Memorandum

to:                  Mayor and Town Council

from:            Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager

subject: Report on Pedestrian Safety

date:            December 8, 2008

Attached are two memoranda related to safety activities by the Town.  Transit Director Steve Spade provides an update on Transit Safety Activities. Engineering Services Manager Kumar Neppalli provides Information on Pedestrian Safety Improvement Projects and a Response to the Transportation Board’s Petition for Pedestrian Safety Measures. The purpose of this memorandum is to provide a broader context for that information. .

The Town of Chapel Hill encourages mixed use development and multiple transportation alternatives.  Travel ways include a diverse mix of pedestrians, bicycles, automobiles and buses.  Providing a safe environment for residents, visitors and our employees in this environment is a high priority for the Town of Chapel Hill. 

I have emphasized this priority by several recent actions:

• The development of a policy on serious incidents in October 2007 in which all departments were directed to focus attention on review and improvement of employee safety and training programs.
• The hiring of a Town Safety Officer to oversee Town-wide safety activities
• Inclusion of safety performance in evaluations of the Senior Management Team.
• Appointment of a Transportation Management Team that will create a multi-disciplinary approach to transportation safety with participation from Transit, Public Works, Planning, Engineering, Police and Fire.
• Appointment of the Town Traffic Engineer and Assistant Transit Director to Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO Technical Coordination Committee (TCC), as well as the Long Range Planning Manager for the Town. The representatives will coordinate their perspectives and develop a common understanding of the Town’s interest in issues coming before the TCC to focus our planning efforts. 

The Town staff will present their reports during the agenda discussion.