TO: Chair and Members of the City Traffic Commission
THRU: Larry Tay, City Traffic Engineer
FROM: Maria Flores, Assistant Engineer
1. Subject
title
Installation of an all-way stop at the intersection of E. Almond Avenue and S. Center Street.
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2. Summary
City staff evaluated public concerns over the intersection of E. Almond Avenue and S. Center Street and the consideration of installing an all-way stop control.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
Approve the installation of an all-way stop at the intersection of E. Almond Avenue and S. Center Street.
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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 was made aware of motorist and resident concerns over the intersection of E. Almond Avenue and S. Center Street, and requests that the City consider all-way stop control.
Currently, the intersection is controlled by two-way-stop, with traffic on Center Street (a local street that runs north-south) required to stop for traffic on Almond Avenue (a collector street that runs east-west.) The intersection is adjacent to St. John’s Lutheran School and experiences increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic during peak hours.
The City adopted a warrant that helps provide guidance on the installation of a stop control at an intersection. The City of Orange All-Way Stop Control Warrant consist of five (5) criteria; if any of the below criteria is met, an all-way stop control may be warranted,
1. Accident history
2. Traffic volume
3. Intersection design
4. Restricted visibility
5. Progressive movement
Vehicular volume from all approaches, during peak hours, was collected during a regular school day. Staff used the data collected to determine whether the traffic volumes conform with the guidelines stated in the City’s warrant. To qualify for the consideration of an all-way stop, the total vehicular volume entering the intersection from all approaches during each of the peak hours must equal 250 vehicles during an average day and the traffic ratio shall not exceed 3:1.
During the AM peak hour (7:30 AM - 8:30 AM) there was a total of 435 vehicles entering the intersection, with 308 vehicles approaching from E. Almond Avenue and 127 vehicles approaching from S. Center Street. With these vehicular volumes the traffic ratio is 2.42:1. For every 2.42 cars approaching E. Almond there is 1 car approaching from S. Center Street.
Since this intersection is near a school, the warrant allows the use of afternoon release time instead of the typical PM peak hour. During the school release hour (2:30 PM - 3:30 PM) there was a total of 431 vehicles entering the intersection, with 287 vehicles approaching from E. Almond Avenue and 144 vehicles approaching from S. Center Street. With these vehicular volumes the traffic ratio is 1.99:1.
Based on the warrant analysis described above, this intersection meets the traffic volume criteria specified in the City of Orange All-Way Stop Control Warrant. Therefore, staff recommends that the Traffic Commission approve the implementation of an all-way stop control at the intersection of E. Almond Avenue and S. Center Street.
7. ATTACHMENTS
• Notification Letter
• Area Map
• Site Sketch