AGENDA #4b
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Restriping of West Cameron Avenue
DATE: October 23, 2000
The attached resolution would direct the Manager to have West Cameron Avenue restriped to eliminate certain portions of the center turn lane between Merritt Mill Road and Pittsboro Street.
The attached ordinance would amend Chapter 21 of the Town Code or Ordinances regarding onstreet parking along portions of West Cameron Avenue between Merritt Mill Road and Pittsboro Street.
The Manager recommends that the Council approve the attached resolution and ordinance eliminating the center turn lane on West Cameron Avenue between the railroad crossing and Cameron Court and between Wilson Street and Pittsboro Street.
The Manager further recommends that the Council adopt the attached ordinance which would allow onstreet parking at all times in those areas where parking lanes would no longer be needed for bike lanes during part of the day.
At its August 28, 2000 meeting, the Council received a report from the Manager responding to a Councilmember’s petition requesting that we evaluate the feasibility of restriping West Cameron Avenue between Merritt Mill Road and Pittsboro Street to eliminate the center turn lane and to establish designated fulltime bike lanes.
The Council also received a recommendation from the Town Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board supporting the elimination of the center turn lane on portions of West Cameron Avenue to create wider travel lanes that could be shared by both motorized vehicles and bicycles without striped bike lanes.
After considering the staff report and comments, the Council directed the Manager to study Cameron Avenue and to return with recommendations regarding the elimination of the center turn lane wherever possible on West Cameron Avenue in order to create a wide travel lane in each direction which could be shared by both motorized vehicles and bicycles. The Council concurred with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board recommendation that designated bike lanes should not be striped on the wide travel lanes that may be created.
Cameron Avenue is a multi-use facility that accommodates several modes of transportation with 45 feet pavement width from face to face of curb. Pedestrians, bicycles, cars, trucks, buses, and existing on-street parking share this corridor. Cameron Avenue is a major collector street serving both local and through traffic to and from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the University. Currently, bike lanes are designated eastbound between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and westbound between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Please see Map #1 and #2.
We observed West Cameron Avenue operations on several days at different times. We performed bicycle and traffic counts on September 21 with the following findings.
A summary of the traffic counts is attached for reference. Our analysis of accident reports from January 1996 to March 2000 noted that several accidents related to turning movements have occurred on Cameron Avenue between Cameron Court and Mallette Street. Based on our field investigation and the accident reports, we think that a center turn lane is necessary between Cameron Court and Mallette Street to reduce congestion and accommodate left turn movements. However, we believe the center turn lane could be eliminated on the remainder of West Cameron Avenue. Please refer to Map #3.
If the center turn lane is eliminated on some segments of West Cameron Avenue to create wide, shared-use travel lanes, it would no longer be necessary to restrict onstreet parking during certain times of day to allow bicycles to use the parking lane. This would allow additional time to be allocated for onstreet parking along West Cameron Avenue. On those segments of Cameron Avenue where both the center turn lane and onstreet parking would remain in place at all times, bicyclists and motorized vehicles would share a 10.5 foot wide lane. On segments where the center turn lane would be removed and onstreet parking would remain, the shared lane would be 15.5 feet wide. Please see Maps #4 and #5.
Based on the study and evaluation of the operational characteristics of West Cameron Avenue between Merritt Mill Road and Pittsboro Street, we think that the center turn lane could be eliminated in some segments of the street to create wide shared-use travel lanes without striping for designated bike lanes. We also think that elimination of the center turn lane would allow removal of existing onstreet parking restrictions which currently allow bicycles to use the parking lanes during parts of the day.
Because these are operational changes and no existing parking is being eliminated which could effect adjacent neighborhoods, we do not think that a public hearing on this matter is necessary.
That the Council approve the attached resolution and ordinance which would eliminate the center turn lane on portions of West Cameron Avenue and would remove onstreet parking restrictions currently in effect to accommodate bicyclists in parking lanes during certain times of day.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Map #1 (p. 6).
2. Map #2 (p. 7).
3. Traffic Count Summary (p. 8).
4. Map #3 (p. 9).
5. Map #4 (p. 10).
6. Map #5 (p. 11)
A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE TOWN MANAGER TO HAVE WEST CAMERON AVENUE RESTRIPED TO ELIMINATE CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE CENTER TURN LANE BETWEEN MERRITT MILL ROAD AND PITTSBORO STREET (2000-10-23/R-2)
WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council is interested in optimizing the operation of West Cameron Avenue for all users; and
WHEREAS, the Council has received a recommendation from the Town Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board that West Cameron Avenue be restriped to eliminate certain portions of the center turn lane to create wide joint-use travel lanes; and
WHEREAS, the Council has determined that such changes could be implemented without significantly jeopardizing traffic operations on West Cameron Avenue;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council directs the Manager to have West Cameron Avenue restriped to eliminate the center turn between the railroad crossing and Cameron Court and between Wilson Street and Pittsboro Street.
This is the 23rd day of October, 2000.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING BIKE LANE OVERLAY ZONES (2000-10-23/O-2)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:
Section 1. Section 21-27.3 of the Town code of Ordinances, “Bike Lane Overlay Zone” is hereby amended by deleting the following:
STREET SIDE FROM TO TIME
Cameron
Avenue South Graham Street Pittsboro
Street
7:00 a.m.
- 9:45 a.m.
Monday-Friday
Cameron
Avenue North Graham Street Fetzer
Lane
3:00 p.m.
– 6:00 p.m.
Monday
- Friday
Section 2. This ordinance shall become effective November 20, 2000.
This the 23rd day of October, 2000