ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES FOR ORANGETHORPE AVENUE & HARBOR BOULEVARD TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND SAFETY LIGHTING ENHANCEMENT PROJECT

The City of Fullerton is located 22 miles southeast of metropolitan Los Angeles, in the center of North Orange County with a population of 140,054 residents. Fullerton is a full-service, general law city that was incorporated in 1904. Fullerton is renowned for its unique mix of residential, commercial, industrial, educational, and cultural environments and is known for being the "Education Community". During the school year, the population grows by 60,000 people with an influx of students and staff from California State University Fullerton (CSUF), Hope University, Fullerton College, and Ketchum School of Optometry. Fullerton has 52 City parks, a museum, a cultural center, a public library, a golf course, and 29 miles of recreational trails. Fullerton provides an outstanding quality of life for both residents and businesses. At 22.4 square miles, Fullerton is also one of the largest cities in Orange County by area and is the sixth most populous. The City has been awarded $3,218,400 through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle 12 Grant, to help fund the completion of Orangethorpe Avenue and Harbor Boulevard Traffic Signal & Safety Lighting Enhancement Project. The total project budget, including the local match share, is estimated at $3,576,000. The federal funds will support the design engineering, construction, and construction management services. The aim of this project is to improve safety at high-risk collision areas by implementing data driven strategies. This project focuses on safety improvements at six major intersections along the Orangethorpe Avenue and Harbor Boulevard corridors with significant collision patterns as identified in the City's Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP). The two corridors provide connectivity to neighboring cities, including Buena Park, Anaheim, La Habra and Placentia, while also providing direct connection to Interstate 5, State Route 90 and 91, Fullerton Park & Ride, local schools and colleges, industrial zones and commercial centers. Systematic collision patterns were identified at various locations along both corridors. Based on comprehensive collision analysis, the project locations rank among the top eight intersections citywide with the highest number of total collisions. Between 2019 and 2024, the project intersections and roadway segments experienced over 320 reported collisions, including four fatalities and five severe injuries. These locations have consistently represented some of the highest concentrations of fatal and severe injury crashes in the City for several years. The following six intersections are included in this project: Orangethorpe Ave. at Harbor Blvd. Orangethorpe Ave. at Euclid St. Orangethorpe Ave. at Brookhurst Rd. Orangethorpe Ave. at Magnolia Ave. Harbor Blvd. at Commonwealth Ave. Harbor Blvd. at Chapman Ave. Engineering staff performed a field investigation at each location to observe traffic patterns, existing traffic controls, lighting, equipment, sight distance, and other features. The field investigation revealed the need to implement various traffic signal and street lighting improvements at the six intersections. Improvements at the intersections include installation of reflective backplates, additional vehicle indications for through movements, proper location of left-turn vehicle indications, installation of protected left turn phases, additional safety lighting, and upgraded signing and striping. The California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD) provides guidance on the location and number of signal indications given the approach geometry and signal phasing. A high-speed six-lane arterial, such as Orangethorpe Avenue, should have ample signal indications to provide enhanced visibility of signal operations for approaching traffic. Heavy pedestrian and bicycle use areas, such as Harbor Boulevard, should have adequate safety lighting to allow improved awareness of vulnerable users at intersection crossings and encourage the use of surrounding land uses during the evening hours. The proposed improvements will enhance safety and visibility at intersections along Orangethorpe Avenue and Harbor Boulevard through key upgrades such as additional and properly positioned traffic signal indications, protected left-turn phases and improved intersection lighting. These measures are designed to improve visibility, reduce conflicts, and strengthen multi-modal safety for all roadway users. By addressing intersections with the highest collision rates, the project will create safer and more efficient travel corridors that support connectivity across Fullerton.