AGENDA #4c
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Multi-way Stop Signs at the Intersection of Greenview Drive and Copperline Drive
DATE: January 28, 2002
The following report is in response to a citizen request to install stop signs at the intersection of Greenview Drive and Copperline Drive. Please see the attached map.
Adoption of the attached ordinance would authorize installation of the stop signs as requested. The Manager recommends approval.
The Town received a request from Mr. Michael Martine, 107 Greenview Drive, requesting that additional stop signs be installed to create “all-stop” conditions at the above referenced intersection. Mr. Martine also requested relocating the existing city limit sign on US 15/501 toward Southern Village to reflect the recent annexation. We have scheduled to relocate the city limit sign after completion of the US 15-501 widening project.
Greenview Drive is designated as a “through” street at the subject location, and vehicles currently continue through the intersection without being required to stop. Copperline Drive is designated as “stop” street, and vehicles are required to stop at the existing stop sign before continuing through the intersection.
Town staff visited the site and evaluated conditions on several occasions at different times of day. We observed equal traffic distribution on both streets. The posted speed limit on both streets is 25 mph. Greenview Drive serves as a connector road between Market Street and Parkside Circle. 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 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 Greenview Drive in terms of the criteria outlined in the Council’s policy, and we think that the installation of the requested stop signs could mitigate potential conflicts between vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the vicinity of the intersection at certain times of day. Additionally, the proposed stop signs would eliminate the apparent driver confusion we observed regarding traffic movement right-of-way at this intersection. If the additional stop signs are authorized by the Council, we would include “stop ahead” warning signs and stop bars on the approaches to the intersection.
That the Council adopt the attached ordinance authorizing placement of stop signs on Greenview Drive at Copperline Drive
1. Vicinity Map (p. 4).
2. Petition (p. 5).
3. Town’s Policy on Placement of Stop Signs (p. 6).
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING STOP REGULATIONS (2002-01-28/0-1)
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
Greenview
Drive Copperline Drive”
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)
Greenview Drive and Copperline Drive”
Section 3. This ordinance shall become effective February 28, 2002.
This the 28th day of January, 2002.