The Cupertino Bicycle Pedestrian Commission recently provided input to Cupertino City Staff on safety concerns associated with the Torre Avenue pedestrian crossing area, located at Town Center Lane in front of the Civic Center Plaza.
This area includes the highly utilized library, City Hall, Community Hall, businesses such as Coffee Society and townhouse homes. Torre Avenue experiences a high volume of vehicular traffic and also a high volume of pedestrian/bicycle activity that includes seniors, students, young children and families.
Resident Safety Concerns
The Commission has received communications previously from concerned citizens regarding the dangers of crossing this intersection, including
- Low visibility of pedestrians, especially at night
- Illegal U-turns by cars at the intersection and
- Vehicles stopping in the crossing area.
Residents have requested the installation of flashing pedestrian crossing lights and physical barriers or lane design changes to deter illegal U-turns and stopping in the crossing area.
One of four no U-turns signs at the intersection.
Signs are not deterring illegal behavior
The illegal U-turns are typically made by southbound drivers turning around to enter the book dropbox area on the east side of the intersection, despite the four No U-Turn signs plainly visible. When drivers stop in the crosswalk area, it’s usually because they are parked and waiting at the brick pavement “bump-out” located along the west side of the intersection and bordered by black bollards. There are also four signs there stating No Parking attached to the bollards.
Intersection only brick right now
This intersection does not have a marked crosswalk; however the crossing area is delineated by concrete brick pavers, which provide an open plaza look and feel. In addition to the No Stopping and No U-turn signage, there are additional signage and pavement markings to enhance pedestrian safety that include a yield to pedestrian sign at the centerline of Torre Avenue, pedestrian crossing warning signs at the approaches to the intersection, and pavement markings that include a pedestrian symbol, bike sharrow and “shark tooth” yield markings at the approaches to the intersection. The posted speed limit is 25 mph on Torre. The presence of the book “dropoff box” from the Library adds to the confusion at the intersection.
Parking at the “bump out” where the brick crossing meets the sidewalk is common.
Bike Ped Commissioners are United
The five Bicycle Pedestrian commissioners have been unified on the need for stronger safety improvements at this intersection, recognizing the limited effectiveness of the current signs. The commission recommended the following measures to increase the safety at this intersection including:
- Add speed bumps and elevated crosswalks to reduce speeding.
- Create a more defined crossing area for pedestrians.
- Reduce the speed limit from the currently posted 25 mph speed limit.
- Increase pedestrian visibility by removing at least one of the 20-minute parking spots located on the east side of Torre, just south of an ADA handicap ramp (The closest parking spot is 11 feet from the ADA ramp, which could place it in violation of California’s daylight law requiring 20 feet).
- Install flashing pedestrian crossing lights.
- Improve nighttime lighting of the intersection.
- Modify the intersection to prevent illegal U-turns and stopping by providing a clear delineation between the bump out along the west side of Torre Avenue and the adjoining traffic lane.
Examples of vehicle data collection units, video (top) and pneumatic tube (bottom).
City Transportation staff have indicated that it has been 5 or 10 years since the city has collected data on this intersection and that it would be prudent to perform a new study. The staff have also provided the next steps for this study, including: (1) collect daily vehicle, bike, and pedestrian counts via video collection units, (2) collecting speed data (via pneumatic tubes and radar gun for spot checking), (3) overall review of existing conditions to see if there are any deficiencies or safety concerns, and (4) collision analysis to see if there have been any collisions at this location with particular focus on pedestrian-related collisions. Pneumatic tube collection units–the small black tubes you drive over that count vehicles–and two video collection units at the intersection were found at the intersection on November 14.
Based on the data collection and analysis the staff will develop potential solutions and bring those back to the commission for further review and comment.