The new game plan for Woodward Avenue traffic calls for a roundabout at the Union Road intersection and traffic signals at Pillsbury Road as well as at Main Street.
The projects targeted over a three-year period starting in 2017 is part of a five-year capital improvement program for city streets the Manteca City Council is considering for adoption as part of the municipal spending plan for the 2016-2017 fiscal year starting July 1.
The council will conduct a budget workshop this Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St.
The roundabout at Union and Woodward will be the city’s first at a major arterial and a collector street which Woodward Avenue will essentially become for the most part once the missing segments of Atherton Drive such as between Airport Way and Union Road are put in place.
It is targeted for the 2017-2018 fiscal year and will cost $1.5 million or around 45 percent less than traffic signals proposed at Airport Way and Woodward. It also has lower on-going maintenance costs and no electricity use.
The first high-profile roundabout is likely to go in on Louise Avenue just west of Cottage Avenue at Felice Way as part of the 492-home  Trumark Homes project. That roundabout is designed to avoid the need for additional traffic signals just a block away from the ones at Cottage and Louise. The developer is picking up 100 percent of the cost.
Roundabouts already exist on Buena Vista Drive and Tesoro Drive  in neighborhoods sandwiched between Woodward Avenue and Atherton Drive in South Manteca. Raymus Development has put one in place on Tinnin Road in the Raceway Collection just south of Woodward Avenue. Others are being required in other new neighborhoods either by park or school sites or at connections to key streets such as Woodward Avenue and the entrance to the 1,400 plus home Trails at Manteca neighborhood approved west of McKinley Avenue.
A temporary roundabout at Woodward and Tinnin will be upgraded to a permanent improvement when ground breaks on new homes on the north side of the intersection.
Roundabouts accomplish a number of objectives. They slow down traffic while keeping it moving. That eliminates idling at traffic signals that is a source of air pollution targeted by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. It also makes it easier — and safer — for pedestrians to cross. The cost of a roundabout is typically half the cost of traffic signals without significant ongoing maintenance concerns.
The language in the budget noted Union and Woodward was selected for a roundabout as the traffic volumes entering the intersection for all directions is nearly equal.
The signals at Woodward and Main are expected to cost $3.4 million and are targeted for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. The Pillsbury and Woodward signals are set for installation during the 2019-2020 fiscal year but carries a price tag of $1.5 million.
Pillsbury and Woodward is also in the budget for a high visibility three-way stop in the 2016-2017 budget along with installing high visibility overhead flashers for the crosswalk at Woodward and Wellington avenues. The two projects have a combined cost of $900,000.
Traffic signals are also being targeted for the 2019-2020 fiscal year at Airport Way and Daniels Street for $1.5 million.
Other projects in the five-year capital improvement plan that are street-related include:
Adding a turn lane on Airport Way between Yosemite Avenue and Daniels Street for $2.4 million.
Building the interchange at McKinley Avenue and the 120 Bypass for $40.1 million.
Repaving Yosemite Avenue from Main Street to Cottage Avenue for $776,000.
Widening the Union Road overcrossing of the 120 Bypass with a diverging diamond configuration for $21.2 million.
Extending Milo Candini Drive from the edge of the Big League Dreams sports complex to Yosmeite Avenue for $1.2 million.
Replacing street signs with retroreflective signs for enhanced visibility to meet new federal requirements for $2.7 million.
Repaving Main Street from Yosemite Avenue to Atherton Drive for $1.8 million.
Removing the bulb-outs, resurfacing the pavement, modifying existing traffic signal loops and restriping the 100 block of North Main Street for $1 million.
Creating an annual sidewalk maintenance program for the city’s 418 miles of sidewalk setting aside $300,000 for the period 2017-2019.
Spending $2.3 million in the city’s annual pavement maintenance.
Expanding the senior center parking lot by removing the unused shuffleboard courts for $77,240.
Spending $603,000 for downtown parking lot work and American with Disabilities Act upgrades.
Replace and update traffic signal controllers throughout the city for $3.2 million.