Folsom approves 4-way stop at Oak Avenue, Vista Oaks to slow shortcuts

With neighbors frustrated with unsafe drivers speeding through the quiet neighborhood as a shortcut, the city of Folsom is putting up all-way stop signs at Oak Avenue and Vista Oaks Drive in American River Canyon. The Folsom Public Works Department received a request to install all-way stop sign controls at the intersection, staff said. The residential area currently has a stop sign control on the Vista Oaks Drive approach. A petition was circulated by a concerned resident, requesting the conversion of the current, side-street stop-controlled intersection to an all-way stop, staff said. The petition was returned to the Folsom Public Works Department with signatures from 61 nearby households, including all homes directly adjacent to the intersection, authorities said. "Residents along Oak Avenue, Simmons Drive and Foxridge Drive have expressed concerns and frustration with the volume and speed of cut-through traffic," Interim Folsom Public Works Director Marcus Yasutake said in the report. "Motorists are using these roadways to bypass the intersection of Folsom Auburn Road and Oak Avenue Parkway. The proposed stop signs are intended to deter cut-through traffic." As is common with residential intersections, this location does not meet warrants for stop sign installation based on traffic volumes, safety concerns or right-of-way assignment, said Yasutake. "Petitioners have been advised that stop signs may not be effective in reducing vehicle speeds," staff said in the report. This item was considered by the Traffic Safety Committee at the April 24 meeting, and the group voted unanimously for all-way stop control. Public comments were made by Lisa Wright, Lisbet Liepart, Richard Gray, Lesley Taylor and John Lazaro. The committee recommended that Public Works study the intersection for a possible crosswalk, and the department committed to trim trees if they're blocking line of sight at the intersection, staff said. Public Works will also evaluate signal timing at Folsom Auburn Road and Oak Avenue, including signal sensors, according to the meeting minutes. Traffic Committee Member Zach Bosch of Public Works also committed to a future information item regarding the possibility of 15 MPH speed limits in certain areas of the neighborhood. The seven-member traffic committee also includes Rick Cogil, Kevin Goddard, Joanne Brausch, Matt Washburn, Mike Austin and Mathew McGee. The Folsom City Council was expected to approve the $6,000 project this week.