The Highway 99 on and off ramps at East Main Street is an access point to the City of Ripon.

Located just north of the Stanislaus River, this interchange is also used by commuters who travel the local roadways in the mornings and early evenings.

“This diverted traffic causes additional delays for residents and businesses in Ripon and at the all-way stop controlled at the Highway 99 / East Main Street interchange,” according to the traffic operations study conducted by Fehr & Peers.

Albee Wei, who is a certified transportation planner for the engineering consulting firm, provided an informational presentation at the March 12 Ripon City Council meeting.

“The purpose of the study was to confirm the need for a traffic signal based on existing and future traffic volume. We evaluated the lane configuration intersection (and) recommended changes and considered using traffic signals to mitigate impact from regional cut-through trips,” she said.

In 2019, the city was awarded $480,000 for the East Main Traffic Signal Project via the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program. The funds received are only eligible for the cost of construction and also include a 33 percent local match, the staff report said.

Wei noted that the study used data collection from Level of Service, which measures a driver’s experience on the road and at intersections, based on the number of cars using the road. LOS uses a designated letter grade of ‘A’ (free flow) to ‘F’ (near gridlock) in evaluating roads.

“The intersection currently experiences low to moderate delay and queuing during peak morning and evening hours with regional cut-through traffic contributing to these delays,” she said.

The cut-through traffic references commuters from Modesto using Main Street to reach West Ripon Road then Airport Way to get to Durham Ferry Road to reach employment centers southwest and east of Tracy.

In doing so, they avoid the 120 Bypass congestion.

Plans call for the construction of the four-story Towneplace Suites by Mariott Hotel (next to the Angle Petroleum service station), which is scheduled to break ground during the summer.

“(We) do not anticipate the hotel to significantly contribute to the traffic and the intersection, which is still rated ‘A’ to ‘B’ with the addition to the hotel. The traffic signal is warranted based on the high volume but not delay,” said Wei.

With the addition of the traffic signal and hotel, she indicated that the intersection would operate similarly with low delay during peak hours and would incur about a five to 10 seconds of additional delay outside of those hours.

The installation of a traffic signal would call for a reconfiguring of the existing footprint of the intersection. Included would be dedicated left-turn lanes to allow for traffic to flow with same-time turn arrows.

Another change consists of the “eastbound and westbound currently have approach lanes that are striped as left through lanes and a right lane – they would have to be restriped to dedicated left turn lanes,” Wei said.

Council member Gary Barton has experienced being caught up in the backup traffic on East Main Street while traveling west. “It is difficult to turn out of Oak Avenue into the left-hand turn lane,” he said, asking the consultant if that lane could be lengthened to help traffic.

“They would need to see if there is room,” Wei said, adding that a median could be necessary.

Mayor Leo Zuber questioned if the installation of a light would prohibit people from turning left into Starbucks or would the “have to go further west to make their turn?”

Wei’s response was “no – but the striping would have to be updated.”

City Administrator Kevin Werner said the informational presentation was the part of the process on changes to the intersection.

“The next step would be to proceed with the design, and as the project progresses, police and fire would then comment any concerns regarding the design,” he said.

Werner mentioned that he’s received many questions regarding this intersection, including the same concerns and experiences shared by elected leaders during the discussion at the monthly session.

Council expressed the possibility of a workshop on this matter for the public to attend, especially those who live in the area.

Councilman Michael Restuccia added that a public hearing would allow for them to not only be informed but to voice their concerns.