Company:

County of Orange

Status:

Awarded

Awarded:

Small Project of the Year

Additional Files

Crosswalk improvements to Salk Elementary School
Sidewalk and Driveway improvements
Traffic Signal modifications
In progress roadway diet
UPRR Crossing, in progress improvements

Additional Information

Gilbert Street Improvements

Project Location:

The project limit is from 300 feet south of Katella Avenue to Ball Road on Gilbert Street. 
Gilbert Street is a minor arterial street that serves as a north-south connector between Katella Avenue and W. Ball Road.  This 1-mile section of street is located mostly within the County of Orange, but is adjacent to and fronts the City of Anaheim and City of Stanton.  Gilbert Street crosses the Metrolink (UPRR) railroad tracks just south of Pacific Avenue.  South of the intersection with Katella Avenue, the street crosses into the City of Garden Grove.  North of the intersection with W. Ball Road, Gilbert Street crosses into the City of Anaheim.  This street handles local traffic from residents, commercial area, and nearby schools (Magnolia High School and Salk Elementary School).

Project Description:

The previous configuration of Gilbert Street between Katella Avenue and W. Ball Road consisted of four travel lanes with left turn lanes at major intersections to accomodate turning vehicles and no dedicated left turn lanes at intermediate intersections.  Parking was restricted to the east side of the road, with obstructed pedestrian sidewalk on the east side.  The intersections with Chanticleer Road and Cerritos Avenue were signalized with out of date equipment that no longer complies with current standards.
Due to significant safety hazards, accidents, collisions, and fatalities, Gilbert Street has been improved for a road diet to two travel lanes and one turn lane, extended ADA compliant sidewalk and handicap ramp facilities and driveways, new curb and gutter, upgrades to catch basins, upgraded signage, new signal modifications at the Cerritos Avenue and Chanticleer Road intersections, and flashing pedestrian crosswalks at Banta Avenue and Guinida Lane.

Project Justification:

Gilbert Street Improvements is the first “complete” streets and road diet project for the County of Orange.  This project was an effort to provide safety enhancements and traffic calming to benefit the entire neighborhood.  With the support of the adjacent neighborhood, the project is being constructed more smoothly.  The complete street and road diet features include designated parking spaces at school locations, pedestrian crossings, widen sidewalk for ADA accessibility around obstructions, and better drivability at driveway locations.  With the success of this project, the County may identify other complete street locations in need of similar safety and accessible features.

Special Circumstances:

Since 2007, there had been 118 collisions resulting in 79 injuries and 3 fatalities.  One of these fatalities was a small child who attended Salk Elementary School within the project limits.  The residents in this area see the need for the project to ensure safety of all users on the roadway and accessible facilities.  The trust from the public, neighborhood, schools, Cities, and railroad plays a significant role in making the project run smoothly.

* Interagency relationships:  From the project initiation, the cooperation between neighboring Cities have made the design process more comprehensive and efficient.  The County worked with the Cities of Anaheim, Stanton, and Garden Grove. 

* Various stakeholders also supported the project included Salk Elementary School and Magnolia High School.  The County worked with the contractor to ensure major construction was completed during the summer months when school was not in session.  The school principal appreciated this effort tremendously.

* Permits:  The County is also working with UPRR (Union Pacific Railroad) and CPUC (California Public Utilities Commission) to upgrade ADA accessibility at the railroad crossing. 

Project Attachments:

Please see below for additional requested information.

Award Citation::

As the County of Orange’s first “complete” streets project, Gilbert Street Improvements utilize a roadway diet to enhance safety and provide traffic calming element in a highly congested residential and commercial corridor.  The project featured roadway improvements, ADA accessibility, railroad crossing upgrades, storm drain upgrades, traffic signal modifications at Cerritos Avenue and Chanticleer Road, and new pedestrian flashing crosswalks at Banta Avenue and Guinida Lane.

Suggested Award Summary:

As the County of Orange’s first “complete” streets project of its kind, Gilbert Street Improvements utilize a roadway diet to enhance safety and provide traffic calming element in a highly congested residential and commercial corridor.  The project featured roadway improvements, ADA accessibility throughout the project limits, railroad crossing upgrades, storm drain upgrades, traffic signal modifications at Cerritos Avenue and Chanticleer Road, and new pedestrian flashing crosswalks at Banta Avenue and Guinida Lane.  With the collaborative efforts among the County and Cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Stanton, and UPRR, the project will exemplify our teamwork to enhance safety for this neighborhood.