To: PUBLIC WORKS, SAFETY, AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
From: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
TITLE
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DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES AT OPAL & IRENA INTERSECTION
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In early March 2026, the City received a traffic calming request for the closely spaced intersections of Torrance Boulevard at S Irena Avenue (Torrance/Irena) and S Irena Avenue at Opal Street (Irena/Opal), as well as speeding, non-resident cut-through, and safety concerns along Opal Street between S Irena Avenue and Prospect Avenue. Engineers from the City visited the locations and analyzed various solutions. At this time, staff is proposing measures to slow down drivers at Irena/Opal and wishes to gather feedback from the public and the Public Works, Safety, and Sustainability Commission (PWSSC) prior to implementation. Notice of this agenda item was mailed to residents within 150 feet of Irena/Opal and residents along Opal St between Irena Ave and Juanita Ave.
BACKGROUND
City staff visited the site and evaluated the existing conditions of the area (see aerial view in Attachment 1). Torrance and Irena intersect as a conventional side-street stop-controlled intersection. Immediately to the south, Opal terminates at Irena, with a private property driveway acting as the fourth leg of the intersection. At the Irena/Opal intersection, only the northbound Irena and westbound Opal approaches are stop-controlled, while the eastbound driveway approach is de facto stop-controlled. The southbound Irena approach is uncontrolled, which means that of the three public street approaches at Irena/Opal, two approaches stop while the remaining southbound approach has highest right-of-way. This configuration is highly unusual, which is why modern street design tends to avoid closely spaced intersections. Furthermore, this configuration asks drivers on northbound Irena to stop twice within less than 100 feet, first at Opal and again at Torrance. This can resul...
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