AGENDA# 5g
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Response to Petition Concerning Restriping of West Cameron Avenue
DATE: August 28, 2000
The following information is provided in response to a petition from a Council member requesting that consideration be given to restriping West Cameron Avenue between Merritt Mill Road and Pittsboro Street to eliminate the center turning lane areas and to establish designated fulltime bike lanes.
The Manager recommends taking no action this time.
In April 1996, the Council received a staff report which included discussion and recommendations regarding bicycle facilities, parking, and restriping issues on West Cameron Avenue. Although our previous report is several years old, we think that the analysis and conclusions are still valid and that they respond to the present petition. A copy of the 1996 report is attached for reference and review.
The 1996 report discusses four alternatives regarding modifications to Cameron Avenue operations:
1. Make no changes and continue existing operations.
2. Extend hours of operation for bicycle use in the shared parking/bicycle lane areas.
3. Eliminate all on-street parking between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays.
4. Eliminate the center turn lane areas and restripe to provide a full-time parking lane, bike lane, and travel lane in each direction.
Alternative #4 discusses the same modifications as are proposed in the Council member’s petition. Following review of the alternatives, the Council in 1996 decided to take no action and to make no changes in Cameron Avenue operations.
As noted in the 1996 report, West Cameron Avenue is a multi-use facility which accommodates several modes of transportation. This corridor, including sidewalks, is shared by pedestrians, bicyclists, automobiles, trucks, and buses in addition to accommodating on-street parking. West Cameron Avenue is a major collector street serving both local and through traffic to and from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the University.
In its existing configuration, West Cameron Avenue seems to be providing a good compromise as a multi-use facility. Significant traffic is using West Cameron Avenue throughout the day. We are not experiencing chronic problems with speeding or other moving violations, and accident records do not suggest that unusual safety problems exist related to the shared use of West Cameron Avenue by both motorized and non-motorized vehicles.
We think that changes in any functional element of West Cameron Avenue, such as eliminating center turning lane areas, could adversely affect the balanced service this roadway now provides. As stated in our 1996 report, we believe that the Council should receive comments at a Public Hearing if it wishes to consider significant changes in Cameron Avenue operations, such as those proposed in the Council member’s petition.
We do not think that it is necessary or advisable to change the existing layout or functional services of West Cameron Avenue, including the current designated eastbound bicycle lane between 7:00 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. and the designated westbound bicycle lane between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. We think this alternative best meets the needs of both drivers and cyclists, while protecting adjacent neighborhoods from transfer parking that would result if parking spaces on West Cameron Avenue were eliminated.
Our primary concern about eliminating the center turn lane areas on Cameron Avenue involves the increased congestion and traffic backups which would occur as a result of vehicles stopped in the travel lanes to make left turns. We are also concerned that wide travel lanes may encourage some drivers to pass on the right and thereby increase the potential for conflict with cyclists.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Recommendation: That the Council consider restriping Cameron Avenue to remove the center turn lane and allow full-time parking without striping separate bike lanes (see attachment 2).
That the Council take no action at this time. If the Council wishes to consider operational changes on Cameron Avenue, and so directs the Manager, we will collect current traffic data this fall and return to Council before the end of the year to schedule a public hearing on this matter.
1. Agenda Item #10; April 2, 1996 (p. 3).
2. Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Memorandum dated August 28, 2000 (p. 17).