AGENDA #4j

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:      Response to Petitions Requesting Increase in Posted Speed Limit on Weaver Dairy Road Extension

 

DATE:                        May 9, 2005

 

 

This report responds to petitions requesting that the Council consider increasing the speed limit on Weaver Dairy Road Extension (between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Homestead Road) from 25 mph to 35 mph. Please refer to the attached map (Attachment 1).

 

We recommend enactment of the attached ordinance that would increase the posted speed limit on Weaver Dairy Road Extension from 25 mph to 35 mph.

 

BACKGROUND

At its April 11, 2005 meeting, the Council received an oral petition from Mr. Eric Plow requesting that the posted speed limit on Weaver Dairy Road Extension be increased to 35 mph or 45 mph.  The Council also received an e-mail petition on April 4, 2005 from Ms. Pat Muir with a similar request. A copy of Ms. Muir’s e-mail petition is provided in Attachment 2.

Both petitioners stated that, because the existing speed limit on the section of Weaver Dairy Road east of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is 35 mph, it would be reasonable to have the speed limit on the Weaver Dairy Road Extension (west of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard) also be 35 mph or possibly 45 mph.

Weaver Dairy Road Extension is classified as “minor thoroughfare” on the Durham-Chapel Hill Thoroughfare Plan and is identified as an “arterial street” under the Town’s functional street classification system.  It is a principal connector road between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (NC 86) and Homestead Road and it serves as a collector for adjacent residential neighborhood streets. Direct driveway access onto Weaver Dairy Road Extension is limited.

Weaver Dairy Road Extension between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Laurens Way is currently maintained by the Town and is posted with a 25 mph speed limit.  Weaver Dairy Road Extension between Laurens Way and Homestead Road has not yet been accepted for maintenance and regulation by the Town.  The entire length of Weaver Dairy Road Extension has curb/gutter on both sides and sidewalk on one side.  Please see the area map and aerial photo presented in Attachment 1.

DISCUSSION

 

We observed traffic conditions on Weaver Dairy Road Extension at several locations on different days of the week and at different times of day.  We observed a significant number of vehicles traveling on Weaver Dairy Road Extension between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Homestead Road in both directions.  The Police Department regularly patrols Weaver Dairy Road Extension for speed limit enforcement.  We were informed by the patrol officers that speeding violations are common on Weaver Dairy Road Extension, and that the majority of speeding tickets issued were for speeds in excess of 45 mph (20 mph over the posted speed limit).

 

We have received several requests from area residents for the installation of traffic calming measures on Weaver Dairy Road Extension.  Under the Town’s Traffic Calming Policy, thoroughfares and arterial streets do not qualify for physical traffic calming measures such as speed humps and diverters.

 

The segment of Weaver Dairy Road east of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Erwin Road is maintained by the State.  We believe the Town should request that the State place Weaver Dairy Road Extension west of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Homestead Road on the State roadway system once it is completed.  If the State agrees to accept maintenance of Weaver Dairy Road Extension, it likely would require that it be posted for a speed limit of 35 mph or higher based on the street classification, the roadway geometry, and the fact that it is an extension of a roadway currently posted with a 35 mph speed limit.

 

The roadway design and limited number of intersections/driveways on Weaver Dairy Road Extension create conditions where drivers feel comfortable traveling at speeds higher than 25 mph posted speed limit.  We could not identify other similarly classified roadways in Chapel Hill, for comparative purposes, that have controlled access characteristics similar to Weaver Dairy Road Extension and/or that are posted with a 25 mph speed limit. 

 

CONCLUSION

 

We think that the speed limit on Weaver Dairy Road Extension should be increased from 25 mph to 35 mph to better match the nature and geometric design of the roadway, and to be consistent with the existing 35 mph speed limit on the remainder of Weaver Dairy Road to the east. Town Engineering staff will continue to work closely with the Police Department to monitor traffic volume and speed on Weaver Dairy Road Extension and to identify and implement potential mitigation strategies to reduce the speeding. 

 

MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Council enact the attached ordinance increasing the speed limit on Weaver Dairy Road Extension from 25 mph to 35 mph.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.                                  Area Map and Aerial Photo of Weaver Dairy Road Extension (p. 5), part 2.

2.                                  Ms. Muir’s Petition (p. 7).

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING SPEED REGULATIONS (2005-05-09/O-1.1)

                                                                                                                       

BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:

 

Section 1.  Section 21-11 (B) (2) of the Town Code of Ordinances, “Twenty-five (25) miles per hour on the following streets” is here by amended by deleting the following:

 

“Weaver Dairy Road Extension”

 

Section 2.  Section 21-11 (A) (3) of the Town Code of Ordinances, “Thirty-five (35) miles per hour on the following streets” is here by amended by adding the following.

 

“(i) Weaver Dairy Road Extension”

 

Section 3.  This Ordinance shall become effective on June 9, 2005.

 

This the 9th day of May, 2005.