitate safe and efficient transit service. This installation would reduce available parking by approximately sixteen spaces.
Between the southernmost driveway of The Village at Orange shopping center and the beginning of the proposed red curb zone for Bus Stop 5309, approximately 40 feet of curbside parking remains. Beyond the proposed restriction, there is an additional 270 feet of curbside parking before reaching Cumberland Road, accommodating approximately twelve vehicles.
To enhance transit accessibility and support OCTA operations, staff recommends that the City Traffic Commission ratify the recently installed 150 feet of red curb installed north of E. Meats Avenue and approve the installation of 350 feet of red curb along the east side of N. Canal Street, north of the first driveway to the Village Shopping Center, adjacent to Bus Stop 5309.
7. ATTACHMENTS
• Letter of Request
• Area Map & Site Sketch
• Notification Letter