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Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009

Long-awaited traffic signal installed on Yosemite Avenue near college

Pedestrians have a safer route

Construction crews are putting the finishing touches this week on a traffic signal at a dangerous intersection near Merced College.

City officials expect the traffic signal at the three-way intersection of Stadium Lane and Yosemite Avenue to be fully operational by today.

College officials said the traffic signal, located near the south side of the college, was especially needed because at least two pedestrians have been killed on Yosemite Avenue, between G and M streets, since 2000.

So why the holdup on installing the traffic light? City officials said acquiring the funding and state approvals for even a single traffic signal was a lengthy process -- one that often takes place at a snail's pace.

The city applied for a $230,000 grant to install the light in 2006. Although the city received notice of the grant in 2007, Caltrans didn't approve the project plans until March of this year, according to Mike Conway, spokesman for the city of Merced. "All of those approvals take months," added John Sagin, the senior architect overseeing the project.

Before installation of the traffic signal, the city placed a stop sign as an interim measure at the intersection. The college also placed a lighted sidewalk on Yosemite Avenue and G Street, near the troubled intersection, as a precaution.

"This (intersection) has especially been a problem when it gets dark early," said Conway. "Now it has a safe access route for pedestrians and will hopefully eliminate, or at least reduce, the hazard to people trying to cross Yosemite Avenue."

Merced College President Benjamin Duran said he'd hoped the traffic light would have been built sooner, although he's glad the project is finally being finished.

After Cheryl Moku was killed crossing Yosemite Avenue near the college in 2000, Duran and members of Moku's family made impassioned pleas to the city, asking for increased safety measures in that area. Duran said the growth of the city over the years has led to more traffic near the college -- and the speed limit on Yosemite Avenue is 45 mph.

"We think the traffic light is essential to protect our students -- and it's too bad it wasn't there to protect those who were killed and to prevent the other accidents that happened there," Duran said.

The $230,000 grant from the state was provided with a 10 percent local match -- half paid for by the city of Merced, the other paid for by Merced College.

Moku, 45, who was legally blind, was killed Oct. 9, 2000, after being struck by a car while trying to cross Yosemite Avenue with her Seeing Eye dog, Coho.

On Sept. 24, 2006, Olga Garcia, 54, was struck by a pickup and killed on Yosemite Avenue near Blue Devil Lane following classes at Merced College.

Garcia was hit by a car driving eastbound on Yosemite Avenue at about 50 mph, according to the California Highway Patrol.

In 2007, Seneca Bunley, a Merced College student, received major injuries and several broken bones after he was struck by a SUV while crossing Yosemite Avenue.

Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com.

Archive video: July 6, 2007

City gets funding for new traffic light