Each year the Transportation & Community Safety Commission prioritizes and funds traffic safety projects focused on improving pedestrian and vehicle safety. Projects are nominated by each School District, COMPACT, residents and staff. The projects are prioritized using adopted scoring criteria and selected by the Commission for funding. The average annual budget is $50,000 for the program.
Various improvements have been made throughout the city since the program has started. Generally, the funding has gone towards crosswalk improvements to increase the safety for pedestrians entering a roadway. These improvements include striping, signage, pedestrian countdown timers, and accessible pedestrian signals (APS).
Projects for 2019 through 2020
With the FY19/20 budget four priority projects were or shall be completed, including crosswalk improvements at Oak Hill and Citrus and Lincoln Avenue near Pioneer Elementary, pedestrian countdown timers at five intersections, and Audible Pedestrian Signals that serves the sight impaired were installed at three intersections.
Shown here are the improvements made at Oak Hill and Citrus Avenue. Concerns had been made about vehicles failing to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. In response, advanced triangular shaped limit lines with Yield Here to Pedestrians signs, a high visibility crosswalk, traffic calming markings, and rapid flashing beacons (RRFB) were installed.
Shown here are improvements made on Lincoln Avenue at Ash Street. Concerns had been made about right-turning vehicles failing to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. In response, a high visibility crosswalk, yield line, striping improvements, and advanced crosswalk signage on eastbound Lincoln Avenue were installed.
Pedestrian countdown timers were installed at five locations including:
- Mission Avenue and Ash Street
- Bear Valley Parkway and Citrus Location
- Bear Valley Parkway and East Valley Parkway Location
- Midway Drive and Oak Hill Road
- Midway Drive and Grand Avenue
In total, the TMPL program has installed countdown timers at 9 priority intersections Citywide.
Accessible pedestrian signals (APS) were installed at El Norte Parkway and Morning View Drive, El Norte Parkway and Centre City Parkway, and S Escondido Blvd and W 15th Avenue in response to a request from a sight impaired resident. To date Accessible Pedestrian Signals have been installed at 4 locations prioritized based on the needs of sight impaired residents and visitors to the area.
Projects for 2020 through 2021
With the FY20/21 budget three priority projects shall be completed in the coming months, including crosswalk improvements at three intersections. Pedestrian countdown timers at four intersections and Audible Pedestrian Signals that serves the sight impaired will be installed at two intersections in the coming months as well.
Crosswalk improvements at Maple St. and W. 4th Avenue are proposed to be made. Concerns had been made for pedestrians crossing near Central Elementary School. In response, yellow crosswalks, limit lines, triangular yield lines, rectangular flashing beacons (RRFB’s), and advanced crosswalk signage at this intersection are to be installed. Sight distance evaluations were performed and red curbing was installed to enhance visibility throughout the intersection.
Crosswalks improvements on Juniper Street adjacent to Juniper Elementary are proposed to be made. Concerns had been made for pedestrians crossing near Juniper Elementary School. In response, a yellow crosswalk, triangular yield lines, rectangular flashing beacons (RRFB’s), and advanced crosswalk signage at this location are to be installed.
Crosswalk improvements at Rose Street and Oak Hill are proposed to be made. Concerns had been made for pedestrians crossing due drivers not yielding completely. In response, yellow crosswalks, limit lines, and advanced crosswalk signage at this location are to be installed. Sight distance evaluations were performed and red curbing was installed to enhance visibility throughout the intersection.
Accessible pedestrian signals are proposed to be installed within the year in response to a request from a sight impaired resident. The intersections these are proposed to be installed are Valley Parkway/Auto Parkway and Valley Parkway/9th Avenue.
Pedestrian countdown timers at four locations are proposed to be installed within the year including:
- El Norte Parkway/North Ash Street
- Bear Valley Parkway/Oak Hill Drive
- N. Broadway/Country Club Road
- N. Broadway/Reidy Creek School
To nominate a pedestrian or vehicular safety project to be considered for the Traffic Management Project List (TMPL), please send the location and details regarding the traffic safety issue you would like to address to traffic.engineering@escondido.org.
If you have a school-related traffic or pedestrian concern, such as concerns surrounding drop off and pick up, we ask that you reach out the School Principal who will work with the School District to evaluate the concern. City staff, the School District and crossing guard staff work collaboratively to address school safety related concerns.