Item 13 - Additional Material posted 1-19-22From:Daniel Flynn Baker
To:City Clerk
Subject:Agenda item #13) Unwarranted, Frivolous Multi-way Stop on Martincoit/Stone Canyon
Date:Tuesday, January 18, 2022 4:04:05 PM
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Hello, My name is Daniel Baker, and I've lived on Orchard Gate Road, an offshoot of Martincoit, (about .5 milesaway from the proposed stop sign) for 20 years. I would like to make it known that I am severely opposed toimplementing a stop sign on martincoit/ stone canyon. Not only do frivolous signs lower public engagement withgood traffic signage, as shown in my references below, they can also actually cause residents to increase their speedas a way to combat their wasted time. In addition to this, the pointlessness of the sign has been proven time and timeagain at meetings in the past, for good reason.In section 2B.07 of the California MUTCD, Criterion B:
"B. Five or more reported crashes in a 12-month period that are susceptible to correction by a multi-way stop
installation. Such crashes include right-turn and left-turn collisions as well as right-angle collisions."
Criterion B is one of the main evaluating factors for the implementation of multi-way stop signs, and as said in the
agenda, Martincoit/Stone Canyon is nowhere NEAR the "Should" place a stop sign requirements, showing that from
the get-go, it would be a frivolous expense for the City of Poway. I'm waiting back for a statistical report from the
Sheriff's Office, but my suspicion is that there have been zero collisions at this intersection for 5+ years.
If we put a stop sign on every single intersection that qualified for the "may" requirements, Poway would get
progressively less free as a community, and this is a step in that direction. I love the City of Poway, and I despise
government overreach, a sentiment I'm sure many Powegians can empathize with. The evidence regarding
unnecessary signage supports my side, regarding both driver psychology AND environmental impacts of wasted
gasoline.
I urge the City Council to vote No.
http://archive.rcgov.org/ca20140902/PW081214-09/RESEARCH%20ON%20EFFECTIVENESS%20OF%20ALL-
WAY%20STOPS.pdf
Before-After studies show multi-way stop signs do not reduce speeds on residential
streets. Nineteen references found this to be their finding. (Reference 19 (1 study), 55 (5 studies), 60 (8 studies) and 64(5 studies)).
Unwarranted multi-way stops increased speed some distance from intersections. The studies hypothesizing
that motorists are making up the time they lost at the "unnecessary" stop sign. Fifteen references found this
to be their finding.( Reference 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 17, 19, 20,39, 45,46, 51, 55, 70 and 71).
Multi-way stop signs have high operating costs based on vehicle operating costs,vehicular travel times, fuel
consumption and increased vehicle emissions. Fifteen references found this to be their finding. (Reference 3,
4, 7, 8, 10, 14, 15, 17, 45, 55 ,61, 62, 63, 67 and 68).