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 a school bus loading zone on the west side of N. Citrus Street south of the driveway at 548 N. Citrus Street.
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2. Summary
The City received requests from multiple residents to provide for curb space for special needs school busses on N. Citrus Street. Doing so is expected to enhance the efficiency and of student pick-up and drop-off for families residing in the neighborhood.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
Approve the installation of a school bus loading zone on the west side of N. Citrus Street south of the driveway at 548 N. Citrus Street.
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4. Fiscal Impact
None.
5. Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 5: Improve Infrastructure, Mobility, and Technology
6. Discussion and Background
The City of Orange has received multiple requests (from several residents) in the N. Citrus Street neighborhood for the restriction of curb space to accommodate school bus loading and, in doing so, address ongoing operational concerns associated with picking up and dropping off special needs children.
The Orange Unified School District (OUSD) provides transportation services to registered students with disabilities, and currently provides such services to four families residing on the 500 block of N. Citrus Street. Recently, parents have expressed concern over the lack of a curbside bus loading zone along Citrus Street. Without a designated bus zone, the OUSD buses are sometimes forced to park in the street, requiring students and caregivers to navigate parked vehicles and active traffic during pick-up and drop-off. City staff consulted with OUSD, whose bus drivers confirmed experiencing similar operational challenges.
Installing a bus loading zone along a 22-foot section of curb on the west side of N. Citrus Street, immediately south of the driveway at 548 N. Citrus Street, is expected to address the parents’ concerns, supported by OUSD, and expected to improve operations. Moreover, the loading zone would only be in effect Monday through Friday, 7AM to 4PM, August through June. Outside of these times, the space would be unrestricted and may be used for parking.
Citrus Street is a residential roadway with consistently high parking demand and implementing the proposed bus loading zone would result in the loss of one on-street parking space during the effective hours. With that in mind, parking demand typically declines during the day, e.g., school hours, and peaks after 5:00 PM, mitigating the impacts of the proposed change. At the same time, the proposed change is expected to significantly improve conditions for students with disabilities by allowing bus boarding and disembarkation directly from the sidewalk, at a consistent location.
Staff recommends the approval of the proposed bus loading zone on N. Citrus Street.
7. ATTACHMENTS
• Letter of Request
• Area Map
• Site Sketch
• Notification Letter