CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA

CITY COUNCIL
Staff Report

November 6, 2018
ORDERS OF BUSINESS

TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members

SUBMITTED BY: Robert M. Harary, P.E., Director of Public Works

APPROVED BY: Chip Rerig, City Administrator

Resolution No. 2018-119, Approving the Conversion from an Uncontrolled to a 2-Way

Stop-Controlled Intersection at Mountain View Avenue and Torres Street, from a 2-Way
SUBJECT: to 4-Way Stop-Controlled Intersection at Fourth Avenue and Mission Street, and from a
1-Way to 3-Way Stop-Controlled Intersection at San Carlos Street and Ninth Avenue.

RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution 2018-119, approving the conversion from an uncontrolled to a 2-way stop-controlled Intersection at
Mountain View Avenue and Torres Street, from a 2-way to 4-way stop-controlled intersection at Fourth Avenue and
Mission Street, and from a 1-way to 3-way stop-controlled intersection at San Carlos Street and Ninth Avenue.

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
On September 12, 2018, the Traffic Safety Committee, comprised of the Director of Public Safety, Director of Public
Works, and Director of Community Planning and Building, met to discuss issues ranging from apparent speeding,
parking, loading zones, and traffic calming. Of particular concern, and most urgent, appears to be inadequate stop
control at the following three intersections:

Mountain View Avenue/Torres Street: Currently there are no stop signs at this location. Mountain View Avenue
runs at a skew angle across Torres Street, which limits visibility and results in offset centerlines between Torres north
of the intersection and Torres south of the intersection. Based on the unusual geometrics of the intersection and a
recent accident, the Traffic Safety Committee recommends that stop signs be installed for Torres Street, both
northbound and southbound. While this would significantly enhance safety compared to existing conditions, this site
will be monitored for effectiveness following installation.

Fourth Avenue/Mission Street: Currently there are stop signs for Mission Street both north and south of the
intersection. However, visibility for northbound travelers is completely obscured from eastbound Fourth Avenue
vehicles due to a significant tree in the southwest corner of the intersection. Southbound Mission Street travelers also
have site obstructions, namely the mass of the building and the potential for trucks or vans to park near the northeast
corner of the intersection blocking the view of westbound vehicles along Fourth Avenue. The Traffic Safety Committee
recommends that stop signs be installed for both eastbound and westbound Fourth Avenue which would result in a
four-way stop-controlled intersection.

For the prior two intersections, the Traffic Safety Committee considered several alternatives to installing additional
stop signs, such as reducing speed limits, constructing bulb outs, and landscaping; however, the Committee noted that
none of these alternatives would be as effective as stop signs. No one from the public had any objections to the
proposed stop signs at the Traffic Safety Committee meeting.

San Carlos Street/Ninth Avenue: San Carlos Street is part of the City's truck/bus route linking vehicles from
downtown Carmel to Rio Road. San Carlos has no stop signs between Eighth Avenue and Thirteenth Avenue, and
the posted speed limit is 25 mph. According to local residents, speeding is consistently a problem. One crosswalk
exists across San Carlos at the south side of Ninth Avenue near the San Carlos driveway to Sunset Center. This
crosswalk receives low levels of night lighting on the east side of the intersection, but has no lighting on the west side.
There is potential for someone being in the crosswalk at night, wearing dark clothes, in a rainstorm or fog, and an
inattentive driver could cause a serious injury or fatal accident. Staff feels strongly that something must be done, and it
must be done within the aesthetic spirit of the Village.

The Traffic Safety Committee discussed several options for this crosswalk. First, the crosswalk could be removed, but
this would result in pedestrians having to travel two more blocks to reach their destination. Second, a lighted
crosswalk could be installed for approximately $20,000 to $25,000; however, this may set an undesirable precedence
for possible future applications across the City and likely conflicts with the City's more informal design elements.
Accordingly, the Committee recommends placing stop signs on San Carlos for both northbound and southbound traffic
at the Ninth Avenue intersection as the "best fit" option for this location.

All intersections are unique in terms of speed limit, line of site visibility, roadway widths, alignments, centerline offsets,
grades, and pavement markings. Therefore, the Director of Public Works, with confirmation by the Director of Public
Safety, will determine if ancillary safety upgrades are prudent, such as installing "Stop Ahead" signs and/or painting
pavement markings, when the stop signs are installed.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The estimated cost for six (6) stop signs, and potential 'Stop Ahead' signs, is $1,200. Sufficient funding is available in
the Public Works Operating Budget account 101-119-40-42105. Additionally, there will be an incremental, minor
extra cost associated with annual painting of traffic pavement legends at these intersections.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
On February 6, 2018, Council adopted Resolution 2018-019, approving the conversion from 2-way to 4-way stop-
controlled intersections at Carmelo Street/Eight Avenue, Dolores Street/Twelfth Avenue, and Lincoln Street/Seventh
Avenue.

ATTACHMENTS:

Resolution No. 2018-119

 CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA Attachment 1
CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. 2018 - 119
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA APPROVING THE
CONVERSION FROM AN UNCONTROLLED TO A 2-WAY STOP-CONTROLLED INTERSECTION AT
MOUNTAIN VIEW AVENUE AND TORRES STREET, FROM A 2-WAY TO A 4-WAY STOP-CONTROLLED
INTERSECTION AT FOURTH AVENUE AND MISSION STREET, AND FROM A 1-WAY TO A 3-WAY STOP-
CONTROLLED INTERSECTION AT SAN CARLOS STREET AND NINTH AVENUE
WHEREAS, on February 6, 2018, Council adopted Resolution 2018-019, approving the conversion
from 2-way to 4-way stop-controlled intersections at Carmelo Street/Eight Avenue, Dolores Street/Twelfth
Avenue, and Lincoln Street/Seventh Avenue; and
WHEREAS, since that time, citizens expressed safety concerns and/or an accident has occurred at
additional intersections across the City which justified site investigations and discussion by the Traffic Safety
Committee; and
WHEREAS, at the September 12, 2018 Traffic Safety Committee meeting, the intersection of Mountain
View Avenue and Torres Street was discussed where it was noted that there was a recent accident, there are
no stop signs at this intersection, and the intersection includes a skew alignment with an offset centerline on
Torres; consequently, installing stop signs on northbound and southbound Torres is prudent; and
WHEREAS, at the meeting, the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Mission Street was discussed where
it was noted that a large tree, buildings, and/or parked trucks at this intersection obstruct visibility for Mission
Street travelers in both directions; therefore, converting this intersection to 4-way stop controlled is warranted;
and
WHEREAS, the intersection of San Carlos Street and Ninth Avenue was also discussed where it was
noted that San Carlos is a truck/bus route at this location, there are no stop signs along San Carlos between
Thirteenth and Eighth Avenues, a crosswalk exists across San Carlos at Ninth Avenue with no lighting on the
west side, and a pedestrian wearing dark clothes and/or inclement weather and/or an inattentive driver could
result in an injury accident; and
WHEREAS, removal of the crosswalk at San Carlos Street and Ninth Avenue would increase
pedestrian travel by at least two blocks, and installation of a lighted crosswalk may be cost-prohibitive and/or
set an undesirable precedent, thus upgrading this intersection to 3-way stop controlled, coupled with stop
ahead signs and/or pavement markings is the most appropriate solution; and
WHEREAS, the Traffic Safety Committee agreed that additional stop signs, as opposed to other traffic
calming measures, would be most effective from a safety perspective at each intersection; and
WHEREAS, the Committee agreed to recommend that the City Council approve installing stop signs at
these three locations.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-
THE-SEA DOES HEREBY:
Approve the conversion from an uncontrolled to a 2-way stop-controlled Intersection at Mountain View
Avenue and Torres Street, from a 2-way to 4-way stop-controlled intersection at Fourth Avenue and Mission
Street, and from a 1-way to 3-way stop-controlled intersection at San Carlos Street and Ninth Avenue.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA this
6th day of November, 2018, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS:
SIGNED: ATTEST:
_______________________ ___________________________
Steve G. Dallas, Mayor Thomas A. Graves, MMC
City Clerk