memorandum

to:	Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager
from:	Lance Norris, Public Works Director Kumar Neppalli, Engineering Services Manager
subject:	Response to a Petition Regarding Safety Issues on South Estes Drive at its Intersection with Fordham Boulevard
date:	February 23, 2009

PURPOSE

The report is provided in response to a petition requesting several improvements to the intersection of South Estes Drive and Fordham Boulevard. An intersection map is presented in Attachment #1.

The requested traffic signal phasing has been approved by NCDOT and revisions to the traffic signal are expected to be completed within the next two to three months.  The Town staff is also working with Duke Energy for improving lighting in the area.

No action is required by the Council.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

At its January 12, 2009 meeting, the Council received and referred an oral petition requesting the following improvements for pedestrians crossing Fordham Boulevard at its intersection with South Estes Drive:

• Change the traffic signal phasing on the westbound approach of Estes Drive to provide a green arrow for vehicles turning left onto Fordham Boulevard to eliminate conflict with pedestrians and vehicles.
• Improve the street lighting at the intersection.

In response to a similar petition in 2005, the Town took the following actions at the subject intersection:

• Installed a “Yield to Pedestrians” sign on the eastbound approach of South Estes Drive.
• Repaired the street light located in the northeast corner of the intersection.

In 2005, the Greensboro NCDOT staff approved the requested split signal phasing.  However, the Traffic Engineering Branch in the Raleigh Office denied the request due to the possible negative impact because of the split phase on traffic signal timing progression on Fordham Boulevard.  Last month, the Town staff met the NCDOT staff both from Greensboro and Raleigh and requested approval of the split phase.  Following review of the data and the intersection operations, the State staff from the Raleigh office advised us that they approved the requested signal phasing changes at the intersection of Fordham Boulevard and South Estes Drive. In conjunction with this request, the Town staff requested similar signal phasing changes at the Willow Drive/Fordham Boulevard intersection. Those changes were also approved by the State.

Upon receiving the revised traffic signal plans and the material from the State, the Town staff will implement the changes at the above two intersections.  We expect to complete the revisions within the next two to three months.

The Town staff is currently working with the NCDOT and Duke Energy to improve the street lighting on Fordham Boulevard between Willow Drive and Estes Drive.

ATTACHMENTS

1. Area Map (p. 3).