AGENDA #4c

MEMORANDUM

TO:                 Mayor and Town Council

FROM             W.  Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:       Multi-way Stop Signs on Somersview Drive (Windsor Park Subdivision)

DATE:             November 27, 2000

The following report is in response to the attached petition requesting the installation of stop signs on Somersview Drive at its intersections with Black Tie Lane and Adrian Way.  Please see the attached map.

Adoption of the attached ordinance would authorize installation of the stop signs as requested.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

We received the attached petition from residents of the Windsor Park Subdivision requesting that additional stop signs be installed to create “all-stop” conditions at the above referenced intersections.

Somersview Drive is designated as a “through” street at the subject locations, and vehicles currently continue through the intersections without being required to stop.  Black Tie Lane and Adrians Way are designated as “stop” streets, 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 observed traffic which appeared to be using Somersview Drive  as a cut-through street to avoid traffic signals on NC 86 and/or to travel from NC 86 to the new condominiums on Westminster Drive north of the Windsor Park subdivision.  

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 on 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 on Somersview Drive in terms of the criteria outlined in our policy, and we think that the installation of the requested stop signs could help reduce traffic volume and speed on Somersview Drive, by creating required stops along this otherwise unrestricted street with no currently existing traffic management features. If the additional stop signs are authorized by the Council, we would include “stop ahead” warning signs and painted stop bars on the Somersview Drive approaches to the intersections. 

The petitioners also noted a problem with vehicles exceeding the posted 25 mph speed limit.  We think that the proposed stop signs may help to slow vehicles traveling on Somersview Drive.  We have requested the Police Department to  implement increased speed limit enforcement efforts in this neighborhood, to the extent possible with available resources. 

MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION

That the Council adopt the attached ordinance that would authorize placement of stop signs on Somersview Drive at its intersections with Black Tie Lane and Adrians Way.

ATTACHMENTS

1. Vicinity Map (p. 4).

2. Petition (p. 5).

3. Town’s Policy on Placement of Stop Signs (p. 10).

 

 

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING STOP REGULATIONS (2000-11-27/0-2)

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

Somersview Drive                                Black Tie Lane

Somersview Drive                                Adrians Way”

Section 2.  Section 21-13(c) of the Town Code of Ordinances, “Right-of-way and stop regulations.” is hereby amended by inserting the following, in appropriate alphabetical order:

“Intersection(s)

Adrians Way and Somersview Drive

            Black Tie Lane and Somersview Drive”

Section 3.  This ordinance shall become effective December 20, 2000.

This the 27th day of November, 2000.