AGENDA #4d
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Response to a Petition from the Meadowmont Community Association Requesting Traffic Studies and All-way Stop Control at Two Intersections in the Meadowmont Neighborhood
DATE: October 10, 2005
The following report is in response to a petition from the Meadowmont Community Association requesting traffic studies, the installation of all-way stop control at two intersections and the establishment of “no parking anytime” at and adjacent to one intersection.
Enactment of the attached Ordinance “A” would authorize installation of all-way stop control at the Pinehurst Drive/Faison Road and Old Barn Lane/Sprunt Street intersections. Enactment of Ordinance “B” would prohibit on-street parking within 75 feet of the Pinehurst Drive/Faison Road intersection.
We recommend enactment of Ordinance “A” and Ordinance “B”.
At its September 12, 2005 meeting, the Town Council received a petition (Attachment 1) from the Meadowmont Community Association requesting that the Town:
1) Conduct traffic studies and develop a traffic calming plan for the entire Meadowmont community.
2) Install all-way stop control at the Pinehurst Drive/Faison Road intersection and at the Old Barn Lane/Sprunt Street intersection.
3) Establish “no parking anytime” adjacent to the Pinehurst Drive/Faison Road intersection.
4) Install a striped crosswalk and signs near the playground on Old Barn Lane.
The following responds to each request:
1) Conduct traffic studies and develop a traffic calming plan for the entire Meadowmont community:
In 2004, the Town Council adopted a Policy for Traffic Calming Measures and Procedures. Requests for traffic calming measures require a petition signed by 2/3 of the property owners located in the traffic calming service area. Town Engineering staff is currently working on development of a list of property owners and a petition form which will be provided to the Association for completion in accordance with Town policy and procedures. Upon receipt of a valid petition from the Association, we would conduct studies and develop a proposed traffic calming plan for review by the Association. Upon acceptance of the plan by the Association, we would include it along with other plans for the Council’s consideration as part of the annual traffic calming report submitted in the spring of each year.
2) Install all-way stop control at the Pinehurst Drive/Faison Road intersection and at the Old Barn Lane/Sprunt Street intersection:
Pinehurst Drive/Faison Road Intersection: Pinehurst Drive and Faison Road are built with curb and gutter and sidewalks on both sides. The posted speed limit is 25 mph on both streets. Pinehurst Drive is designated as a “through” street, and vehicles currently continue through the intersection without being required to stop. Faison Road is designated as a “stop” street, and vehicles are required to stop at the existing stop sign before continuing through the intersection.
Town staff visited the site and evaluated conditions on several occasions at different times of day. We observed that, at some times of day, a significant volume of traffic uses Pinehurst Drive and Faison Road to travel to and from the Rashkis Elementary School. We also observed children walking across and in the vicinity of this intersection while going to and from school. Currently, on-street parking sometimes occurs close to the intersection resulting in visibility problems for both motorists and pedestrians.
Old Barn Lane/Sprunt Street Intersection: The posted speed limit is 25 mph on both streets. Old Barn Lane is designated as a “through” street, and vehicles currently continue through the intersection without being required to stop. Sprunt Street and Pool Driveway are designated as “stop” streets, and vehicles are required to stop at the existing stop sign before continuing through the intersection.
Town staff visited the site and evaluated conditions on several occasions at different times of day. We observed apparent driver confusion as to who was required to stop at this intersection. We also observed several parents and children crossing this intersection to go to the play ground and/or the community pool.
In 1989, the Town Council adopted a policy for the placement of stop signs and assignment of speed limits. Attachment 3 is copy of the policy. The policy was adopted to provide guidance and consistency in responding to requests for the installation of stop signs and the assignment of speed limits on public streets.
We considered the stop sign request in terms of the following two criteria outlined in the adopted policy:
#7) Intersections with existing irregular stop sign placement, where additional sign(s) would improve safety.
#11) Intersection adjacent to facilities such as parks, pools, schools, or other facilities which significantly increase and concentrate pedestrian and vehicular traffic in a localized area.
We think that the installation of the requested stop signs at these intersections could mitigate potential conflicts between vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the intersections at certain times of day. Additionally, the proposed all-way stop controls would help to eliminate the apparent driver confusion that occurs at times under current conditions. 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 intersections.
3) Establish “no parking anytime” adjacent to the Pinehurst Drive/Faison Road intersection:
We observed that on-street parking adjacent to the Pinehurst Drive/Faison Road intersection sometimes creates visibility problems for both drivers and pedestrians. To mitigate this problem, we recommend prohibiting on-street parking within 75 feet of the intersection on all legs.
4) Install a striped crosswalk and signs near the playground on Old Barn Lane.
We will install the requested crosswalk and related signs within the next four weeks.
CONCLUSION
We think that the installation of all-way stop controls as requested would improve operating conditions and safety for both vehicles and pedestrians. We believe that restricting on-street parking adjacent to the Pinehurst Drive/Faison Road intersection will improve visibility conditions for both drivers and pedestrians. We also believe that the installation of a pedestrian crosswalk and signs adjacent to the playground on Old Barn Lane is a good suggestion, and we will proceed with that installation.
Upon receiving a valid petition from the Association, we will develop a traffic calming proposal for the Council’s consideration.
The Manager recommends that the Council enact the attached ordinances that would:
· Establish all-way stop controls at the Pinehurst Drive/Faison Road intersection and at the Old Barn Lane/Sprunt Street intersection; and
· Prohibit on-street parking within 75 feet of the Pinehurst Drive/Faison Road intersection.
1. Petition (p. 6).
2. Area Map (p. 8).
3. Town’s Policy on Placement of Stop Signs (p. 9).
