Change is here. Proceed with Caution!

THREE & FOUR-WAY STOPS 

All intersections on Texas St between Pennsylvania Ave and Union Ave have been converted to three or four-way stops. Remember, whoever arrives at the intersection first, has the right of way. 

BIKE LANES 

Bike lanes have been installed along both sides of Texas St through the corridor. Watch for cyclists when turning on to side streets or Texas St.

ONE WAY STREETS 

The first block of side streets on Taylor, Jackson, Webster and Great Jones are ONE WAY streets. Look for DO NOT ENTER and ONE WAY signs before turning on to a street.

PARKING STALLS

Slanted parking stalls have been created one one way streets to provide more parking.

Downtown Striping & Intersection Improvement Project

The Public Works Department and its contractor, W. Bradley Electric, is scheduled to start work on the Heart of Fairfield Downtown Striping & Intersection Improvement Project. The Project improvements include re-striping the following streets:

• Texas Street (from Pennsylvania Avenue to Union Avenue)

• Taylor Street (from Missouri Street to Empire Street)

• Great Jones Street (from Missouri Street to Empire Street)

• Jackson Street (from Missouri Street to Empire Street)

• Webster Street (from Missouri Street to Empire Street)

Improvements also include converting the traffic signalized intersections to all-way stops at the Jackson/Texas Street, Webster/Texas Street, and Jefferson/Texas Street intersections. Construction is scheduled start on July 9, 2022, and is anticipated to be complete on August 7. The work will occur on Saturdays and Sundays only, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. There will be partial road closures throughout construction of the Project.

SEE MAPS BELOW FOR SPECIFIC DATES & AREAS OF CLOSURE

Project Overview 

In 2018, the City received a concept plan from downtown business owners to reconfigure a segment of Webster Street and Jackson Street by converting on-street parking from parallel to angled parking and converting to one-way travel.  The City performed a study to determine how these proposed improvements would impact traffic flow.  The results showed that the performance level of the roadway was within the City’s acceptable standards, therefore, staff determined that implementing the proposed improvements was feasible provided funding was identified. 

In 2021, when traffic volumes returned to pre-covid conditions, staff expanded on the study by analyzing a larger area of downtown Fairfield.  The expanded study focused on an area bounded by Pennsylvania Avenue to the west, Union Avenue to the east, Kentucky Street to the north and Broadway Street to the south. Staff also completed a community survey to elicit feedback on transportation infrastructure needs in the downtown.  A main concern of the public is that Texas Street draws excessive commuter/cut-through traffic as compared to visitor traffic.  Additionally, survey respondents mentioned the need for additional on-street parking.

Staff and their transportation consultant, Fehr and Peers, compared traffic circulation between existing roadway conditions to Project improvement conditions.  With the proposed improvements implemented, the roadway would still perform within the City’s acceptable standards and most intersections would service vehicles at the same or similar level compared to existing conditions.  The study can be seen as Attachment 4 ‘Circulation and Parking Study’.

In December 2021, the City hired Kimley-Horn and Associates to design the improvements identified in the Fehr & Peers study, as seen in Exhibit 1 ‘Project Map’.  The Project improvements that will be constructed include the following:

• Installation of bicycle lanes in both directions on Texas street - To accommodate the bicycle lanes, the left turn pockets will be removed.
• Converting all intersections between Pennsylvania Avenue and Union Avenue to all-way stops - This will discourage unsafe speeds, cut-through traffic, and provide a safer environment for pedestrians and bicyclists. The traffic signals at Texas Street/Pennsylvania Avenue and Texas Street/Union Avenue will remain.
• Converting Great Jones Street, Taylor Street, Jackson Street, and Webster Street to one-way streets. The limits for the conversion are between Empire Street and Kentucky Street.
• The streets that are being converted to one-way direction will result in an increase of parking stalls. Bicycle lanes will also be included.

To ease traffic congestion, construction hours and days will be restricted and the work will be performed in two phases.  The first phase will close off Texas Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Union Avenue.  The second phase will close off the side streets as mentioned in the paragraph above.  The City will assign a City inspector to oversee the work and be available to respond to questions from the public.

Public Outreach

Update - July 5, 2022 

On July 9, 2022, Public Works and Bradley Electric will begin the construction work for the Project on the streets of Texas, Taylor, Great Jones, Jackson, Webster, and the side streets between Missouri Street and Empire Street. 

Update - April 6, 2022

On April 5, 2022, City Council approved the Plans and Specifications of this project and awarded a contract to W. Bradley Electric, Inc. for the amount of $299,327.75

Update - March 15, 2022

On March 15th, 2022, there was a bid opening for this project. Two bids were received and opened, with the apparent low bidder as W. Bradley Electric, Inc., of Novato, CA in the amount of $299,327.75.

Update - March 3, 2022

On February 16, 2022, the West Texas Striping & Intersection Project meeting was held via zoom. Please click here for the powerpoint presentation.

Should you have any questions, please contact Phil Layoso, Assistant Engineer at (707) 428-7505.

Update - February 16, 2022 

In May 2021, a public survey was conducted and a total of 132 residents participated.  The results of the survey provided guidance for the improvements that would be modeled.  After the model and design was complete, staff conducted a public outreach meeting on February 16, 2022, that informed the public on the Project.  In addition, staff will provide detailed information on the Project to Planning Commission on March 23, 2022.

A notice inviting bids for this project was advertised twice in the Daily Republic newspaper on February 25, and March 4, 2022.  In addition, the Plans and Specifications were hosted through BPX Printing & Graphics online Planroom.  The initial advertisement emailed a notice of the project and complete bid package to a total of 12 builder’s exchanges in the State of California covering the area from Redding to San Jose and Stockton to Santa Rosa.