AGENDA #5e

 

MEMORANDUM

TO:                 Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:       Request for Multi-way Stop Signs on North Lakeshore Drive

DATE:             May 13, 2002

The following report is in response to a citizen request for the installation of stop signs on North Lakeshore Drive at its intersections with Rock Creek Road, Arlington Street, Shady Lawn Road, Kenmore Road, and Lakeshore Court.  Attachment #1 is a map showing the requested stop sign locations.

We recommend making no changes to traffic signing at this time. However, if the Council wishes to have the stop signs installed, it could adopt the attached ordinance.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

We received an e-mail (Attachment #2) from Mr. Rody Spivey, 1826 N. Lakeshore Drive, requesting that additional stop signs be installed to create “all-stop” conditions at several intersections on North Lakeshore Drive.

North Lakeshore Drive is designated as a “through” street at the subject intersections, and vehicles currently continue through these intersections without being required to stop.  The side streets at the subject intersections are designated as “stop” street, and vehicles are required to stop at existing stop signs before continuing through the intersection. The posted speed limit on all streets in this area is 25 mph. The roadway is generally level with several curves.  It is a collector street with 25 foot pavement serving a large residential area of Town and it is a public transit route.  The average traffic volume varies from 3,200 to 3,500 vehicles per day.

The Town staff mailed a survey form (Attachment #3) to area residents requesting opinions on the requested stop sign installations.  We mailed 170 survey forms and 141 were returned. Results of the survey are summarized in the following table.  A majority of the residents who were surveyed opposed installation of the requested stop signs on North Lakeshore Drive. Several residents included additional comments on the survey forms and some provided separate letters expressing their opinion.  We have attached copies of the letters we received, and copies of the survey forms received from residents are available for review in the Engineering Department.

 

 

Town staff visited the site and evaluated conditions on several occasions at different times of day.  We observed that traffic volumes on the side streets are very low compared to the traffic volume on North Lakeshore Drive, which suggests that the assignment of stop streets and through streets is appropriate at all intersections reviewed.  We have no reason to believe that there is a significant speeding problem on North Lakeshore Drive, nor apparent confusion on the part of drivers regarding the stop and through movements at the intersections.  Intersection sight distances are adequate for drivers and pedestrians.

In 1989, the Town Council adopted a policy for the placement of stop signs and assignment of speed limits.  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.  Attachment #5 is copy of the policy.

CONCLUSION

We do not think that the requested stop signs on North Lakeshore Drive meet any of the criteria outlined in the Council’s policy.  We are concerned that the installation of stop signs as requested would not meet drivers’ expectations and could result in an increased number of rear-end collisions due to unexpected stops on North Lakeshore Drive.  In addition, a significant majority of area residents who were polled do not want the requested stop signs installed.

MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION

The Manager recommends making no changes to traffic signing at this time.  However, if the Council wishes to have the stop signs installed, the attached ordinance could be adopted.

ATTACHMENTS

1. Vicinity Map (p. 5).

2. Copy of Citizen E-mail Request (p. 6).

3. Copy of the Survey Form (p. 7).

4. Copies of the Letters from Residents (p. 9)

5. Town’s Policy on Placement of Stop Signs (p. 15).

 

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING STOP REGULATIONS (2002-05-13/0-4)

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

North Lakeshore Drive             Rock Creek Road

 

North Lakeshore Drive             Arlington Road

 

North Lakeshore Drive             Shady Lawn Drive

 

North Lakeshore Drive             Kenmore Road

 

North Lakeshore Drive             Lakeshore Court”

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)

            North Lakeshore Drive and Rock Creek Road

 

North Lakeshore Drive and Arlington Road

 

North Lakeshore Drive and Shady Lawn Drive

 

North Lakeshore Drive and Kenmore Road

 

North Lakeshore Drive and Lakeshore Court”

Section 3.  This ordinance shall become effective June 20, 2002.

This the 13^h day of May, 2002.