AGENDA #5c
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Report on Traffic Signal Operations at the Intersection of East Franklin Street and Henderson Street
DATE: November 26, 2001
The purpose of this report is to provide information on traffic signal operations with regard to the management of pedestrian traffic at the intersection of East Franklin Street and Henderson Street. Please see the attached map.
At the September 10, 2001 Council meeting, a Council Member presented a petition requesting that “push buttons” be installed to operate the existing pedestrian signals at the intersection of East Franklin Street and Henderson Street. The petition was received by the Council and referred to the Town Manager for investigation.
This intersection is operating with “pre-timed” or “non-actuated” traffic signals. That means that the traffic signals serving this intersection are not connected to sensor loops in the pavement or pedestrian push buttons on the signal poles. Under these conditions, the vehicular and pedestrian signals operate on a preset timing cycle, regardless of vehicular and pedestrian traffic volumes.
We have observed operations at this intersection under a variety of service conditions, and we agree that both vehicular and pedestrian traffic using this intersection could be better served if the signals were fully actuated by vehicular sensor loops and pedestrian push buttons.
We have requested that the North Carolina Department of Transportation fully actuate the signals at the East Franklin Street/Henderson Street intersection, including pedestrian push buttons. State traffic engineering staff have informed us that they will study the intersection and will provide their findings within four to six weeks. Please see the Attachment 2.
We will advise the Council of the results of the State study once we receive them.
1. Area Map (p. 2).
2. E-mail from NCDOT (p. 3).