Gemello Nabe Brings Traffic Concerns Before City Council Tuesday

Sometimes it takes a controversial issue to get people, even neighbors, together.

That's what happened to residents of the Gemello neighborhood, who in October collectively advocated before the City Council to defeat the proposed controversial Chick-fil-A restaurant and its drive-thru. But during those months of community organizing, they realized that traffic through the neighborhood was the real issue and a new traffic light planned by Caltrans became their next cause.

"We got together to work to stop Chick-fil-A and learned about the traffic light and stayed together," said Stephen Friedman, resident and spokesman for the neighborhood's Traffic Signal Study Committee (TSSC).

The neighbors learned about Caltrans' decision to install the traffic light during the Chick-fil-A discussions because the restaurant's proposal would have aligned the entrance and exit into their parking lot and drive-through via the light.

Caltrans however, had considered the installation of the light since 2001—a decade before the Chick-fil-A proposal. The agency found in 2006, after a five-year study, that of the 27 collisions at the intersection—including one fatality—18 could have been corrected with a traffic signal. Based on this, Caltrans decided to install a stoplight.

"Caltrans at this moment plans to move forward with the light, but we are in contact with them to see what our options are," Mike Fuller, director of public works, told Patch soon after the City Council's decision on Chick-fil-A.

According to city staff, Caltrans has not studied the impact of a left-turn signal on traffic in the Gemello neighborhood. Staff believes the traffic "would likely draw additional traffic to Clark Avenue" but cannot provide a good estimate.

Approximately 4,000 vehicles transit on Clark Avenue daily. About 1,000 make a right turn onto Clark Avenue from El Camino Real. Another 1,500 make a right turn onto El Camino Real from Clark Avenue. The remaining 450 cars make a left turn on El Camino Real.

Friedman, and other neighbors, would also like to see an overall reduction from the 4,000 daily cars. According to Friedman, staff told him that 1,500 vehicles through a neighborhood is normal. And the extra vehicles might be people taking advantage of the "shortcut" to El Monte Avenue, through Gemello.

"We are trying to get the city to find long-term solutions that will not cost much money," Friedman said. "We want people to slowdown."

Now after several weeks, the Gemello neighborhood has managed to get onto the City Council agenda for Tuesday, Nov. 20. There, public works staff will recommend that the Council measure both the impacts of a left hand turn lane at Clark Avenue—which Caltrans hasn't studied—and a blocked median, which would eliminate any left turn access onto El Camino Real. This could eliminate a potential 1000 vehicles a day from Clark Avenue.

The following list of specific suggestions and possible solutions will be presented by the TSSC to city staff:

1. Some neighborhood residents voiced opposition to a new traffic signal at Clark and ECR, and instead favor a “no left turn median” on ECR to prohibit westbound turns from Clark.  If a new traffic signal is 'fait accompli,' then signal configuration to prohibit left turn from Clark may be best alternative (see next item).
2. Cooperate with Caltrans to configure the new traffic signal to prohibit left turn from Clark to ECR, so as to disrupt the traffic pattern caused by "cut-though" motorists traveling north on Clark.
3. Cooperate with Caltrans to configure traffic signal to indicate green-arrow left turn from west-bound ECR onto southbound Clark in response to (both) sensing a vehicle and timed to synchronize with ECR-Escuela and ECR-Distel signals. This configuration should be set up so as NOT to disrupt ECR traffic patterns. Entry into Gemello neighborhood from westbound ECR should be prioritized: a) Safety; b) Preservation of ECR traffic flow; c) Neighborhood entry from ECR—residents want to minimize cut-throughs via Clark. 
4. Install bicycle pass-through island and induction loop detector in pavement sensitive to bicycles to activate signal to provide safe left turn or crossing. (This recommended design is used at El Camino Real and Alma in Palo Alto, where there is a pedestrian crossing and bicycle left turn with detector, but an island forces all vehicles to turn right.) 
5. Install three pedestrian crosswalks with traffic signal to be activated by bicycle detector or by push buttons so as to provide a safe crossing at Clark/ECR upon demand by pedestrians or cyclists waiting to cross.  Activation should be set to preserve traffic flow on ECR, therefore, synchronized with Escuela and Distel signals. Crossing time for bicycle-activated signal can be less than crossing time allowed for pedestrian push button, but in accordance with recommended practices for estimated bicycle speeds.
6. At El Monte / Marich intersection, install blinking lights, more street lighting, push-button signal and/or other measures to make the pedestrian crossing safer.
7. Prohibit left-hand turns and prohibit crossing ECR from Diddams and Sizzler onto ECR.  And, otherwise “Clean-up” dual driveways at Diddams and Sizzler (at least plan for this change at initial installation of Traffic Signal and cross walks) to promote safety for cars, pedestrians and cyclists at this dangerous cluster of access-ways.  
8. Replace 4-way stop at Clark and Marich with a roundabout to slow traffic without impact of additional cost to City for traffic enforcement.   (A big tree in the middle of a substantial island would be much appreciated.)
9. Increase lineal footage of “no parking” red-curbs at both entrances to Oak Park Condominium community to provide for safer entry and exit.

The staff report for the City Council meeting Tuesday is a part of this article and can be found in the media section above.

What do you think about the neighborhood's suggestions? How will this affect your commute on El Camino Real? On Clark Avenue? Tell us in comments.

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