TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Tom Kisela, City Manager
FROM: Christopher Cash, Public Works Director
1. Subject
title
Traffic Signal Reimbursement Agreement with Chapman University for the design and construction of a new traffic signal at the intersection of Walnut Avenue and Orange Street, and future intersection modifications to the intersection of Walnut Avenue and Glassell Street.
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2. Summary
Chapman University has agreed to fund a new traffic signal using City staff to deliver and implement the project. The City has also identified the need to modify an adjacent traffic signal in the future. The reimbursement agreement provides a formal mechanism to recover project costs.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
1. Approve the agreement with Chapman University to reimburse the City for a new traffic signal and intersection modifications; and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute on behalf of the City.
2. Accept into the City’s Reimbursable Capital Projects (550) revenue budget $800,000 in reimbursement from Chapman University to:
550.5031.45570.30259 Walnut Avenue and Orange Street Traffic Signal Installation
3. Authorize the appropriation of $800,000 in to Reimbursable Capital Projects (550):
550.5031.56100.30259 Walnut Avenue and Orange Street Traffic Signal Installation
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4. Fiscal Impact
None. All project expenditures are funded by reimbursements from Chapman University.
5. Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 1: Provide for a safe community
b. Provide and maintain infrastructure necessary to ensure the safety of the public.
6. Discussion and Background
Chapman University’s (“Chapman”) Anderson Parking Structure (“Anderson”) takes direct vehicle access through the Walnut Avenue and Orange Street intersection. Specifically, the Anderson’s driveway comprises the intersection’s south “leg”. The Anderson is central to the Chapman Campus, serves thousands of commuter students daily, and is the primary parking facility for many athletic and special events. As a result, the traffic volumes entering the Walnut and Orange intersection are such that they satisfy traffic engineering criteria (warrants) for consideration of a new traffic signal. In fall 2023, Chapman proposed a new traffic signal at the Walnut and Orange intersection along with a proposal to fund its design and construction.
To determine the appropriateness of a traffic signal at this location and ensure it would be operationally compatible with the existing traffic signal at the nearby Walnut Avenue and Glassell Street intersection, a focused traffic study was conducted in 2024. This study, funded by Chapman and administered by the City, indicated that a new traffic signal at the Walnut and Orange intersection could be expected to improve overall traffic flow and safety and, at the same time, be successfully programmed to work in tandem with the Walnut and Glassell signal. Moreover, the study indicated that, regardless of the ultimate level of traffic control at the Walnut and Orange intersection, the existing traffic signal at the Walnut and Glassell intersection would require a future modification to provide for east and westbound left-turn lanes and signals.
Based on the above, staff supports, and, through the proposed Traffic Signal Reimbursement Agreement (“Agreement”,) Chapman agrees to entirely fund the improvements at both intersections. The Agreement delineates project responsibilities of both Chapman and the City. Future operations, including maintenance and repairs, would become the City’s responsibility.
If approved, staff will work with Chapman to begin implementation of the new traffic signal at the Walnut and Orange intersection as soon as possible, with a target completion date in 2026. The intersection modifications at the Walnut and Glassell intersection, also covered by the Agreement, would be deferred to a future date at the sole discretion of the City.
7. ATTACHMENTS
• Traffic Signal Reimbursement Agreement between City of Orange and Chapman University
• Location Map