COSTA MESA : Stop Signs Proposed at Baker, Labrador

The Planning Commission tonight will consider approving four-way stop signs at Baker and Labrador streets.

Citizens have complained about motorists traveling at excessive speeds through the intersection, and this is not the first time the city has contemplated installing stop signs there.

In 1987 and 1991, the city’s Transportation Commission, after reviewing traffic accidents in the area, concluded that there were not enough of them to warrant the stop signs. Recent studies suggest that the intersection has not changed much since the last study four years ago.

But the Planning Commission, which will meet at 6:30 p.m. at 77 Fairview Road, wants to explore the matter in detail, hoping to get motorists to slow down in an area designated as a school crossing.

In June, 1994, the Transportation Services Division came up with proposed methods to reduce speed:

* Remove one lane in each direction on Baker Street between Mesa Verde East and Royal Palm Drive, and add a two-way left turn lane in the center to accommodate turns into and out of driveways.

* Remove parking in selected areas and construct a narrow median island, which would create meandering traffic lanes.

* Install additional pavement legends in each traffic lane saying “slow” and indicating the speed limit of 30 m.p.h.

Area resident Linda Watson wrote to Peter Naghavi, the city’s transportation services manager: “This issue has been debated many times over the last ten to 15 years. I hope the Planning Commission will see the need to take action and install the four-way stop signs at this intersection.”