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Consideration of request from Engineering Division to install stop signs on the Vliet Street approaches to 118th Street, the Cherry Street approaches to 119th Street, and the 120th Street approaches to Cherry Street
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Submitted by:
Michael May, PE, PTOE, RSP1
Department:
DPW - Engineering
A. Issue
Visual obstructions may block lines of sight and may not allow a road user to yield or stop in compliance with the normal right-of-way rule.
B. Background/Options
The City has adopted a policy that follows national standards related to the installation of yield and stop signs. The policy allows residents to request consideration for stop signs when they believe a condition, as described in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), has been met. Staff received resident requests for stop control at the following intersections and analyzed if such traffic control is warranted:
• 118th Street & Vliet Street
• 119th Street & Cherry Street
• 120th Street & Cherry Street
The warrants for two-way stop control are outlined below.
• Traffic Volumes: The combined volume of all vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle volume entering from all approaches averages more than 2,000 units per day. This warrant was not analyzed.
• Vision Issue(s): Ability to see conflicting traffic on an approach is not sufficient to allow a road user to yield or stop in compliance with the normal right-of-way rule.
o 118th Street & Vliet Street: The location of houses in the southeast and northeast corners of block adequate lines of sight.
o 119th Street & Cherry Street: The location of houses in all four corners and the location of hills in the southwest and northwest corners block adequate lines of sight.
o 120th Street & Cherry Street: The location of houses in all four corners and the location of hills in the southeast and northwest corners of the intersection block adequate lines of sight.
• Crashes: The intersection has 3+ crashes over a two-year period or 5+ crashes in a three-year period susceptible to correction by yield or two-way stop. Based on an analysis of intersection crashes for the five year period of January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2023:
o 118th Street & Vliet Street: One angle crashes occurred within the study period. Note that a second angle crash did occur outside the five-year study period on March 5, 2024. Both angle crashes involved northbound vs. westbound motorists, the latest crash involving probably injury.
o 119th Street & Cherry Street: No crashes occurred.
o 120th Street & Cherry Street: No crashes occurred.
Two-way stop control is warranted and necessary for motorists to properly see conflicting traffic based on the vision issues outlined. Staff recommends installing stop control as follows.
• On the Vliet Street approaches to 118th Street
• On the Cherry Street approaches to 119th Street
• On the 120th Street approaches to Cherry Street
C. Strategic Plan (Area of Focus)
Priority 2: Public Safety, Goal 2. Proactively address pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular safety
D. Fiscal Impact
Minor expenses for the in-house creation and installation of signs. The existing sign budget will
accommodate these expenses.
E. Recommendation
Direct staff to prepare an ordinance to install stop signs on the Vliet Street approaches to 118th Street, the Cherry Street approaches to 119th Street, and the 120th Street approaches to Cherry Street.