City to start traffic calming pilot: Marysville to implement changes to slow cut-through traffic along 14th Street

Robert Summa, Appeal-Democrat, Marysville, Calif.
·3 min read

Apr. 29—In an effort to slow and control drivers seeking to avoid traffic lights along state highways that run through Marysville, the city is starting a pilot project to ease speeding along 14th Street.

With work set to start this week and continue through the end of July, the city will install several traffic calming measures to "reduce volume and speed on non-local traffic along the 14th Street Corridor," according to officials. The affected area will be between B and H streets.

Marysville Public Works Director Vincenzo Corazza said the work will be done in stages, moving east to west. Some of the improvements that will be implemented include a temporary "right-in right-out conversion" of D Street. Corazza said this temporary installation will deny westbound highway traffic the ability to cut through the local street.

"As the name says, you can only make a 'right into' D Street from eastbound 14th Street and D Street traffic can only make a 'right out' onto 14th Street," Corazza said in an email to the Appeal. "Westbound 14th Street will see no left turn signs at D as well as delineators across the centerline as a physical deterrent. We'll also make a triangular striping island on D Street to help orient the cars for their right in right out movement."

Corazza said these traffic calming measures are not to be considered permanent, but the city will be seeking Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) funding for more permanent improvements.

Other measures that will be implemented on 14th Street include temporary "mini-roundabouts" that will convert stop conditions to yield conditions. Doing so should help reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that enter the air. These will be placed at the intersections of F, G, and H streets.

Also along 14th Street, radar feedback signs will be installed near Maple and D streets. The traffic light at the intersection of E and 14th streets will be retimed to "favor" a left turn over 14th Street.

The effort to begin the implementation of traffic calming measures along 14th Street jump-started last year after the Marysville City Council approved a $167,440 "Mode Shift" grant for what is called the 14th Street Traffic Calming Multi Modal Pilot Project.

"The SACOG Mode Shift Program is designed to invest in, evaluate, and expand new and existing programs that reduce car trips, provide new mobility solutions, and make options like biking, walking, taking transit, and sharing rides the easy choice for all types of trips," according to a city staff report from June 2023. "On November 29, 2022, the city applied for the 14th Street Traffic Calming Multi-Modal Pilot project under the Mode Shift Program in the amount of $167,440. On February 16, 2023, the SACOG Board of Directors awarded the city of Marysville with a condition that pedestrian and bicycle counts were conducted. Since then, staff has been working with SACOG to finalize the scope of work, budget and agreements."

Earlier this month, Blue Zones Project Yuba Sutter helped the city by conducting traffic counts on D, E, and H streets. There is no fiscal impact for the work the city is doing as the "grant allows for funding of staff salaries when working on this project," the staff report said.

"Our ultimate goal is that the traffic calming measures will slow down traffic and that residents will feel safer," Corazza previously said in a statement. "We are glad to be partnering with Blue Zones Project, who have been instrumental in helping the city secure grants to improve the conditions of our streets. Their support in this project will help make this pilot project more successful."