Merced City Traffic Committee approves enforcement and denies several local parking and signage requests

The Merced City Traffic Committee on Nov. 18 took action on several neighborhood requests: it approved interim enforcement and outreach measures for two speeding complaints, denied a request for an on‑street accessible parking stall on Story Avenue, tabled a request for an advance stop sign at Wardrobe and West Avenue pending a field review, and denied a request for stop signs at two Donna Drive side streets because construction and imminent traffic‑calming work may address the concern.

On agenda item F‑1, a resident asked for speed bumps on Buena Vista Drive near Rivera School. City engineering told the committee that speed tables require 100% neighbor approval and are paid by the neighborhood; the committee voted to ask PD to deploy a speed‑monitoring trailer and to inform the applicant about the speed‑table process and costs. The motion passed unanimously.

Agenda item F‑2 requested a designated ADA parking stall on Story Avenue during construction. Staff said on‑street ADA stalls must meet federal and state ADA slope and egress standards and that painted stalls that do not meet the standards could invite liability; the committee voted unanimously to deny the request, recommending homeowner‑contractor coordination instead.

For F‑3 (Wardrobe & West), PD provided crash counts (10 accidents since 2020) but staff said the application lacked a clear location. The committee directed engineering and public works to meet with the applicant and tabled the item to gather more information.

On F‑4 (Donna Drive stop signs), PD reported no accidents in the past five years at the requested locations; public works noted construction and imminent traffic calming and the committee denied the request at this time.

The consent calendar was approved at the start of the meeting, and the meeting adjourned shortly after the El Portal discussion.