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As part of the National City Safe Routes to School Project (Phase III), `safety
enhancements such as corner bulb -outs, new sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, and
school zone signing and striping are planned for Palmer Street near Palmer Way
School — see attached exhibit in the staff report to the Traffic Safety Committee.
As part of a previous Safe Routes to School project, school zone speed limit
signs with flashing beacons were installed on Earle Drive approaching Palmer
Street to calm traffic and improve driver awareness of the school zone.
As part of the project and per the request of concerned parents, staff is
recommending All -Way Stop Control (AWSC) for the intersections of Palmer
Street & Earle Drive, and Palmer Street & Palmer Way, nearby Palmer Way
School. The intersection of Palmer Street & Earle Drive is Stop controlled for
Palmer Street and uncontrolled for Earle Drive. The intersection of Palmer Street
& Palmer Way does not currently have any traffic control signs.
Staff performed a site evaluation and reviewed traffic warrants for AWSC. Since
these are relatively low -volume streets the key criteria used in determining
warrants is proximity to the elementary school, accident history and distribution of
traffic volumes — approach volumes on both streets should be relatively equal to
warrant AWSC.
Staff recommends installation of AWSC for the intersection of Palmer Street &
Earle Drive since: a) traffic volumes on both streets approaching the intersection
are relatively equal (1,030 vs. 1,430 daily and 560 vs. 690 afternoon peak), b) the
intersection is within one block of the school, and c) the intersection is located
along a key walking route to school. No injury accidents susceptible to correction
by AWSC were reported within the past two years.
Staff recommends installation of AWSC for the intersection of Palmer Street &
Palmer Way since: a) the intersection does not currently have any traffic control
signs, b) the intersection is located adjacent to the school driveway (west leg of
intersection), c) the intersection is located along a key walking route to school,
and d) to provide consistency with the proposed AWSC at the intersection of
Palmer Street & Earle Drive located one block to the east. No injury accidents
susceptible to correction by AWSC were reported within the past two years.
All work will be completed as part of the National City Safe Routes to School
Project (Phase III), which is scheduled to go to construction Fall 2011.
TSC 2011-17