AGENDA #5b
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Response to a Petition Requesting Improvements at and in the Vicinity of the Intersection of Homestead Road and Weaver Dairy Road Extension
DATE: June 15, 2005
This report is in response to a petition requesting several roadway improvements at and in the vicinity of the intersection of Homestead Road and Weaver Dairy Road Extension. Please refer to the attached map (Attachment 1).
The Town Council, at its May 9, 2005 meeting, received a petition from Mr. Ray Gronberg requesting the following information and roadway improvements with regard to the intersection of Homestead Road and Weaver Dairy Road Extension:
· Seek accident reports from the State
· Add turn lanes on Homestead Road
· Install a traffic signal
· Improve sight distance
· Annex the intersection into the Town
In his petition, Mr. Gronberg stated that the lack of turn lanes and a traffic signal on Homestead Road at Weaver Dairy Road Extension created unsafe conditions, especially for eastbound traffic. A copy of the petition is provided in Attachment 2.
Homestead Road is a two-lane State-maintained road, with no designated turning lanes at its intersection with Weaver Dairy Road Extension. The posted speed limit is 35 mph. Weaver Dairy Road Extension between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Laurens Way is 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. Currently, traffic on Weaver Dairy Road Extension must stop at its intersection with Homestead Road.
Town staff met with State staff early this year to discuss traffic operations at this intersection. Town staff requested that the North Carolina Department of Transportation improve the intersection by constructing a left turn lane on eastbound Homestead Road and installing a traffic signal.
DISCUSSION
Following receipt of the petition, we again met with the State staff to discuss traffic operations and safety at this intersection. Based on our discussions with State staff, we provide the following responses to Mr. Gronberg’s requests:
1. Seek accident history from the State
Response: The Chapel Hill Police Department accident records show a total of six reported accidents at this intersection from January 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005. We noted that the majority of accidents are rear-end type and involved traffic proceeding eastbound on Homestead Road. We think that the lack of left-turn lane at the eastbound approach to this intersection is a significant factor in these rear-end type accidents. Detailed accidents reports are provided in Attachment 3.
2. Add turn lanes on Homestead Road
Response: A field visit by the Town and State staff indicated that it is feasible to construct a left-turn lane within the existing right-of-way of Homestead Road. However, a right-turn lane on Homestead Road (for westbound traffic) is not feasible within the existing right-of-way. State staff believes that construction of a left-turn lane at this location would be appropriate, and agreed to develop preliminary plans and request funding for the project. We will meet again to review the preliminary plans and to discuss funding alternatives. In the interim, the State has installed “Intersection Ahead” signs on Homestead Road east and west of the intersection to alert motorists.
3. Install traffic signal:
Response: The State has agreed to conduct a traffic signal investigation upon completion of the development activity in this area, including the Larkspur and Vineyard Square developments. Based on the pace of construction on the development projects, the State expects to conduct the signal investigation in the spring of 2006. If a signal is warranted, the State agreed to accept funds collected by the Town from the developers (approximately $30,000) as partial payment for the traffic signal design and construction costs.
4. Improve sight distance:
Response: Staff investigation indicated that overgrown vegetation and a sign installed by the Vineyard Square developer in the northwest corner of the intersection create sight visibility problems for traffic exiting Weaver Dairy Road Extension onto Homestead Road. We have already had the developer move the sign, and the State has agreed to clear the vegetation within the intersection sight distance triangle.
5. Annex the intersection into the Town:
Response: Effective July 1, 2005, the intersection of Homestead Road and Weaver Dairy Road Extension will be annexed into the corporate limits of Chapel Hill.
CONCLUSION
We think that the installation of “Intersection Ahead’ signs and clearing overgrown vegetation and the sign from the sight distance triangle will improve traffic operation and safety at this intersection. The State will develop plans as soon as possible for a left-turn lane on Homestead Road at Weaver Dairy Road Extension. Town staff will work closely with State staff to expedite implementation of improvements to the extent possible.
