DATE: June 18, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: All-Way Stop at Locan Avenue and Shields Avenue
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Adopt Resolution designating the intersection of Locan and Shields Avenues a stop intersection and authorizing additional stop signs at the intersection, stopping eastbound and westbound traffic on Shields Avenue, making it an all-way stop.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the installation of additional stop signs at this location, improving traffic safety by requiring vehicles on Shields Avenue to stop in the eastbound and westbound directions. This item pertains to a location in District 5.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved by your Board, the traffic controls at this location will remain unchanged and the Shields Avenue will remain the through road with traffic on Locan Avenue stopping.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The estimated cost for the all-way stop is $250 for materials and $125 for equipment and labor that will be performed by Department of Public Works and Planning personnel. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s - Roads Org 4510 FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Locan and Shields Avenues are two-lane county roads that intersect east of the nearest city limits of the City of Fresno. The intersection of Locan and Shields is under joint jurisdiction of the County and City of Fresno; the City concurs with the County’s proposal. The default speed limit on both avenues is 55 miles per hour (MPH), except for the north leg of the intersection on Locan Avenue, which is posted for 45 MPH. The northwest corner of the intersection consists of newer residential subdivision while the other corners are mainly agricultural in nature. Shields has an easterly and westerly alignment, while Locan has a northerly and southerly alignment.
Eastbound Shields, west of Locan Avenue, consists of a dedicated left-turn lane pocket, through lane, bike lane, and a dedicated right-turn lane pocket. Westbound Shields, west of Locan Avenue, consists of two travel lanes and a bike lane. Northbound Locan, south of Shields Avenue, consists of a dedicated left-turn lane pocket and a shared through/right lane. Southbound Locan, north of Shields Avenue, consists of a shared left/through lane and a dedicated left-turn lane pocket. Traffic on Locan yields to traffic on Shields Avenue. Traffic signs on Locan Avenue consist of a Stop Ahead sign, Cross Traffic Does Not Stop sign, Stop bar in each direction of travel, and Stop Sign on each approach to Shields Avenue. The traffic volume on Shields Avenue is 3,530 vehicles per day (VPD) and 2,420 VPD on Locan Avenue.
All-way stop control can be useful as a safety measure at intersections where certain traffic conditions exist. When the Department considers all-way stop control at an intersection, the Department will conduct an engineering study. Based upon the information gathered during the engineering study, the Department will make a recommendation regarding the installation of stop signs. Criteria considered in an engineering study may include collision history, traffic volume, traffic delays or any combination of the foregoing. Between January 1, 2014 and February 10, 2019, there were a total five traffic accidents, which may have been correctable by a stop sign, which meets the minimum threshold for stop sign installation.
The foregoing study indicates that the traffic collision history at this intersection justifies the installation of stop signs, pursuant to guidelines in the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Furthermore, the study indicates that stop sign installation for eastbound and westbound Shields Avenue will improve traffic safety at this intersection.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Vicinity Map
On file with Clerk - Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa