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Citrus Heights Messenger

Red Light, Green Light

Mar 27, 2019 12:00AM ● By Story by Shaunna Boyd

The Signalized Intersection Safety Improvement Project is currently in the final design phase, and construction is expected to start in late summer of 2019. Staff photo.

Intersection Improvements Increase Safety for Drivers and Pedestrians

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The City of Citrus Heights applied for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant and was awarded $486,000 of grant funding.

The funds will be used for the Signalized Intersection Safety Improvement Project, which includes upgrades to traffic signals and pedestrian signals, and improvements to increase safety at certain intersections. 

The project will upgrade many traffic light signals from 8 inches to 12 inches. The larger traffic signals will be more visible to approaching drivers, increasing the time drivers have to react to signal changes and enhancing their ability to react to roadway conditions.

Pedestrian signals will be upgraded to the countdown model, which displays the time remaining for the pedestrian to finish crossing the street.

The countdown function reduces the number of pedestrians in the roadway when the signal light changes because pedestrians have more information about when it is safe to cross. Many pedestrian signals in the city already use the countdown model, but 11 still need to be upgraded.

The east side of Sunrise Blvd. at Macy Plaza Dr. (adjacent to the Sunrise Mall) currently has no push buttons or pedestrian signals to inform pedestrians when to safely cross the roadway.  

There is not much room for pedestrians to stand while waiting at the light, and the crosswalks are very narrow. The planned improvements for this intersection include adding pedestrian push buttons and countdown pedestrian signals, installing ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible curb ramps, and widening the crosswalk.

Another major safety improvement is the installation of pedestrian safety fences within the existing raised medians at the Greenback Ln. and Auburn Blvd. intersection.

This intersection is heavily trafficked, with 73,000 vehicles crossing it each day. It has the most collisions as well as the most pedestrian-involved collisions in the entire city.

According to Citrus Height Police Department (CHPD) Traffic Sergeant Shaun Gualco, in the last five years there have been 10 pedestrian-involved crashes at the intersection, and one crash proved fatal. “The signal upgrades will increase visibility, which is always a plus,” said Gualco. “And installing fences in a high-collision intersection will force pedestrians into the crosswalks.”

CHPD Sergeant James Garing said, “Anytime you have safety improvements on any of our streets in our community it’s a good thing. I just really wish people would use the crosswalks; I don’t know why people would risk it.”

Rhonda Fisher has been a resident of Citrus Heights for 40 years. She lives within a mile of the Greenback/Auburn intersection and she supports the idea of pedestrian fences: “I think it’s going to be a good addition, a needed addition. It’s a busy intersection. I’ve had a lot of near misses with pedestrians jaywalking there…I hope this will help.”

Ray Helzerman has lived in the area since 1979. He said, “I think it’s a good idea to have a barrier so people aren’t running across. It’s such a busy street, and sometimes at night people are running across in dark clothes in the dark.”

Helzerman appreciates that the City is “doing all they can do” to increase safety for everyone in the city.

The City asked residents and commuters to provide input on their preferred style out of four pedestrian fencing options: plant-climbing fence, scalloped fence, straight-topped fence, and unfinished hog wire fence.

The fence options are each approximately 4 feet tall to create a barrier discouraging pedestrians from climbing or jumping over. The designs allow for visibility so drivers can easily see over and around the fences.

The City plans to install the fencing around the existing median landscaping, and it would be installed in a series of panels, so it will be easy to replace a section if it is damaged.

The options were presented through various public outreach measures, at an Open House last month, and through an online survey that was available throughout the month of February.

After reviewing all the feedback received on fence preferences, the options were presented to the City Council on March 14.

Leslie Blomquist, senior civil/traffic engineer, told the Council that the City received a total of 501 responses, and the plant-climbing fence received the highest average of positive votes.

The plant-climbing fence has curved panels with space for climbing plants and vines to grow up and within the panels.

This option would beautify the intersection, but would also require additional planting costs and ongoing costs for maintenance and water use.

Since that intersection is a major entrance to the city, the Council agreed that it would be worth the extra money to add some visual interest with the plant-climbing fence.

Mayor Jeannie Bruins suggested that the plants installed along the fence should be drought tolerant in order to offset the water and maintenance costs as much as possible.

Vice Mayor Jeff Slowey commended City staff on their public outreach efforts, noting that it is rare to receive so many public responses to a City project.

The Signalized Intersection Safety Improvement Project is currently in the final design phase, and construction is expected to start in late summer of 2019.

 

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