AGENDA # 6b
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Proposed Traffic Calming Devices on Perry Creek Drive and Chippoaks Drive in the Springcrest Neighborhood
DATE: August 26, 2002
This report responds to a petition by the Springcrest neighborhood requesting traffic calming measures on Perry Creek Drive. Attachment #1 is a copy of the petition and the traffic calming proposal by the neighborhood.
Adoption of the attached resolution and ordinance would authorize the Manager to implement the following traffic calming measures in the Springcrest neighborhood:
The Town Council approved $44,000 for traffic calming devices Townwide in the FY 2002-03 budget and the Manager recommends that the Town Council approve $10,500 for implementing traffic calming measures on Perry Creek Drive and Chippoaks Drive.
The Town Council, at its March 25, 2002 meeting, received a petition from the Springcrest Neighborhood requesting traffic calming measures on Perry Creek Drive. The petition includes neighborhood recommended traffic calming plan that consists of three speed humps and multi-way stop signs on Perry Creek Drive. Please see the Attachment #1. The Council received a staff report on this petition at their May 29th meeting. On May 29th, the Manager recommended that the Council defer action on the petition until funding for traffic calming devices could be identified and made available. At its July 26, 2002 meeting, the Council approved $44,000 for the installation of traffic calming devices Townwide in the FY 2002-03 budget.
TRAFFIC STUDIES
Town staff performed a traffic study on Perry Creek Drive and Chippoaks Drive in September 2001 and February 2002. The results of the study are provided in Table 1 (Attachment #2) and are summarized below:
Ø Traffic volume during weekdays: 450 – 850 vehicles/day, on Perry Creek Drive
Ø Traffic volume during weekends: 300 – 670 vehicles/day, on Perry Creek Drive
Ø Traffic Volume during weekdays: 870 vehicles/day, on Chippoaks Drive
Ø Average speed: 23 to 28 mph
Ø 85 % speed: 28 – 33 mph
Ø Highest speed: 40 – 55 mph
Traffic volumes are well below the capacity of Perry Creek Drive and are typical for similar streets in other parts of the community. Although a portion of the traffic on Perry Creek Drive includes vehicles from outside the Springcrest neighborhood, the total traffic volume does not suggest that a significant volume of cut-through traffic is using this road.
Speeding does appear to be a problem based on the 85th percentile speed. Based on our typical evaluation criteria, we believe that Perry Creek Drive and Chippoaks Drive could benefit from the installation of traffic calming devices to control vehicle speeds and that both are appropriate candidate streets for the installation of traffic calming measures...
TRAFFIC CALMING PLAN
On July 31, 2002, we received a request from residents of the Springcrest neighborhood to install a speed hump on Chippoaks Drive (Attachment #3). Following data collection and analysis, and further discussions with neighborhood residents, Town staff developed a traffic calming plan (Attachment #4) that included three speed humps on Perry Creek Drive, one speed hump on Chippoaks Drive, and multi-way stop signs at the intersection of Perry Creek Drive and Silver Creek Trail.
Neighborhood residents concurred with the staff plan, but also requested installation of multi-way stop signs at two additional intersections on Perry Creek Drive. We do not believe that the additional stop sign installations requested by the neighborhood are appropriate for the following reasons:
FUNDING
The Town Council approved $44,000 for traffic calming devices Townwide in the FY 2002-03 budget. The following table summarizes the traffic calming devices we recommend in the Springcrest neighborhood and the estimated costs:
TABLE 2
COST ESTIMATES FOR TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES
|
Traffic Calming Device |
Quantity |
Estimated Cost per each |
Total Estimated Cost |
|
1. Speed Humps |
4 |
$2,500 |
$10,000 |
|
2. Multi-way Stop Signs |
At one location |
$500 |
$500 |
|
Total |
|
|
$10,500 |
We suggest that the Council approve $10,500 for implementing traffic calming measures on Perry Creek Drive and Chippoaks Drive as presented below:
1. Three speed humps on Perry Creek Drive and one speed hump on Chippoaks Drive
2. Multi-way stop signs at the intersection of Perry Creek Drive and Silver Creek Trial
That the Town Council adopt the attached resolution and ordinance authorizing the installation of traffic calming measures on Perry Creek Drive and Chippoaks Drive and expenditures of not to exceed $10,500 for construction..
1. Petition and Neighborhood Recommended Traffic Calming Plan (p. 6).
2. Table 1: Traffic Studies on Perry Creek Drive and Chippoaks Drive (p. 16).
3. Amended Petition and Neighborhood Recommended Traffic Calming Plan (p. 17).
4. Staff Recommended Traffic Calming Plan (p. 20).
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INSTALLATION OF CERTAIN TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES ON PERRY CREEK DRIVE AND CHIPPOAKS DRIVE IN CHAPEL HILL (2002-08-26/R-12)
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 Springcrest Neighborhood and a report from Town staff about proposed traffic calming measures on Perry Creek Drive and Chippoaks Drive;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council endorses the following traffic calming measures Perry Creek Drive and Chippoaks Drive:
1) Multi-way stop signs at the intersection of Perry Creek Drive and Silver Creek Trail
2) Three speed humps on Perry Creek Drive and One speed hump on Chippoaks Drive
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council authorizes the expenditure of not to exceed $10,500 for traffic calming measures on Perry Creek Drive and Chippoaks Drive. Silver Creek Trail.
This the 26th day of August, 2002.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING STOP REGULATIONS (2002-08-26/0-5)
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
Perry
Creek Drive
Silver Creek Trial
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)
Perry Creek Drive and Silver Creek Trail
Section 3. This ordinance shall become effective October 1, 2002.
This the 26th day of August, 2002.
