AGENDA #4d

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Response to a Petition by the Chandler’s Green Homeowners’ Association for Traffic Calming Measures on Sweeten Creek Road

 

DATE:             May 13, 2002

 

This report responds to a petition by the Chandler’s Green Homeowners’ Association requesting traffic calming measures on Sweeten Creek Road.  Attachment #1 is a copy of the petition.

 

Adoption of the attached resolution and ordinance would authorize the Manager to implement the following traffic calming measures on Sweeten Creek Road:

 

Ø      Three speed humps with neighborhood funding

Ø      Multi-way stop signs at the intersection of Sweeten Creek Road and Amesbury Lane

Ø      Traffic Circle at the intersection of Sweeten Creek Road and Amesbury Lane, if follow-up studies show that a traffic circle is necessary at this intersection and if Town funding is available at some future time.

 

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

 

The Town Council, at its March 25, 2002 meeting, received a petition from the Chandler’s Green Homeowners Association requesting traffic calming measures on Sweeten Creek Road.

 

Town staff performed a traffic study on Sweeten Creek Road in the Chandler’s Green neighborhood in September 2001. The results of the study are provided in Table 1 and are summarized below:

 

Ø      Traffic volume on weekdays:  600 – 850 vehicles/day, Average: 725 vehicles/day

Ø      Traffic volume on weekends:  300 – 670 vehicles/day, Average: 500 vehicles/day

Ø      Average speed: 26 to 29 mph

Ø      85 % speed: 32 – 34 mph

Ø      Highest speed: 40 – 55 mph

 

Traffic volumes are well below the capacity of Sweeten Creek Road and are typical for similar streets in other parts of the community. Although a portion of the traffic on Sweeten Creek Road includes vehicles from outside the Chandler’s Green neighborhood, the total traffic volume does not suggest that a significant volume of cut-through traffic is using this road. Speeding appears to be a problem on Sweeten Creek Road; however, the observed speeds are not unusual on other Town streets with similar geometric characteristics. Town staff met with the Chandler’s Green Homeowners Association and developed a traffic calming proposal that could address the speeding problem.

 

TABLE 1

TRAFFIC STUDIES ON SWEETEN CREEK ROAD

 

 

In its petition, the Chandler’s Green Homeowners’ Association requested that the Council approve the proposed traffic calming plan mutually developed by Town staff and neighborhood representatives. The proposed traffic calming plan is shown on the attached map (Attachment #2), and includes the following elements: 

 

SPEED HUMPS

We recommend installation of speed humps at three locations indicated on the attached map. The exact location of the speed humps will be determined in coordination with residents. Speed humps can have a positive effect on reducing both traffic speed, and traffic volume. Studies indicate that speed humps can reduce average traffic speed by 10 to 20 percent and traffic volume by as much as 18 percent.

 

Speed Hump Description, Comments, and Costs:

Ø         Rounded raised areas of pavement typically 12 to 14 feet in length and 3 to 4

     inches in height

Ø         Speed hump shapes include parabolic, circular, and sinusoidal

Ø         Often placed in a series (typically spaced 300 to 600 feet)

Ø         Midblock placement recommended  (not at intersections)

Ø         Advance warning signs and pavement markings on the hump

Ø         Concern over jarring of emergency rescue vehicles

Ø         Approximate delay of between 3 and 5 seconds per hump for fire trucks and up to 10    seconds for ambulance with patient

Ø         Elevated roadway surfaces, hidden by snow or ice, can be mistaken by snowplow operators as packed snow or ice

Ø         Typical Cost approximately $2,500 per hump

Ø         A typical speed hump design is shown on Attachment #3

 

TRAFFIC CIRCLE

We recommend installation of a traffic circle at the intersection of Sweeten Creek Road and Amesbury Lane as indicated on the attached map.

 

Traffic Circle Description, Comments, and Costs:

Ø      Raised islands, placed in intersections, around which traffic circulates

Ø      Motorists yield to vehicles already in the intersection

Ø      Require drivers to slow to a speed that allows them to comfortably maneuver around the circle

Ø      Sometimes called intersection islands

Ø      Different from roundabouts

Ø      No effect on access

Ø      Reduction in midblock speed of about 10 percent

Ø      Only minimal diversion of traffic

Ø      Emergency vehicles typically slow to negotiate circle with approximate delay of between 5 and 8 seconds per circle for fire trucks

Ø      Cost varies from $3,500 to $15,000

Ø      A typical deign of traffic circle is shown on Attachment #4

 

FUNDING

The following table summarizes the improvements we recommend in the Chandler’s Green neighborhood and the estimated costs:

 

TABLE 2

COST ESTIMATES FOR TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES

 

 

All currently available traffic calming funds have been allocated by the Council for use in the Little Creek/Glen Lennox neighborhood, and no additional funding has been identified for traffic calming in the current budget year.  The Manager’s recommended FY 2002-03 budget and Capital Improvements Program does not include funding for traffic calming.  We have provided below several options for funding and implementing traffic calming measures on Sweeten Creek Road:

 

Options:

1.      Town Council fund the complete proposal ($12,500).

2.      Chandler’s Green Homeowners’ Association fund the complete proposal ($12,500).

3.      Town Council and Chandler’s Green Homeowners’ share the cost 50/50 ($6,250 each).

4.      Chandler’s Green Homeowners’ Association provide funding for three speed humps ($7,500) and Town forces install multi-way stop signs at the intersection of Sweeten Creek Road and Amesbury Lane. If follow-up studies show that a traffic circle is necessary at this intersection, the Town would pay for and construct the circle if Town funding ($5,000) is available at some future time.

 

CONCLUSION

 

We think that the proposed traffic calming measures on Sweeten Creek Road would benefit the neighborhood by managing traffic and allowing Sweeten Creek Road to function more effectively and safely for both vehicular and non-vehicular users.   We recommend alternative #4 for the following reasons:

 

Ø      Existing Town funding for traffic calming is allocated to other projects and no funding is currently available for new traffic calming proposals.

Ø      The Manager’s recommended Capital Improvements Program for FY 2002-03 does not include additional funding for traffic calming.

Ø      The Chandler’s Green Homeowners’ Association has expressed willingness to consider cost sharing with the Town to have traffic calming measures implemented on Sweeten Creek Road.

 

MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Town Council adopt the attached resolution and ordinance approving traffic calming measures on Sweeten Creek Road as described below and as noted in Option #4 above:

 

Chandler’s Green Homeowners’ Association provide funding for three speed humps ($7,500) and Town forces install multi-way stop signs at the intersection of Sweeten Creek Road and Amesbury Lane.  If follow-up study shows that a traffic circle is necessary at this intersection, the Town would pay for and construct the circle if Town funding ($5,000) is available at some future time.

 

Chandler’s Green Homeowners’ Association requests that the Town fund the complete traffic calming proposal as described in Option #1 above ($12,500) or; share the cost 50/50 with the Homeowners Association as described in Option #3 above ($6,250 each).

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.                  Petition from Chandler’s Green Association (p. 8).

2.                  Proposed Traffic Calming Plan for Sweeten Creek Road (p. 16).

3.                  Speed Hump Design and Examples (p. 17).

4.                  Traffic Circle Design and Examples (p. 19).

5. Recommended Traffic Calming Plan by the Manager (p. 21).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A RESOLUTION ENDORSING CERTAIN TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES ON SWEETEN CREEK ROAD IN CHAPEL HILL AND AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT THOSE MEASURES AS DESCRIBED BELOW (2002-05-13/R-5)

 

WHEREAS, the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill is concerned about vehicular and non-vehicular safety and mobility on Town streets; and

 

WHEREAS, the Council has received a petition from the Chandler’s Green Homeowners’ Association and a report from Town staff about proposed traffic calming measures on Sweeten Creek Road.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council endorses the following traffic calming measures on Sweeten Creek Road:

 

1)      Multi-way stop signs to be installed by Town forces at the intersection of Sweeten Creek

      Road and Amesbury lane.

2)      Three Speed Humps at locations approved by the Town to be  paid for by the Chandler’s

       Green Homeowners’ Association

3)      A traffic circle at the intersection of Sweeten Creek Road and Amesbury Lane to be installed and paid for by the Town only if follow up study indicates the need and only if Town funds become available to pay for the installation.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council authorizes Town staff to contract for the installation of three speed humps on Sweeten Creek Road when the necessary funds are provided by the Chandler’s Green Homeowners’ Association.

 

This the 13^th day of May, 2002.

 

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING STOP REGULATIONS (2002-05-13/0-2)

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

Sweeten Creek Road                           Amesbury lane

 

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)

            Sweeten Creek Road and Amesbury Lane

 

Section 3.  This ordinance shall become effective July 1, 2002.

This the 13^th day of May, 2002.