City outlines concept for signal at Avenida De Los Arboles and Avenida De Los Plantas; neighbors raised access and truck-turning concerns

Clark Stanfill, an engineering associate in the City of Thousand Oaks Public Works Department, presented a conceptual plan to signalize the three-way stop-controlled intersection of Avenida De Los Arboles and Avenida De Los Plantas. Staff said the location ranked No. 1 on the city's signal-priority list in 2022 and 2025 and is included in the council-approved capital improvement budget.

Stanfill said the intersection currently forces merge lanes near the junction and lacks continuous bike lanes through the intersection; the concept calls for curb-ramp extensions (bulb-outs) to create space for signal poles and pedestrian pushbuttons, restriping to connect Class 2 bike lanes east and west of the junction, added pedestrian ramps, and street lights integrated with the signals. The project concept also proposes a right-turn lane eastbound and a signalized left-turn pocket westbound; curb extensions would shorten pedestrian crossing distances and improve visibility.

Staff identified constraints: limited public-right-of-way on both north and southwest corners (sidewalk back-of-walk limits and mature oak trees), and existing on-street parking. To respond to concerns raised during early outreach about large trucks making turns, Stanfill said the city will perform vehicle-turning analyses during design and would adjust the design if needed. The conceptual budget shown to the commission is $536,000 total, with $150,000 allocated for design in the current fiscal year and $386,000 proposed for construction in fiscal year 2026—2027. Staff outlined a tentative schedule: consultant selection (RFP) in late 2025, design beginning in January 2026, construction starting in 2026 with anticipated completion by 2028.

Commissioners and residents asked how the plan would affect on-street parking and driveway access. Commissioner Guerra said the street frequently has parked cars and asked how bike lanes could be connected without losing parking; Stanfill said the design would retain most parking and would convert an existing eastbound merge lane to continuous bike lane space. Stanfill said curb extensions would be localized and that most parking loss would be minimal; the most significant restriction would be within the intersection's no-parking zone, which already limits parking near corners.

Two outreach items were described: mailed notices to 239 nearby residents, door-to-door contact with closest households, and a community meeting held Aug. 27; written comments were received and posted. One resident at the meeting expressed concern about a longer left-turn pocket and about turns into a driveway; staff revised the concept to shorten the left-turn pocket and add a scribe median. Another emailed comment questioned curb extensions and truck turning; staff said a consultant will run turning analyses during design. The staff report included an attached conceptual plan and an analysis summary used to justify the intersection's priority ranking.

Commissioners asked about collision history and signal warrants. Staff said Arboles carries roughly 20,000 vehicles per day, Plantas about 5,000—6,000, and that the site ranked high on the city's internal priority list based on volume and collision history; staff also said they exchanged technical correspondence with a resident who questioned whether the location met MUTCD signal warrants and would speak directly with any traffic engineers who submit alternate analyses.

The item was informational; the commission provided feedback and no formal vote was taken. Staff recommended proceeding to an RFP to select a consultant, complete a design/turning analysis, finalize plans, and continue outreach with immediately adjacent residents and nearby businesses during the design phase.