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TAC recommends Potter/Elder all-way stop, 35 mph speed limit for all of Gum Tree

One unanimous vote of the county's Traffic Advisory Committee March 12 recommended an all-way stop control for the intersection of Potter Street and Elder Street and another unanimous TAC vote that morning recommended that the speed limit for all of Gum Tree Lane be 35 mph.

The March 12 unanimous TAC votes also included recommending recertification of the 40 mph speed limit on Hutchison Street in Bonsall between East Vista Way and 1,000 feet west of Harris Drive. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors members are scheduled to take action on the TAC recommendations June 30.

Potter Street and Elder Street are both two-lane roadways with centerline striping which prohibits passing. Both streets are unclassified on the mobility element of the county's general plan, and both streets are considered residential collectors. Potter Street ranges in paved width from 32 to 40 feet while the road bed width ranges from 50 to 56 feet. The Elder Street travel width and roadbed ranges from 28 to 40 feet, and Elder Street westbound and eastbound motorists currently must obey the stop control at the intersection with Potter Street.

A Feb. 2021 traffic survey at the intersection indicated an average daily volume of 1,990 northbound vehicles on Potter Street, 1,587 southbound vehicles on Potter Street, 1,270 eastbound vehicles on Elder Street, and 652 westbound vehicles on Elder Street.

"The two roadways have very close traffic volume," said county traffic engineer Zoubir Ouadah.

"We have quite heavy parking demand," said TAC secretary Kenton Jones.

Parking is prohibited close to the actual intersection although Dale Stewart, who has lived on one of the intersection corners since 1992, notes that motorists might not notice the prohibition due to the fading of the red paint. "They were red at one point. Three of the corners you barely know that they've been painted," Stewart said.

Stewart noted that he painted the fourth corner himself.

The intersection collision rate of 0.79 per million vehicle miles was based on five reported collisions, including three involving injury, during the 39-month period between May 1, 2017, and July 31, 2020. The statewide average for similar four-leg intersections controlled by stop signs but not an all-way stop control is 0.24 collisions per million vehicle miles.

"The visibility is very poor," Stewart said.

The sight distance for eastbound Elder Street motorists at the intersection is 151 feet looking north and 400 feet looking south while westbound Elder Street drivers have a sight distance of 194 feet looking north and 230 feet looking south. At the prevailing speed of 35 mph the public road standard minimum sight distance is 350 feet.

"The corner sight distance is a safety issue," Ouadah said.

"Sight distances are pretty marginal, and this intersection would definitely benefit from a four-way stop," said Jim Custeau, who is the TAC public member for the Second Supervisorial District and who taught automotive technology at Cuyamaca College for 33 years.

"These roadways are basically what you call a grid system," Ouadah said.

Ouadah explained that in a grid system traffic will often utilize a road without stop sign or traffic signal interruption. "It's really a network, in my mind, issue," he said.

"An all-way stop makes a lot of sense," Ouadah said. "It really is a local roadway."

Jones noted that Elder Street has "cross traffic does not stop" signs. "That was already a level one cry for help," he said. "The issue remains."

Gum Tree Lane totals 1.49 miles between Stage Coach Lane and Live Oak Park Road including 0.76 miles between Stage Coach Lane and Hamilton Lane. The 35 mph speed limit between Stage Coach Lane and Hamilton Lane was last recertified for radar enforcement in 2013.

In order for a speed limit to be enforceable by radar, a speed survey must show that the speed limit is within an adjacent 5 mph increment to the 85th percentile speed. Periodic recertification, including a supporting speed survey, is required for continued radar enforcement and the county's Department of Public Works or a DPW contractor typically conducts speed surveys every seven years. The speed limit may be rounded either up or down from the 85th percentile speed.

The speed limit may also be rounded down an additional 5 mph if findings are made that the road has conditions which would not be apparent to a motorist unfamiliar with the road. "We need to find conditions not apparent to the motorist to get back to 35," Jones said.

The TAC made findings of driveways along the street and pedestrian presence to allow the speed limit to be lowered by an additional 5 mph. If speed surveys are taken at more than one location along a reviewed segment a "speed zone" for the entirety of the speed surveys can be used. "The full average being 42.4 does provide us an opportunity," Jones said. "We can easily get to 40 or 35 with findings."

Gum Tree Lane east of Hamilton Lane has no posted speed limit, although by state law motorists can travel no faster than 55 mph on a two-lane road which is not a freeway. Without a posted speed limit motorists will be able to travel 55 mph on Gum Tree Lane between Hamilton Lane and Live Oak Park Road. "That is a concern for me at least," Jones said.

That is also a concern for many residents who live on streets off of Gum Tree Lane. "This item does stem from concerns by nearby residents," said DPW engineering technician Ben Baker.

The mobility element designates Gum Tree Lane as a Light Collector west of Hamilton Lane. The segment east of Hamilton Lane is not classified on the mobility element, The travel width of Gum Tree Lane ranges between 24 and 30 feet, and the road bed width ranges from 26 to 30 feet. The 35 mph speed limit becomes 25 mph in the vicinity of William Frazier Elementary School when children are present, and the road also has speed advisory signs prior to curves. The estimated average daily traffic volume by the school is 4,600 vehicles.

During the 36-month period from Feb. 1, 2018, to Jan. 31, 2021, Gum Tree Lane had six reported collisions, including two with injuries. The collision rate of 0.92 per million vehicle miles compares favorably with the statewide average of 1.60 per million vehicle miles for similar suburban two-lane roads with speed limits under 45 mph.

"It's a very hilly road with a lot of blind spots," said Green View Lane resident Tom Winter.

Winter noted that the blind spots aren't limited to side streets. "There are driveways all along this road," he said.

On Jan. 1, a car hit a delivery truck exiting Autumn Rose Lane, rolled downhill, and landed on Hamilton Lane. In February, a motorcyclist avoided a car exiting Hamilton Lane but crashed.

"This is probably the major critical spot on the road. It's absolutely blind," Winter said.

"That may be a good candidate for an all-way stop control," Ouadah said.

The motion approved March 12 did not include an all-way stop control. DPW will review the intersection to determine if an all-way stop is warranted at Gum Tree Lane and Hamilton Lane.

Gilbert Rodriguez has lived on Autumn Rose Lane for 40 years and walks or runs on Gum Tree Lane daily. "There are so many parents and people who drop off children who make a u-turn," he said. "An accident will happen again."

Ouadah noted that the road has no shoulder east of Hamilton Lane. "When people walk they basically are walking in the pavement," he said.

The speed limit will be accompanied by additional signs. "We should be looking at speed limit signs that are appropriately placed," Jones said.

Jones noted that pavement legends accompanying signs are now standard, so the speed limit will also be visible on the road as well as by the side of the road.

Hutchison Street is not classified on the mobility element. The two-lane through highway has a travel width of 24 feet, a road bed width between 24 and 36 feet, a striped centerline to indicate that passing is prohibited, and a white edgeline. The street also includes a horse advisory sign.

Six reported collisions, including two with at least one injury, occurred during the 36-month period from Oct. 1, 2017, to Sept. 30, 2020. The collision rate of 3.44 per million vehicle miles exceeds the statewide average of 1.60 per million vehicle miles for similar suburban two-lane roads with speed limits less than 45 mph.

An Oct. 2020 traffic survey taken 150 feet west of East Vista Way indicated an average daily volume of 2,346 vehicles consisting of 1,401 eastbound and 945 westbound motorists. The Feb. 10, 2021, speed survey 150 feet east of Vista Del Rio measured 114 motorists whose 85th percentile speed was 43.5 mph with 68.0 percent of the drivers within a 31-40 mph pace.

"The measured prevailing speed precisely matches the posted speeds," Jones said.

Author Bio

Joe Naiman, Writer

Joe Naiman has been writing for the Village News since 2001

 

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