AGENDA # 5b
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Petition Requesting Closure of a Portion of Coolidge Street
DATE: May 8, 2000
The following information responds to a petition from Mr. Joe Capowski, 404 Coolidge Street, requesting that the Council consider closing the easternmost block of Coolidge Street. Please see the attached map.
The Manager recommends taking no action on the petition request at this time.
At its February 2, 2000 meeting the Council received the attached petition requesting closure of the easternmost block of Coolidge Street to motorized vehicular traffic.
The stated reason(s) for the requested closure are:
1.) Restricted sight distances at the Coolidge Street/South Columbia Street intersection and periodic heavy traffic volumes on South Columbia Street sometimes make egress from Coolidge Street onto South Columbia Street difficult.
2.) The roadway widening on South Columbia Street necessary to accommodate a turn lane at the Coolidge Street intersection would be unnecessary if the eastern end of Coolidge Street were closed to traffic.
The easternmost block of Coolidge Street is a 20-foot wide paved road without curb-and-gutter. At this location, Coolidge Street is at a moderate grade between South Columbia Street and Old Pittsboro Road. Please see the attached map.
The combination of grades on Coolidge Street and on South Columbia Street, in conjunction with adjacent overgrown embankment areas, result in restricted sight distance for drivers leaving Coolidge Street and entering onto South Columbia Street.
We distributed a survey questionnaire to 150 property owners and residents on Coolidge Street, Smith Avenue, Dawes Street, Pine Bluff Trail, Monroe Street, Woodland Avenue, and Old Pittsboro Road. We asked owners and residents whether or not they favored closure of the easternmost block of Coolidge Street or, alternatively, whether or not they favored one-way traffic flow restrictions instead of closure of the eastern end of Coolidge Street.63 survey questionnaires were returned, with responses distributed as follows:
23 in favor of road closure
19 in favor of one-way traffic restrictions
15 in opposition to both closure and one-way
3 in favor of either closure or one-way
2 in opposition to closure (no response on one-way)
1 in opposition to one-way (no response on closure)
63
Based on the survey results, there does not appear to be neighborhood consensus to close the roadway (36%) or to restrict traffic flow to one-way westbound only (30%). A significant percentage of respondents opposed both ideas (24%).
We believe that the South Columbia Street improvement project currently being planned by the State will improve ingress and egress conditions for Coolidge Street drivers at the South Columbia Street intersection. We expect these improvements to include a turn-storage lane on South Columbia Street at the Coolidge Street intersection, along with minor grade and alignment changes and selective trimming of overgrown vegetation, which will improve sight lines throughout the project corridor.
We have requested that the State cut back existing vegetation to the extent possible this spring, to improve intersection sight distances.
Because of the lack of neighborhood consensus for action, and because improvements are expected as part of the future State project, we do not think that Council action is necessary at this time regarding Coolidge Street.
That the Council take no action at this time regarding closure or traffic restrictions on Coolidge Street.
1.) Map (p. 3)
2.) Petition (p. 4)