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 Church Avenue and Marks Avenue
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Adopt Resolution designating the intersection of Church and Marks Avenues a stop intersection and authorizing additional stop signs at the intersection, stopping eastbound and westbound traffic on Church 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 Church Avenue to stop in the eastbound and westbound directions. This item pertains to a location in District 1.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved by your Board, the traffic controls at this location will remain unchanged and Church Avenue will remain the through road with traffic on Marks 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 the Department of Public Works and Planning, for a total estimated cost of $375. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s - Roads Org 4510 FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Church and Marks Avenues intersect west of Fresno. The terrain is flat, leveled, and the intersection lies within a rural farming area. Both roads have a speed limit of 55 MPH, but the east leg of Church Avenue is posted for 50 MPH. The intersection is under joint jurisdiction of the County and City of Fresno.
Marks Avenue has a southerly and northerly alignment consisting of two lanes of traffic. The pavement measures approximately 32-feet wide from edge to edge. Signs and pavement markings include a painted yellow road centerline striping, Stop Ahead sign and pavement markings, Stop Sign, Cross Traffic Does Not Stop warning sign, and a Stop bar on each approach to Church Avenue. The traffic volume is 3,460 vehicles per day (VPD).
Church Avenue has an easterly and westerly alignment, and is the through road at Marks Avenue. The traffic volume is 1,460 VPD and the pavement measures approximately 23 feet wide.
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 the collision history, traffic volume, traffic delays or any combination of the foregoing. Between January 1, 2014 and February 20, 2019, there were 17 traffic accidents with right-of-way violation was the primary cause factor in 11 accidents, which may have been correctable by an all-way stop installation.
The foregoing study indicates that the traffic collision history at the intersection, volumes, delays, or any combination thereof justify 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 Church 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