Orange council directs staff to study bollards and medians after repeated Plaza Park incursions; excludes rumble strips

City of Orange leaders instructed staff to refine and pursue physical protections for Plaza Park after hearing months of incident reports and public testimony.

Staff presented several possible interventions to stop vehicles from entering the circular roadway and striking the park and fountain, including decorative boulders, nightly closures, rumble strips, raised splitter/median islands and additional crash-rated bollards. Traffic staff estimated a rough cost range: supplemental crash-rated bollards about $500,000; splitter islands roughly $300,000 plus about $100,000 for supplemental beacons; a movable barrier system was estimated at roughly $500,000–$800,000 upfront with $150,000–$400,000 in recurring annual staffing costs. Staff emphasized the design challenge of shallow utilities and tree roots, and noted that some options—such as boulders—are not crash-engineered and could fracture on impact.

Public commenters, preservation advocates and business owners urged caution and urged a design sensitive to Old Town events such as the Orange International Street Fair. The Old Town Preservation Association warned that raised medians could disrupt event layouts and estimated potential revenue impacts for the street fair; business owners and patrons urged measures that prioritize pedestrian safety as activity around the plaza increases.

Councilmembers focused on two near-term priorities: (1) directing staff to analyze crash trajectories and police reports so protective elements can be sited where incursions actually occur, and (2) pursuing a permanent physical solution that prioritizes life over property. Several councilmembers expressed doubts about rumble strips and raised concerns about noise for nearby residents; others raised concerns about potential harm to motorists if a vehicle strikes an immovable bollard.

In action, the council voted on a substitute motion to adopt staff direction to further study and pursue the recommended combination of supplemental bollards and median/splitter islands, to map recent accident trajectories, and to route the proposal through the traffic commission for review. The substitute motion explicitly excluded installation of rumble strips as a permanent measure. The substitute motion passed 5-2 (tally recorded in the minutes as 5 in favor, 2 opposed). The council additionally asked staff to pursue interim options that would not unduly impact emergency response or local events while final designs are developed.

Council directed staff to return with more detailed engineering plans, a prioritized placement strategy informed by mapped incident trajectories, and cost estimates that factor in event accommodations and long-term maintenance. Next steps include traffic-commission review and additional public outreach on proposed designs.