AGENDA
# (09-07-01,
3:25 pm)4e
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Multi-way Stop Signs on Rosemary Street at Boundary Street
DATE: September 24, 2001
The following report is in response to the attached petition requesting the installation of stop signs on Rosemary Street at Boundary Street. Please see the attached map.
Adoption of the attached ordinance would authorize installation of the stop signs as requested.
We received the attached petition from Mr. Alan Rimer, 519 Hooper Lane, requesting that additional stop signs be installed to create “all-stop” conditions at the above referenced intersection.
Rosemary Street is designated as a “through” street at the subject location, and vehicles currently continue through the intersections without being required to stop. Boundary Street 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 observed limited sight distance due to the trees. We also observed that the traffic volume on Rosemary Street is approximately equal to the traffic volume on Boundary Street. Because neither street is clearly dominant, we noted that many drivers partially stopped on Rosemary Street before entering the intersection, despite the fact that it is the “through” street without stop signs. There seems to be some degree of confusion at this location.
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 andconsistency 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 Rosemary Street in terms of the criteria outlined in the Council’s policy, and we think that the installation of the requested stop signs could mitigate the potential problems associated with the restricted sight distance and the apparent confusion at this intersection. If the additional stop signs are authorized by the Council, we would include “stop ahead” warning signs and painted stop bars on the approaches to the intersection.
That the Council adopt the attached ordinance authorizing placement of stop signs on Rosemary Street at Boundary Street.
1. Vicinity Map (pg. 4).
2. Petition (p. 5).
3. Town’s Policy on Placement of Stop Signs (pg. 6).
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING STOP REGULATIONS (2001-09-24/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
Rosemary Street Boundary
Street”
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)
Rosemary Street and Boundary Street”
Section 3. This ordinance shall become effective October 22, 2001.
This the 24th day of September, 2001.