Demand Safe Streets for South Park Residents, Pedestrians, and Cyclists!

This petition is for the installation of a four-way stop at the intersection of Juniper Street (Juniper) and Commonwealth Avenue (Commonwealth) in South Park, as well as speed bumps on Juniper approaching this intersection.

Critical Neighborhood and Freeway Access
This intersection is the only access point for over 240 homes and home businesses (including two daycares) in the surrounding neighborhood. It serves as the primary crossing point for children going to and from school each day and for all residents to access different parts of the neighborhood. Further, this intersection is one of the most frequently used by South Park residents as a primary route to and from the 805 freeway.

The volume and speed of traffic combined with poor visibility have made this intersection increasingly hazardous for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike. Urgent action is needed to prevent potential tragedies. With so many families relying on this intersection multiple times each day, it is imperative that safety improvements are made immediately to protect the community.

The Dangers of the Juniper and Commonwealth Intersection

1. Frequent Close Calls Involving Children
Over the past year several children have been nearly run over at this intersection, narrowly avoiding what could have been devastating accidents. It is essential that we take proactive measures to improve safety now, before a tragedy occurs—not after. We should not wait for an irreversible incident to take steps that are clearly necessary.

2. Speeding on Juniper Street
Juniper is susceptible to speeding drivers, to the extent that the city already installed a speed indicator sign just west of this intersection in Juniper Canyon to remind drivers to slow down. However, many drivers continue to exceed safe speeds, ignoring the warning and increasing the danger for all. A Transportation Department study conducted in April revealed the 85th percentile speed of westbound traffic at the Juniper/Commonwealth intersection to be 29 miles per hour. Considering the visibility issues described below and the fact that a significant subset of this volume is turning North onto Commonwealth and therefore slowing, the through-traffic speed is alarming.

3. Impaired Visibility Due to Road Curvature and Hill
Vehicles approaching the intersection from the East come around a turn from Pentuckett and then up a slight hill, greatly reducing reaction time for both pedestrians and drivers. Vehicles traveling the speed limit cover this 250-foot stretch in 6-7 seconds; those at or above the study's 85th percentile get there much quicker. Pedestrians are effectively "blind" to oncoming traffic until those vehicles are upon them.

4. Further Visibility Obstructions Due to Parked Cars and Delivery Vehicles
Parked cars at this intersection frequently block sightlines, making it nearly impossible for drivers to see oncoming traffic. This lack of visibility creates a significant risk for collisions as drivers proceed through the intersection blind to cross-traffic. Moreover, delivery trucks and vans often park on the red-painted curbs, further impeding visibility for oncoming traffic.

5. Daily Near Misses and Traffic Chaos
There are near misses on a daily basis, with screeching tires and honking becoming all too familiar occurrences at this intersection. Drivers approach the intersection at unsafe speeds and consistently drive or "roll" the two current stop signs located on Commonwealth, which results in frequent disregard to pedestrians, children, cyclists and other vehicles.

The Need for a Four-Way Stop and Speed Bumps
Installing a four-way stop would bring much-needed order to this chaotic intersection, slowing down traffic and improving safety for everyone. Speed bumps would further ensure that drivers approach the area cautiously, particularly on Juniper Street where speeding is rampant and families walk their children to and from school.

The four-way stop and speed bumps that the city installed in 2022/2023 at the nearby 33rd and Redwood intersection due to community pressure have made significant improvements on safety in the neighborhood. We believe that these measures will result in similar safety improvements for our neighborhood.

In light of these pressing concerns, we urge the community and the city of San Diego to help intervene and prioritize the safety of our community by implementing these critical traffic control measures. Let's not wait for a tragedy to spur change—let's act now to prevent one.

Thank you for considering this vital improvement to our neighborhood's safety.