AGENDA #4j
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Consideration of Multi-way Stop Control at the Intersection of Caswell Road and Clayton Road
DATE: June 15, 2005
This report is in response to a request for installation of multi-way stop control at the intersection of Caswell Road and Clayton 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 Caswell Road and Clayton Road.
On April 28, 2005, as a part of the “National Safe Routes to School” initiative, a workshop involving representatives from Estes Hills Elementary School and Guy B. Phillips Middle School and Town staff was conducted to identify opportunities to improve pedestrian and traffic circulation around schools. The workshop included school principals, parents, and Town staff who collectively arrived at the following recommendations to improve pedestrian and traffic circulation in the area around the schools:
1. Install pedestrian crosswalk markings on Audubon Road at Elliott Road.
2. Enhance the existing crosswalk markings on Curtis Road at Elliott Road to include high visibility markings.
3. Install pedestrian crosswalk markings on Caswell Road at Clayton Road.
4. Install multi-way stop control at the intersection of Caswell Road and Clayton Road.
Crosswalk Markings: We agree with the above recommendations and the Town Public Works Department will install the crosswalk markings for item 1, 2, and 3 listed above before school starts in August. Please refer to the area maps and photos provided in Attachment 1.
Multi-way stop control at the intersection of Clayton Road and Caswell Road: Clayton Road and Caswell Road are maintained by the Town and the posted speed limit is 25 mph on both streets. Under the current conditions, Clayton Road and Caswell Road is a four-leg intersection with northern and western legs consisting of driveways serving the Estes Hills Elementary School campus. Currently, stop signs are installed on Clayton Road and on the northern school driveway at the intersection. The western driveway is one-way into the school campus from the intersection, and would not require installation of a stop sign.
Town staff visited the site and evaluated conditions on several occasions at different times of day. We observed that some drivers traveling on Caswell Road partially stopped before entering the intersection at Clayton Road, despite the fact that there are no stop signs on Caswell 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. We also noted that during the drop-off and pick-up times of day, traffic on Caswell Road completely stopped at the intersection, even though there is no stop sign.
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. Please refer to the attached policy document for more specific information (Attachment 2).
We considered this stop sign request in terms of the criteria outlined in the adopted policy and with consideration of the crosswalk to be installed over the summer. We think that the installation of a stop sign on Caswell Road at its intersection with Clayton Road, creating “all stop” conditions at the intersection, would eliminate the apparent driver confusion and would improve the pedestrian safety in the area. 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.
That the Council enact the attached ordinance authorizing multi-way stop control at the intersection of Clayton Road and Caswell Road.
2. Town’s Policy on Placement of Stop Signs (p. 7).
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING STOP REGULATIONS (2005-06-15/O-3)
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
Caswell
Road Clayton 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)
Caswell Road and Clayton Road”
Section 3. This ordinance shall become effective July 18, 2005.
This the 15th day of June, 2005.