AGENDA #4i

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:       Consideration of Multi-way Stop Control at the Intersection of Tinkerbell Road and Ferrell Road

DATE:             June 15, 2005

This report is in response to a petition requesting the installation of multi-way stop control at the intersection of Tinkerbell Road and Ferrell Road. Please refer to the attached map (Attachment 1).

We recommend enactment of the attached ordinance that would authorize multi-way stop control at the intersection of Tinkerbell Road and Ferrell Road.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

At its April 5, 2005 meeting, the Town Council received a petition (Attachment 2) from Mr. Donald Reinfurt, a resident of Colony Woods, requesting that additional stop signs be installed to create “all-stop” conditions at the above referenced intersection. In his petition, Mr. Reinfurt indicated that the existing traffic control at the subject intersection sometimes confuses drivers because existing stop signs are installed only on the major street, Tinkerbell Road, with no stop signs on Ferrell Road which is the minor street. In his petition, Mr. Reinfurt also indicated that there is a sight visibility problem at the west corner of Tinkerbell Road and Ferrell Road.

Ferrell Road is designated as the “through” street at the subject intersection, and vehicles currently can continue through the intersection without being required to stop.  Tinkerbell Road is designated as the “stop” street at this intersection, and vehicles are required to stop at the existing stop sign before continuing through the intersection. The posted speed limit on both streets is 25 mph.  Ferrell Road dead-ends west of Tinkerbell Road.

The Chapel Hill Police Department records show no reported accidents at this intersection from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2004. Town staff conducted a traffic study at this intersection between May 24 and May 28 and the results are presented in the following table:

Town staff visited the site and evaluated conditions on several occasions at different times of day.  We observed that some drivers traveling on Ferrell Road partially stopped before entering the intersection at Tinkerbell Road, despite the fact that there are no stop signs on Ferrell Road at this location.  We attribute this behavior to apparent confusion on the part of drivers as to whether or not they should stop, regardless of existing signage.  Traffic studies also indicated that the major traffic volume is on Tinkerbell Road, which is the “stop” street at this intersection.

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 attached.  The policy was adopted to provide guidance andconsistency in responding to requests for the installation of stop signs and the assignment of speed limits on public streets.

The policy includes a variety of conditions and situations that could warrant the installation of stop signs and/or changes in speed limits.  It also includes situations in which stop sign installations or speed limit changes would not be recommended.  These criteria are based on a combination of generally accepted traffic engineering principals and our observations of stop sign installations in Chapel Hill and other communities in North Carolina.  Please refer to the attached policy document for more specific information (Attachment 3).

We considered this stop sign request in terms of the criteria outlined in the adopted policy, and we think that the installation of stop signs on Ferrell Road at its intersection with Tinkerbell Road, creating “all stop” conditions, would eliminate the apparent driver confusion we observed at this intersection. 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. 

The Town staff is currently working with a resident to clear the vegetation in the sight distance triangle located southeast corner of the intersection.

MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION

That the Council enact the attached ordinance authorizing multi-way stop control at the intersection of Tinkerbell Road and Ferrell Road.

 

ATTACHMENTS

1.      Vicinity Map (p. 4).

2.      Petition (p. 5).

3.      Town’s Policy on Placement of Stop Signs (p. 6).

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING STOP REGULATIONS (2005-06-15/O-2)

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

Section 1. Section 21-13(a) of the Town Code of Ordinances, “Right-of-way and stop regulations.” is hereby amended by deleting the following:

“Through Streets                                Stop Streets

Ferrell Road                                      Tinkerbell Road”

Section 2. Section 21-13(c) of the Town Code of Ordinances, “Right-of-way and stop regulations.” is hereby amended by inserting the following, in appropriate alphabetical order:

“Intersection(s)

            Tinkerbell Road and Ferrell Road”

Section 3.  This ordinance shall become effective July 18, 2005.

This the 15^th day of June, 2005.