AGENDA #4q
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Request for Stop Sign Installations at the Intersection of Pebble Spring Road and Perry Creek Drive
DATE: August 28, 2000
The following report is in response to the attached petition requesting the installation of stop signs on Perry Creek Drive at its intersection with Pebble Springs Road. Please see the attached map.
The Manager recommends the installation of these stop signs.
We received the attached petition from Ms. Martha Fuquay (who lives in the Springcrest subdivision, which includes the subject intersection) requesting that stop signs be installed on Perry Creek Drive at its intersection with Pebble Springs Road, thereby creating an “all-stop” condition.
Perry Creek Drive functions as a collector street through the Springcrest subdivision, and it includes moderate grades and curves. Perry Creek Drive is designated as a “through” street at this location, and vehicles may continue through the intersection without being required to stop. Pebble Springs Road is designated as a “stop” street, and vehicles are required to stop at the existing stop signs before continuing through the intersection.
Town staff visited the site and evaluated conditions on several occasions at different times of day. We noted significant numbers of pedestrians, including many adolescents, passing through this intersection in all directions as noted in the petition.
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 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 installation 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 our collective observations of stop sign installations in Chapel Hill and other communities in North Carolina. Please refer to the attached policy document for more specific information.
We considered the stop sign request at the Perry Creek Drive/Pebble Springs Road intersection in terms of the criteria outlined in our policy, and we think that the installation of additional stop signs would be appropriate due to the significant volume of pedestrians noted to be crossing at this intersection. If the additional stop signs are authorized by the Council, we will include “stop ahead” warning signs and painted stop bars on Perry Creek Drive.
The petitioners also noted a problem with vehicles exceeding the posted 25 mph speed limit on Perry Creek Drive. Therefore, we think that increased speed limit enforcement should be implemented. Unless advised otherwise, we will direct that the Police Department increase patrols in this area with an emphasis on speed limit enforcement, to the extent possible with available resources.
That the Council adopt the attached ordinance that would authorize placement of stop signs on Perry Creek Drive at its intersection with Pebble Springs Road.
1. Vicinity Map (p. 4)
2. Petition (p. 5)
3. Stop sign and assignment of speed limit policy (p. 10)
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING STOP REGULATIONS (2000-08-28/O-5)
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
Perry Creek Drive
Pebble Springs Road”
Section 2. Section 21-13(c) of the Town Code of Ordinances, “Right-of-way and stop sign regulations.” is hereby amended by inserting the following, in appropriate alphabetical order:
“Intersection(s)
Perry Creek Drive/Pebble Springs Road”
Section 3. This ordinance shall become effective October 1, 2000.
This is the 28th day of August, 2000.