AGENDA # 6c
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Proposed Traffic Calming Devices on Highgrove Drive and Gardner Circle in Culbreth Ridge Neighborhood
DATE: August 26, 2002
This report responds to a petition from the Culbreth Ridge Homeowners’ Association requesting traffic calming measures on Highgrove Drive and Gardner Circle. Attachment #1 is a copy of the petition and requested traffic calming measures.
Adoption of the attached resolution would authorize the Manager to implement the following traffic calming measures on Highgrove Drive and Gardner Circle.
Ø One speed hump on Highgrove Drive
Ø One speed hump on Gardner Circle
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 $5,000 for implementing traffic calming measures on Highgrove Drive and Gardner Circle.
The Town staff received a petition from Culbreth Neighborhood in February 2001. The Town Council, at its May 29th, 2002 meeting, received a petition from the Culbreth Ridge Homeowners’ Association and a staff report in response to the petition. 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
Results of the June and September of 2001 speed and volume studies are provided in the following table:
|
Location |
24-Hour Volume |
Average Speed (mph) |
85% Speed (mph) |
|
1. 207 Highgrove Drive |
1424 |
19.18 |
23.65 |
|
2. 302 Highgrove Drive |
1284 |
21.73 |
24.69 |
|
3. 102 Gardner Circle |
1624 |
22.21 |
26.09 |
|
4. 203 Gardner Circle |
1571 |
21.76 |
24.71 |
Traffic studies presented in the above table indicate that the average and 85th percentile speeds are not excessive on Highgrove Drive and Gardner Circle. However, we believe that a portion of the traffic volume on Gardner Circle includes pass-through traffic coming and going between the northwestern area of Southern Village and Culbreth Road. This additional volume of pass-through traffic above the normally expected local traffic is of concern to the neighborhood. Also, we observed that a significant number of students that attend Grey Culbreth Middle School use the existing crosswalk on Highgrove Drive at Gardner Circle enroute to and from school.
Although the speed studies does not support traffic calming devices, the specific characteristics of vehicular and pedestrian traffic in this neighborhood coupled with the grades and sight limitations on these streets, we believe that Highgrove Drive and Gardner Circle could benefit from the installation of traffic calming devices.
TRAFFIC CALMING PLAN
Town staff met with neighborhood representatives and developed a traffic calming plan that we believe could help control the traffic volumes on Highgrove Drive and Gardner Circle and thereby better accommodate pedestrian traffic. The Staff proposed traffic calming plan includes a flat-top speed hump at the existing crosswalk location on Highgrove Drive at Gardner Circle and a speed hump on Gardner Circle near Hanser Court. Please see Attachment #2. However, the neighborhood association requested that the Council implement additional traffic calming measures as outlined in Attachment #1 and discussed below:
Neighborhood Proposal 1: Close Highgrove Drive at the entrance to Southern Village
Staff Response: We do not recommend closing Highgrove Drive for the following reasons:
· Highgrove Drive is designed as a connector street serving the northwestern part of the Southern Village Development, and was approved by the Council as such. There are no alternative facilities that could provide comparable service if this road was closed.
· Closure of Highgrove Drive would significantly limit access to and from the northwestern neighborhoods in Southern Village for residents, service vehicles, and emergency vehicles.
Neighborhood Proposal 2: The Neighborhood Association has proposed an alternative traffic calming plan if the Council decides not to close the Highgrove Drive as requested. The alternative plan includes the following elements:
a) Install several neighborhood speed watch traffic control signs that were approved by the Council
Staff Response: Staff agrees with the neighborhood association’s recommendation to install several speed enforcement signs. However the cost of the signs should be provided by the neighborhood association as per the Council’s direction.
b) Speed table at the existing crosswalk location on Highgrove Drive at Gardner Circle
Staff Response: The staff-proposed plan includes a flat-top speed hump on Highgrove Drive. The staff concurs with the Association on the location of the speed hump.
c) Speed Hump on Gardner Circle between Hanser Court and Weyer Drive
Staff Response: The staff-proposed plan includes a speed hump on Gardner Circle. We would work with the Association to determine an appropriate location for the speed hump.
d) Multi-way stop signs at the intersection of Gardner Circle and Hanser Court
Staff Response: We do not recommend multi-way stop signs at the intersection of Gardner Circle and Hanser Court for the following reasons:
1) Only five houses exist on Hanser Court and we do not feel it is safe to stop 1600 vehicles per day on Gardner circle at Hanser Court
2) Multi-way stop signs have high operating costs based on vehicle operating costs, vehicular travel times, fuel consumption and increased vehicle emissions
3) Safety of pedestrians is decreased at unwarranted multi-way stops, especially small children. It seems that pedestrians expect vehicles to stop at the stop signs but many vehicles have gotten in the habit of running the "unnecessary" stop sign
4) Unwarranted stop signs increases certain type of accidents
5) Stop signs at three locations in question does not meet guidelines specified in Town’s Stop Sign Policy
e) Reduce the speed limit on Gardner Circle from 25 to 20 mph and provide systematic enforcement by the Police
Staff Response: We do not recommend reducing the speed limit in residential areas to 20 mph. It is standing Town policy for residential streets in Chapel Hill to be posted with a 25 mph speed limit and that is what drivers expect in town.
FUNDING
The Town Council approved $44,000 for traffic calming devices Townwide in the FY 2002-03 budget. The total estimated cost for the staff recommended traffic calming plan (two speed humps) is $5,000. The total estimated cost for the Homeowners’ Association plan is $7,500. We suggest that the Council approve $5,000 for implementing traffic calming measures on Highgrove Drive and Gardner Circle.
That the Town Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the installation of traffic calming measures on Highgrove Drive and Gardner Circle, and expenditure of not to exceed $5,000 for construction.
1. Petition and Traffic Calming Proposals from the Culbreth Ridge Homeowners’ Association (p. 5).
2. Staff Recommended Traffic Calming Plan for Culbreth Ridge Area (p. 18).
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INSTALLATION OF CERTAIN TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES ON HIGHGROVE DRIVE AND GARDNER CIRCLE IN CHAPEL HILL (2002-08-26/R-13)
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 Culbreth Ridge Homeowners’ Association and a report from Town staff about proposed traffic calming measures on Highgrove Drive and Gardner Circle;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council authorizes the installation of the following traffic calming measures on Highgrove Drive and Gardner Circle:
1) One speed hump on Highgrove Drive
2) One speed hump on Gardner Circle
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council authorizes the expenditure of not to exceed $5,000 for traffic calming devices on Highgrove Drive and Gardner Circle.
This the 26th day of August, 2002.