AGENDA #4h
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: |
Approval of All-Way Stop Control at the Intersection of Churchill Drive and Leclair Street |
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DATE: |
October 8, 2007 |
PURPOSE
This report responds to a request for installation of all-way stop control at the intersection of Churchill Drive and Leclair Street. Please see the area map provided in Attachment 1.
We recommend that the Council enact the attached ordinance authorizing installation of all-way stop control at the intersection of Churchill Drive and Leclair Street.
The Town staff received a request (Attachment 2) for installation of all-way stop control at the intersection of Churchill Drive and Leclair Street.
The requester expressed the following concerns:
Churchill Drive and Leclair Street are maintained by the Town and the posted speed limit is 25 mph on all streets. Both streets are 31 feet wide with curb and gutter on both sides and sidewalk on one side.
Churchill Drive is designated as a “through” street at its intersection with Leclair Street, and vehicles currently continue through the intersection without being required to stop. Leclair Street is designated as “stop” street, and vehicles are required to stop at the existing stop sign before continuing through the intersection.
Review of three-year accident history showed three reported accidents at the intersection of Churchill Drive and Leclair Street. We believe that at least two of the reported accidents were of the type that could potentially be corrected by the installation of stop signs as requested.
Town staff visited the site and evaluated conditions at different times of the day. We observed approximately equal traffic volume entering the subject intersections from all directions. We also observed a significant number of school-age children using the near by bus stops and crossing the intersection in the morning and afternoon.
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 3. 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.
We considered the stop sign request at the intersection of Churchill Drive and Leclair Street in terms of the following criteria outlined in the Council’s policy:
#4) Intersection where a combination of high speed, restricted sight distance, and serious accident record indicates a need for control by stop sign(s).
#7) Intersection with existing irregular stop sign placement, where additional sign(s) would improve safety.
Town staff installed orange flags to the existing stop signs as requested by the citizen as a temporary measure to alert the motorists of the existing stop control.
CONCLUSION
We think that the installation of the requested stop signs could mitigate potential conflicts and confusion for vehicular traffic, and could improve pedestrian safety at and in the vicinity of these intersections. If the additional stop signs are authorized by the Council, we would include “Stop Ahead” warning signs and stop bars on all approaches to the intersection.
We recommend that the Council enact the attached ordinance authorizing installation of all-way stop control at the intersection of Churchill Drive and Leclair Street.
1. Area Map (p. 4).
2. E-mail Request (p. 5).
3. Town’s Policy on Placement of Stop Signs (p. 6).
