AGENDA #5b

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:       Response to a Petition Requesting the Installation of Flashing Lights in the School Speed Limit Zone on Smith Level Road Adjacent to Frank Porter Graham Elementary School

 

DATE:             March 22, 2004

 

 

This report responds to a petition submitted by the Frank Porter Graham Elementary School Governance Committee and the Berryhill Homeowners’ Association requesting installation of flashing lights in the school speed limit zone on Smith Level Road adjacent to Frank Porter Graham Elementary School (please see Attachment 1). 

 

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

 

At its November 24, 2003 meeting, the Town Council received and referred a petition from the Frank Porter Graham Elementary School Governance Committee and the Berryhill Homeowners’ Association requesting installation of flashing lights in the school speed limit zone on Smith Level Road.  Please see Attachment 2 for an area map.

 

The petitioners expressed the following concerns:

• Motorists rarely honor the school zone speed limit
• Public Safety personnel rarely enforce speed regulations in the area
• The school zone speed limit signs are difficult to see

 

Smith Level Road is a State-maintained road. The segment adjacent to the school is in the Chapel Hill jurisdiction, and the roadway to the south and north of the school is in Carrboro’s jurisdiction.  The posted speed limit is 45 mph on Smith Level Road, except during school opening and closing hours when it is 25 mph.  The speed limit changes to 35 mph on Smith Level Road north of NC 54 into the Town of Carrboro.

 

We requested that State staff conduct an investigation of the requested school zone flashing lights.  They have completed their investigation and concluded that the school zone flashing lights are not warranted at this location.  However, the State has agreed to extend the 35 mph speed limit south past the school zone.  State staff believes that reducing the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph in the school area will help reduce the speeding problem and improve pedestrian safety conditions in the area.  The State has also agreed to investigate means of improving the visibility of school zone and speed limit signs as part of the speed limit reduction plan.

 

CONCLUSION

 

Smith Level Road is part of the State controlled roadway system, and the request for school zone flashing lights was not approved by the State.  The existing 45 mph speed limit will be reduced to 35 mph on the segment adjacent to and south of the school.  School zone signs and speed limit signs will be improved for better visibility by the State when they establish the 35 mph speed limit.  We expect these changes to occur within the next sixty days.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.      Petition (p. 3).

2.   Area Map (p. 4).