Commission approves red-curb extensions on East Seventh/Robertson and asks staff for traffic-study report and resident notification

The National City Traffic and Safety Commission unanimously approved staff recommendations to extend red-curb no-parking zones on East Seventh Street at Robertson/Harbison Avenue and forwarded the item to the City Council with several follow-up directions: request a traffic study of the area, consider speed reduction measures, and notify residents that the council will consider the recommendation on its consent calendar.

The item drew extended public comment. Local residents described recurring speeding, visibility issues on hills, many parked vehicles from nearby apartment complexes, and a history of petitions dating to 2015. One resident, speaking from memory of prior petitions, said he had submitted a petition with 62 signatures in 2015 opposing certain parking patterns. Residents recounted near-miss collisions, a recent dog strike incident, and daily congestion tied to freeway on-ramps.

Staff described existing roadway geometry: East Seventh Street and Robertson Avenue are two-lane roadways with parking on both sides; posted speeds were noted in staff materials (one segment listed as 30 mph). Staff observed sight-line obstructions created by parked vehicles and electrical poles and recommended two targeted red-curb extensions totaling 40 feet on the west side of Robertson Avenue and extending existing red-curb at the adjacent intersection.

Commissioners and residents discussed other mitigation options, including stop signs, crosswalks, speed humps, and traffic-calming measures used elsewhere in the city. Staff said some measures (such as speed humps and marked crosswalks) have criteria and constraints — for example, speed humps are not always permitted because of emergency access concerns — and that a traffic study would identify which measures are warranted.

The commission’s motion approved staff’s red-curb recommendations and added three directions for staff: (1) provide a follow-up traffic-study report on the area’s collision and speed history and recommended speed-mitigation measures; (2) coordinate a resident notification plan so neighbors know when City Council will consider the item and can comment if desired; and (3) consider and report on additional speed-control options if the study supports them. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Staff said the recommendation will be forwarded to City Council, likely on the second meeting in September, and that council may adopt the item on consent or pull it for public comment.