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Yuba City reviews temporary roundabout pilot on Sanborn Road after mixed results and resident pushback
Summary
City staff reported a modest drop in speeds and vehicle volumes at the temporary roundabout at Sanborn Road and McKeown Avenue, but residents and several council members said the device is too small for large trucks, has caused wrong‑way moves and removed street parking for some homes. Council did not take action; staff will return with options.
Yuba City staff presented a status update on a temporary roundabout installed this summer at Sanborn Road and McKeown Avenue, saying the pilot reduced prevailing speeds and daily traffic volumes but drew mixed responses from nearby residents.
Public Works Director Josh Wolf told the council the pilot was intended to be removable and reusable and was designed after a similar Marysville installation. Staff measured a 10 percent reduction in the prevailing speed—from about 41 mph to 38 mph—and about 171 fewer vehicles per day in the corridor. Wolf said the installed features include sand‑filled crash barrels, bolt‑down bumpers and breakaway delineators.
The project’s nut graf: the city’s temporary roundabout reduced speeds and some hazardous turning movements that had put homes at risk, but the pilot’s small diameter created new problems for people who live and work in the area, prompting council and staff to consider multiple alternatives before deciding on any permanent change.
Council and residents highlighted the benefits and shortcomings. Wolf said the current roundabout diameter is about 48 feet and is difficult for large delivery trucks and long‑wheelbase pickups to navigate; enlarging the circle to a roughly 60–68 foot diameter would require additional paving within the city right‑of‑way and cost an estimated $10,000–$15,000. Residents reported wrong‑way movements, continued speeding, and lost street parking adjacent to two homes; one of those homeowners said losing curb parking had impacted daily life. Some neighbors circulated a petition opposing the current layout, and others submitted their own petition supporting alternatives.
Council members and staff outlined options that will be studied further: leave the temporary roundabout in place; enlarge the roundabout to accommodate larger vehicles; remove it and install an all‑way stop; add traffic calming countermeasures (lane narrowing/striping, median pinch points, chicanes, solar flashing speed feedback signs at about $3,000 each); or a combination of measures. Staff noted stop signs are not an effective long‑term speed‑reduction tool and that lane‑narrowing and median treatments have been used elsewhere in the city.
Several council members emphasized enforcement and cooperation with Sutter County Sheriff’s Office because the corridor is patrolled by the sheriff rather than Yuba City Police; staff said a sheriff’s deputy attended the initial resident meeting but that ongoing enforcement would require coordination with Sutter County. Council members asked staff to continue outreach and bring back more data, potential designs for a larger roundabout, cost estimates, and enforcement options.
The council took no formal action. Staff said they will incorporate resident comments and return with additional analysis and alternatives for council consideration.
Residents quoted in the meeting urged more immediate changes while others favored physical, not enforcement‑only, measures. No permanent construction decision was made at the meeting; the item remained a discussion and follow‑up assignment for staff.
