ORANGE COUNTY TRAFFIC COMMITTEE. Intersection Control. Constituent. Deepthi Arabolu. Relocate Stop Sign

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1 ORANGE COUNTY TRAFFIC COMMITTEE SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT: 3 SUBJECT: Intersection Control LOCATION: Browning Avenue at Rainbow Drive; North Tustin; TB 830-E3 INITIATED BY: INVESTIGATOR: REQUEST: Constituent Deepthi Arabolu Relocate Stop Sign DATA: LOCATION MAP Page 1 of 5

2 EXISTING CONDITIONS Browning Avenue is a north-south 36-foot wide residential collector street with one travel lane in each direction. Parking is allowed on both sides along Browning Avenue except during street sweeping times. The posted speed limit on Browning Avenue is 25 mph. Rainbow Drive is an east-west 36-foot wide residential local street with one travel lane in each direction. Rainbow Drive intersects Browning Avenue in an offset manner forming two T intersections; the two legs of Rainbow Drive are offset 160 feet apart. Parking is allowed on both sides of Rainbow Drive except during street sweeping times. There is no posted speed limit on This offset intersection of Browning Avenue at Rainbow Drive is currently an all-way stop controlled intersection. The northerly Rainbow Drive intersects Browning Avenue from the west side, forming a stop controlled T intersection. Southbound traffic on Browning Avenue is stop controlled at the northerly The southerly Rainbow Drive intersects Browning Avenue from the east side, forming a stop controlled T intersection as well. Northbound traffic on Browning Avenue is stop controlled at southerly Due to the layout of this offset intersection, traffic exiting from the segment on Browning Avenue between the two T intersections is not required to stop at the Rainbow Drive intersections. An elementary school is located on the northeast corner of the northerly intersection of Browning Avenue at There is a marked school crosswalk across Browning Avenue on the north leg of this intersection. TRAFFIC VOLUMES (BOTH DIRECTIONS) Location: Browning Avenue Date ADT Peak Hour Volume Volume AM PM North of Rainbow Drive 02/22/17 1, Between N & S Rainbow Drive 02/22/17 2, South of Rainbow Drive 02/22/17 2, Location: Rainbow Drive Date ADT Peak Hour Volume Volume AM PM West of Browning Avenue 02/22/ East of Browning Avenue 02/22/ Page 2 of 5

3 ACCIDENT DATA Traffic Engineering s collision records show no reported accidents in the past 36 months occurring at this intersection of Browning Avenue at ANALYSIS OC Public Works Traffic Engineering received a request from a resident to relocate the stop sign on northbound Browning Avenue from the southerly intersection with Rainbow Drive to the northerly intersection with The resident expressed concerns about the safety of children attending the elementary school due to vehicles not stopping for children using the school crosswalk located across Browning Avenue at northerly Based on available records, an all-way stop was established on Browning Avenue at Rainbow Drive as directed by the Board of Supervisors in 1976, albeit the intersection did not satisfy the minimum criteria for an all-way stop control. In response to this recent request, Traffic Engineering staff conducted a new traffic investigation for the intersection of Browning Avenue at As part of the investigation, staff conducted field visits to the intersection during school peak hours. During field observations, staff noticed the confusing situation that traffic on Browning Avenue stops for Rainbow Drive at different locations. Since the intersection of Browning Avenue at Rainbow Drive is an offset intersection with two legs of Rainbow Drive intersecting Browning Avenue 160 feet apart, staff evaluated these intersections as two separate intersections. Each intersection separately was closely observed for vehicle and pedestrian patterns. During school peak hours, numerous children assisted by an adult school crossing guard were observed to be crossing Browning Avenue at the marked school crosswalk at northerly Rainbow Drive. At the same instance, several northbound vehicles queued up at the stop sign on Browning Avenue at southerly Rainbow Drive, which is located approximately 230 feet south of the school crosswalk. When leaving this stop intersection, these vehicles accelerated before they realized the need to yield for children in the crosswalk. This situation left many drivers frustrated and vehicles often stopped too close to the crosswalk. Furthermore, left turning drivers from northerly Rainbow Drive unfamiliar with this area, appeared to expect the northbound vehicles on Browning to stop at the intersection just like the southbound vehicles that stopped at the existing stop sign. This situation further added to the confusion, creating potential conflict between through traffic and turning vehicles. Based on field observations, the presence of both an elementary school and school crossing, and the safety concerns from the community, Traffic Engineering recommends relocating the stop sign on Browning Avenue at southerly Rainbow Drive to Browning Avenue at northerly Page 3 of 5

4 PUBLIC COMMENTS AND INPUT The school crossing guard currently assigned at the intersection of Browning Avenue at northerly Rainbow Drive addressed the Committee. She has served the Tustin Memorial Academy for four years. She mentioned that when the school first started it was a just a neighborhood school but now it is a magnet school which generates a lot of traffic. She mentioned that vehicles often fail to yield to the children in the crosswalk making it unsafe for her and the children. She said relocating the stop sign would make the intersection an all-way stop intersection making it safer for everyone. A resident of the community addressed the Committee. He stated he is a 20 year resident of this neighborhood. He appreciated staff s several site visits to observe the traffic conditions. He mentioned that the intersection causes a very confusing situation to drivers. He mentioned a letter of support being gathered from the community and school personnel, in support of staff s recommendation. He said the letter of support so far is up to 150 signatures. He expressed his support and appreciation to the Committee of considering relocating the stop sign. TRAFFIC COMMITTEE DISCUSSION The Committee member representing California Highway Patrol mentioned that he is in complete support of relocating the stop sign to Northerly He also mentioned that he concurs with staff on considering the intersections as two different intersections rather than one offset intersection. The Committee unanimously approved Traffic Engineering s recommendation to relocate the stop sign on Browning Avenue at southerly Rainbow Drive to Browning Avenue at northerly RECOMMENDATION Relocate the stop sign on Browning Avenue at southerly Rainbow Drive to Browning Avenue at northerly BOARD ACTION NECESSARY TO ENACT THIS RECOMMENDATION 1. Approve this report. 2. By resolution, rescind Resolution No that established an all-way stop at the intersection of Browning Avenue at Page 4 of 5

5 3. By resolution, establish an all-way stop at the intersection of Browning Avenue at northerly Page 5 of 5