After a thorough traffic study, it was found that the proposed speed bumps did not meet the criteria, taking into consideration the community's concerns about traffic safety. Image courtesy of City of Dixon

DIXON, CA (MPG) - More than 40 pages of documented speeds on Brians Way show miles per hour faster than city officials prefer.

Dixon city engineer Chris Fong presented the Dixon City Council with a Brians Way update at the June 4 meeting. On Feb. 20, Councilmember Kevin Johnson asked the Transportation Advisory Commission (TAC) to address Brians Way, which resulted in the Dixon Engineering Department monitoring speeds and traffic volumes for three days between March 5 and 7.

 Dixon City Engineer Chris Fong discusses the Brians Way Traffic Study, which offers several options to slow traffic on the local road. Image courtesy of City of Dixon

According to the traffic study, Brians Way "serves mainly residential uses and Patwin Park" near Tremont Elementary School. Residents report drivers use it as a thoroughfare to avoid adjacent intersections.

Due to the "unsafe speeds," residents asked city officials for traffic calming improvements on Brians Way to reduce speeds through a petition signed by 37 residents. Based on the 2017 amendment to the 2004 Neighborhood Traffic Management Program, allowing for Residential Speed Hump Guidelines, city officials contracted transportation engineering firm OKS & Associates to conduct a study.

Resident Anna Reily called into the meeting during public comment to tell officials her dog was killed on Brians Way.

"I want to thank the city and the police department for paying attention to this issue," Reily said, adding while it is a cost to the city, price does not matter. "And it is only going to take one car to hit another pet or a child."

The study states the same: "near misses with children playing in adjacent Patwin Park, and vehicles losing control and landing on a resident's property."

"It is noted that many children walk along Brians Way near Seqouia Way to either play or walk to Tremont Elementary School," according to the study. "Residents have also brought up speeding concerns in the morning, which impacts their ability to reverse out of their driveway."

 Diagonal dividers are one way to calm traffic measures on Brians Way. Image courtesy of City of Dixon

 A rendering of raised sidewalks shows the measure can calm traffic on Brians Way, where a dog was killed, and school-age children are at risk. Image courtesy of City of Dixon

Even with the danger noted, OKS & Associates reported Brians Way does not meet speed bump criteria; however, the road does meet the threshold for traffic calming measures. The Dixon City Engineering Department proposed up to four solutions with varying components: education and enforcement, operational improvements, and minor and major construction upgrades.

Education and enforcement include, but are not limited to, watching meetings and police enforcement. Operational improvements include rumble strips and speed limit signs and markings. Minor and major construction upgrades include, but are not limited to, raised crosswalks, diagonal diverters, and a center island narrowing to one-way streets.

Fong gave a rough estimate cost for three speed-cushion installations.

"Just for construction, around 45 thousand dollars," Fong said. "So, it is a significant cost to install." 

Fong said that edge line striping is "more affordable," citing an $8,000 cost. Speaking of striping, Councilmember Jim Ernest noted that traffic on North Lincoln "was outrageous" when it came to speeding until striping was placed.

"They changed the striping, so it made it more narrow in a way," Ernest said. "And when you do that, surprisingly, the traffic speed goes down a lot."

Fong informed officials that "the most bang for your buck is a speed feedback sign and possibly some rumble or physical reminder to the drivers."

Councilmember Don Hendershot liked the idea of small rumble strips and the "solar feedback sign" mentioned by Councilmember Kevin Johnson.

"My understanding from the neighbors is kids congregate in the middle of the turn, and that needs to be changed as well," Hendershot said, adding officials may have to work with the Dixon Unified School District to enforce. "It's important for us to acknowledge kids are going to be kids."

Mayor Steve Bird wanted to know more about the solar feedback sign, asking if it would flash and warn drivers to slow down, which, according to Fong, it will. The mayor also brought up an "illusionary" speedbump option, which Fong confirmed is ineffective.

Fong will report to officials within the month with more definitive options.