Adopt resolution to designate the intersections of North El Macero Drive and Country Club Drive, and South El Macero Drive and Clubhouse Drive, as multi-way stop intersections; authorize the Department of Community Services, Public Works Division, to install and maintain signs and markings at these intersections; and adopt the El Macero CSA Advisory Committee's recommendation on the installation of speed feedback signs on each of the eastbound shoulders of North El Macero Drive, Country Club Drive, and South El Macero Drive (No general fund impact) (Lindbo/Riddiough)

Over the past several years, the El Macero County Service Area (CSA) Advisory Committee has expressed concerns regarding traffic speeding within the El Macero Community. On February 15, 2024, the CSA Advisory Committee reviewed the results of a community survey that noted approximately 75 percent of the community was interested in having traffic calming measures implemented in El Macero to reduce speeding. Attachment A contains that CSA meeting presentation, which includes the survey results.

In early 2024, the CSA Advisory Committee contracted with W-Trans, a traffic engineering consultant, to complete a traffic study of the roads within the El Macero community. W-Trans assembled a final report dated March 28, 2024 that summarized their findings and analysis (Attachment B).  W-Trans suggested several safety measures to consider addressing the community’s speed concerns, including speed humps, speed cushions, chokers and neckdowns, bulb outs and curb extensions, chicanes, speed feedback signs, and all-way stop controls.  Although W-Trans noted, consistent with the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA-MUTCD), that stop controls are not intended as a speed control device, W-Trans included all-way stop controls as part of its evaluation in light of residents' interest in this option. After W-Trans presented their draft findings to the CSA Advisory Committee, the Advisory Committee expressed a preference to install speed feedback signs and all-way stop controls at key community intersections. Attachment C contains the proposed speed feedback and stop sign locations.  The cost estimates associated with the speed feedback signs would be $32,767.04 and the cost estimates for the intersection stop signs would be $28,791.29, for a total estimate of $61,558.33 (Attachment C). The El Macero CSA Streets Fund may also incur approximately $900 per year for maintenance of the speed feedback signs as an ongoing cost (Attachment C). 

Speed feedback signs:

In line with the final W-Trans report (Attachment B), the CSA Advisory Committee has recommended the installation of speed feedback signs at each entrance into the community (three in total), including one device on each of the eastbound shoulders of North El Macero Drive, Country Club Drive, and South El Macero Drive.  The locations are shown in Attachment C and have each received approvals for installation from the adjacent property owners. In their November 7, 2024 CSA Advisory Committee meeting, the Committee provided a recommendation to the County Board of Supervisors and County staff to move forward with installation of the speed feedback signs and spending funds on these three signs. If the Board of Supervisors adopts the Advisory Committee's recommendation, the Yolo County Public Works Division will proceed to order the necessary equipment and install the signs.  The El Macero CSA Streets Fund will reimburse the Yolo County Public Works Division for the costs associated with this effort. 

All-way stop controls:

As noted by W-Trans (Attachment B), all-way stop controls (installing stop signs at intersections) are not considered a speed control device. (See CA-MUTCD: “STOP signs should not be used for speed control.”) This is in part because stop signs are used for assigning rights-of-way at intersections and stop signs may result in drivers simply speeding up again once they are through the controlled intersection, resulting in higher mid-block vehicle speeds.

However, there may be other traffic conditions warranting installation of stop signs. W-Trans reviewed the pertinent criteria and concluded that, “While the warrants for all-way stop controls are not met based on the criteria most commonly used, all four locations have operational issues that could potentially be addressed through this change to traffic controls.”  Specifically, W-Trans concluded that consideration could be given to installing all-way stop controls at one or all of the four following locations evaluated for traffic calming:

County staff reviewed each of these proposed locations and recommends starting with installations of all-way stops at two intersections (North El Macero Drive/Country Club Drive East and South El Macero Drive/Clubhouse Drive in bold above). Installation of all-way stop controls meeting an optional warrant are permissible if used in conjunction with engineering judgment to alleviate minor shortfalls in fulfilling standard warrant criteria, as well as addressing unusual cases. W-Trans determined that the North El Macero Drive/Country Club East intersection met at least one optional CA-MUTCD warrant in that it is an intersection of two neighborhood collector streets and installation of all-way stop controls “could provide a balance and improve operation by reducing delay on the northbound Country Club Drive approach.”  

As for the South El Macero Drive/Clubhouse Drive intersection, W-Trans reviewed WesternITE Guidelines for neighborhood streets and concluded that conditions may warrant an all-way stop at this intersection due to resident complaints of excessive speed, as well as some visibility constraints with trees and landscaping along the north side of South El Macero Drive that might limit sight lines and present a visibility obstacle. Starting with two intersections will allow staff and the community to evaluate if there is improvement in traffic conditions before considering the possible installation of stop controls in the remaining two locations. 

The subdivision roads at these intersections were not designed in 1960 with the intent to possibly convert to a multi-way stop intersection in the future.  In addition, although public agencies are immune from liability for not installing a stop sign at an intersection, once the County exercises its discretion to install stop signs, the County has a duty to ensure that such stops signs are properly maintained. Accordingly, it is prudent to evaluate how the all-way stop sign intersections work in alleviating the operational issues identified before installing all-way stops at additional intersections.

The CSA Advisory Committee reached out to each of the affected landowners that would have traffic signs and markings installed along their property frontages with the new stop signs. A summary of the outreach effort is provided in Attachment D. A majority of the affected landowners were supportive.  However, two landowners did not support having new traffic signs within the public right-of-way on their property. If the Board adopts the resolution to designate the intersections of North El Macero Drive and Country Club Drive, and South El Macero Drive and Clubhouse Drive, as multi-way stop intersections, this action would result in the signs being installed within the public right-of-way whether or not the landowner is supportive.

In their November 7, 2024 meeting, the El Macero CSA Advisory Committee recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution (Attachment E) to designate the intersections of North El Macero Drive and Country Club Drive, and South El Macero Drive and Clubhouse Drive, as multi-way stop intersections to improve conditions for motorists and bicycles using the intersections. County staff informed the Advisory Committee of the cost associated with the stop sign installation and the Advisory Committee recommended moving forward with spending the funds. If approved by the Board of Supervisors, the Yolo County Public Works Division will proceed to order the necessary equipment and install the signs. The El Macero CSA Streets Fund will reimburse the Yolo County Public Works Division for these costs.

County Counsel approved the Resolution in Attachment E as to form.
In their November 7, 2024 meeting, the El Macero County Service Area Advisory Committee recommended the Board of Supervisors adopt the Resolution (Attachment E) to designate the intersections of North El Macero Drive and Country Club Drive, and South El Macero Drive and Clubhouse Drive, as multi-way stop intersections; and further recommended the Board adopt the El Macero CSA Advisory Committee's recommendation on the installation of speed feedback signs on each of the eastbound shoulders of North El Macero Drive, Country Club Drive, and South El Macero Drive.

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