AGENDA #5b
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Report on Request for Stop Sign Installation on Brookview Drive at its Intersection with Kenmore Road
DATE: January 10, 2000
The following report is in response to a petition requesting the installation of additional stop signs on Brookview Drive at its intersection with Kenmore Road. (Please refer to the attached map.)
We do not recommend the installation of additional stop signs at this time. However, if the Council desires the installation of stop signs as requested by the petitioner, adoption of the attached ordinance would do so.
BACKGROUND
Earlier this year, we received a request from Mr. James Duncan of 110 Cedar Hills Circle for the installation of additional stop signs on Brookview Drive at its intersection with Kenmore Road. Mr. Duncan cites speeding as his main concern. The study was delayed until construction of the Brookview Drive bridge, which is near the intersection, was completed and traffic patterns in this area returned to normal.
Brookview Drive is a 33-foot wide paved road, back of curb to back of curb, on hilly terrain with numerous curves. Brookview Drive is designated as a “through” street at this location, and vehicles traveling this road may continue through the intersection without being required to stop. Kenmore Road is designated as a “stop” street, and vehicles traveling this road are required to stop at the existing stop signs before continuing through the intersection. (Please refer to the attached map.) On-street parking is permitted on both sides of Brookview Drive and Kenmore Road at all times. Brookview Drive and Kenmore Road function as collector roads providing access from, to, and through adjacent neighborhoods.
We reviewed the accident history for the Brookview Drive/Kenmore Road intersection. Over the past three years, there was one recorded accident at the intersection on July 31, 1999. Based on the accident report, the collision was the result of a driver on Kenmore Road, crossing Brookview Drive, failing to yield the right-of-way to the driver on Brookview Drive. The report states that both drivers were traveling at or under the 25 m.p.h. posted speed limit. The accident records do not suggest a specific traffic safety problem at the intersection.
Town staff visited the site and evaluated existing conditions on several occasions at dif-ferent times of the day. They did not observe any on-street parking that would obstruct sight distances, but noted vegetation on the northwest corner of the intersection that impeded the line-of-sight to the west for drivers on Kenmore Drive. The Public Works Department has been directed to remove the obstructing vegetation.
The Town staff conducted a traffic study on Brookview Drive during November 30th and December 1st of 1999 that indicated an average daily traffic volume of 745 vehicles. The study indicated the average speed was 33 m.p.h. and 15% of the surveyed vehicles were traveling at or above 38 m.p.h. The posted speed limit is 25 m.p.h.
We prepared a survey form soliciting comments from neighborhood residents within the vicinity of the intersection as to whether stop signs should be installed on Brookview Drive at its intersection with Kenmore Drive or not. In November of this year, we distributed 17 surveys to residents on Brookview Drive, Kenmore Drive, and Shadylawn Road, and 14 were returned. Of those returned, 12 supported the installation of the additional stop signs and 2 opposed the installation. The majority of the comments included on the returned surveys addressed concerns regarding vehicle speeds on Brookview Drive.
DISCUSSION
In 1989, the Council adopted a policy for the placement of stop signs and assign-ment of speed limits. A copy of the policy is attached. The policy was adopted to pro-vide guidance and consistency 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 instal-lation 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 upon a combination of generally accepted traffic engineering principals and observations of stop sign installations in Chapel Hill and other communities in North Carolina. Please refer to the attached policy document for more specific informa-tion.
We considered the stop sign request at the Brookview Drive/Kenmore Road intersection in terms of the criteria outlined in our policy, and we do not think that the installation of additional stop signs would be appropriate. The intersection does not have high accident statistics or unusually heavy pedestrian and vehicular volumes.
The normal assignment of right-of-way to the through and stop streets is reasonable. We are concerned the installation of stop signs at this location could result in the potential for rear-end accidents and/or failure to acknowledge the stop signs by some drivers.
Brookview Drive functions as a collector road. The primary function of a collector road is to collect traffic from local streets and channel it into the arterial road system. Collector streets are typically designed to accommodate speeds of 30 - 40 m.p.h. A collector street would typically carry an Average Daily Traffic (ADT) volume between 1,000 and 7,500 vehicles per day. The traffic volume on Brookview Drive is below levels we would expect in similar neighborhoods throughout the Town.
Since excessive speed seems to be the fundamental problem, we think that increased speed limit enforcement would be the most effective remedy. We will direct that the Police Department increase their patrols in this area, with an emphasis on speed limit enforcement, to the extent possible with available resources.
MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
That the Council take no action at this time regarding the placement of additional stop signs on Brookview Drive at its intersection with Kenmore Drive.
However, if the Council desires to have additional stop signs installed as requested in the petition, adoption of the attached ordinance would place stop signs on Brookview Drive at its intersection with Kenmore Drive.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Vicinity Map. (page 5)
2. Stop sign/speed limit policy. (begin new page 1)
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21-13 OF THE
CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING RIGHT-OF-WAY AND STOP REGULATIONS (2000-01-10/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
Brookview Drive Kenmore
Road”
Section 2. Section 21-13(c) of the Town Code of Ordinances, “Right-of-way and stop regulations” is amended by inserting the following, in appropriate alphabetical order:
“Intersection(s)
Section 3. This ordinance shall become effective February 1, 2000.
This the 10th day of January, 2000.