AGENDA #4g
MEMORANDUM
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TO: |
Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager |
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FROM: |
George Small, P.E., Engineering Director Kumar Neppalli, Traffic Engineer |
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SUBJECT: |
Response to a Petition Requesting Implementation of Traffic Management and Other Measures on Piney Mountain Road |
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DATE: |
October 8, 2007 |
PURPOSE
The following report responds to a petition from several citizens requesting implementation of traffic management and other measures on Piney Mountain Road. Please see the area map provided in Attachment 1.
We recommend that the Council enact the attached ordinance that would reduce the posted speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph on Piney Mountain Road between Summerlin Drive and Emily Road.
We recommend that the Council take no action on the petitioners’ requests that all-way stop control be implemented at the intersection of Piney Mountain Road and Riggsbee Road and that a segment of Piney Mountain Road be renamed.
At its June 27, 2007, meeting, the Town Council received and referred a petition from several citizens requesting implementation of the following measures on Piney Mountain Road:
Staff from several Town Departments reviewed the above requests and provide the following responses:
Request #1 - Reduce the posted speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph on Piney Mountain Road between Summerlin Drive and Emily Road, and install 25 mph speed limit signs.
Staff Response: Piney Mountain Road is a collector street with posted speed limit of 35 for its entire length. We conducted speed studies on Piney Mountain Road at two locations and determined the following:
Location #1, between Summerlin Drive and Apple Street:
85% Speed: 47 mph Average Speed: 40 mph
Location #2, between Old Forest Creek Drive and Priestly Creek Drive:
85% Speed: 52 mph Average Speed: 45 mph
Detailed speed study results are provided in Attachment 3.
Based on the speed study results and our field observations, existing geometric conditions, and discussions with the Police Department staff, we recommend that the posted speed limit be reduced from 35 mph to 25 mph on Piney Mountain Road between Summerline Drive and Emily Road.
Request #2 - Install all-way stop control at the intersection of Piney Mountain Road and Riggsbee Road.
Staff Response: Piney Mountain Road is designated as a “through” street at its intersection with Riggsbee Road, and vehicles currently continue through the intersection without being required to stop. Riggsbee Road is designated as “stop” street, and vehicles are required to stop at the existing stop sign before continuing through the intersection.
In 1989, the Town Council adopted a policy for the placement of stop signs and assignment of speed limits. A copy of the policy is provided in Attachment 4. The policy was adopted to provide guidance and consistency in responding to requests for the installation of stop signs and the assignment of speed limits on public streets.
Town staff visited the site and evaluated conditions on different days and at different times. Based on our observations, we do not recommend the installation of stop signs on Piney Mountain Road at its intersection with Riggsbee Road because this location does not meet the established criteria in the Town’s policy for the placement of stop signs. We also note that our review of the accident records for this location does not suggest that intersection safety is a problem under current conditions.
In lieu of the placement of stop signs, Town staff will install an “intersection ahead” warning sign with orange flags on the southbound direction of Piney Mountain Road near Riggsbee Road to alert drivers to the intersection.
Request #3 - Change the Piney Mountain Road name to Piney Mountain Heights in the 500 block.
Staff Response: We do not recommend changing the name of a segment of an existing street. To do so would create inconsistency in both the street name and address range that would create property location difficulties for both routine and emergency service providers. We also note that the requested street name, “Piney Mountain Heights” is not sufficiently different from “Piney Mountain Road” to avoid confusion for emergency service providers. Both E911 and the postal service recommend against inconsistent, duplicative, and/or segmental street naming and numbering for these reasons.
If the Council wishes to pursue the petitioners’ requested street name change, and so directs the Manager, we would provide citizens with a petition document requiring signatures of 100% of the affected property owners affirming support for the proposed street name change. If a valid petition was submitted with a different name, we would submit it to the Council for action.
CONCLUSION
We think that the requested reduction in the posted speed limit on the curvy, residential portion of Piney Mountain Road is reasonable. We do not believe that it would be in the public interest to install all-way stop control at the intersection of Piney Mountain Road and Riggsbee Road, or to rename a segment of Piney Mountain Road.
We recommend that the Council enact the attached ordinance authorizing reduction of the posted speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph on Piney Mountain Road between Summerlin Drive and Emily Road.
We recommend that the Council take no action on the petitioners’ requests that all-way stop control be implemented at the intersection of Piney Mountain Road and Riggsbee Road and that a segment of Piney Mountain Road be renamed.
