AGENDA #4e
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Response to a Petition Requesting Changes in Existing Traffic Control on Briarbridge Lane at South Columbia Street
DATE: January 9, 2006
PURPOSE
The following report responds to a petition from Dan and Leigh Copeland requesting changes in the existing method of controlling through traffic on Briarbridge Lane. Please see the area map provided in Attachment 1.
We recommend the following changes requested by the petitioners:
· Remove the existing traffic gate on Briarbridge Lane. (See Attachment 2)
· Install “removable bollards” with appropriate traffic control signs on Briarbridge Lane at South Columbia Street. (See Attachment 3)
We recommend adoption of the attached resolution that would authorize changes to the current method of controlling through traffic on Briarbridge Lane as described above.
At its November 9, 2005 meeting, the Town Council received a petition (Attachment 4) from Dan and Leigh Copeland of #2 Briarbridge Lane requesting changes in the existing method of controlling through traffic on Briarbridge Lane. The following information is pertinent to the petitioner’s request:
· The Copelands purchased property identified as #2 Briarbridge Lane that was previously owned by the Chapel Hill Church of Christ.
· The existing traffic control gate on Briarbridge Lane adjacent to this property was installed in 1988 to control through traffic problems.
· The gate is in poor condition and needs repair or replacement.
· In its present location, the existing gate creates ingress/egress problems for residents of #2 Briarbridge Lane.
· Removal of the existing gate and installation of removable bollards at a location closer to South Columbia Street would allow better ingress/egress to #2 Briarbridge Lane while still controlling through traffic.
Briarbridge Lane is a narrow, one-way local street that varies in width from 14 to 17 feet. At its April 11, 1988 meeting, the Town Council approved the installation of a gate on Briarbridge Lane to control through traffic between South Columbia Street and Ransom Street. The gate was located to allow access to the Church of Christ from either South Columbia Street or Ransom Street. The church no longer owns or is located on this property.
Reports concerning the gate that were received by the Council in 1988 and 1989 are provided in Attachment 5. Any changes to the existing traffic control measures on Briarbridge Lane must be approved by the Town Council.
Staff from the Engineering Department met with Mr. Copeland at the site and discussed options for changing the means of controlling through traffic on Briarbridge Lane. Because the location of the through traffic control device no longer needs to accommodate church traffic, we agreed that the barrier could be moved to a location where it would still function to control through traffic while providing for reasonable access to and from the Copeland’s property. The existing gate is in disrepair and we suggest that it be replaced with removable bollards and appropriate signs.
Fire, Police and other emergency service providers could quickly remove the bollards if necessary to enter Briarbridge Lane from South Columbia Street. The bollards would also provide better access for pedestrians and bicyclists than the existing gate provides. The proposed bollard traffic control, as illustrated in Attachment 3, has been reviewed and approved by the Fire and Police Departments.
CONCLUSION
We think that the proposed change in the method of controlling through traffic on Briarbridge Lane would continue to meet the objective of the existing gate, while improving access and circulation for the residents of #2 Briarbridge Lane and for neighborhood pedestrians and cyclists.
If approved by the Council, the Town staff would install the bollards and remove the gate by the end of February. The funds required for this change are available in the traffic division operating budget.
The Manager recommends that the Council adopt the attached resolution that would authorize changes in the current method of controlling through traffic on Briarbridge Lane.
1. Area Map (p. 4).
2. Existing Method of Closing on Briarbridge Lane (p. 5).
3. Proposed Method of Closing Briarbridge Lane (p. 6).
4. Petition by Dan and Leigh Copeland (p. 7).
5. 1988 and 1989 Council Reports (p. 9).