AGENDA #4g
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM : W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Report on Petition Regarding Traffic Concerns on West Rosemary Street
DATE: November 11, 2002
The following information responds to a petition submitted by Ms. Mildred Council, owner of Mama Dip’s Restaurant, regarding traffic concerns on West Rosemary Street. Please refer to the attached map (Attachment #1).
During our review of the concerns expressed by Ms. Council, we identified certain inconsistencies in the Town Code regarding the speed limit on West Rosemary Street. The attached Ordinance would rectify the Code inconsistencies by enacting a uniform 25 mph speed limit on West Rosemary Street from North Columbia Street to the Town Limit. The Manager recommends enactment of the Ordinance.
At its September 23, 2002 meeting, the Council received a petition from Ms. Mildred Council, owner of Mama Dip’s Restaurant, expressing the following traffic concerns:
1. Change the speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph on West Rosemary Street
2. Improve the visibility of crosswalks on West Rosemary Street
3. Install sidewalk on West Rosemary Street from Tate Realty Building to Breadmen’s Restaurant and install a crosswalk on West Rosemary Street at Mitchell Lane
4. Install child safety signs on Mitchell Lane
Response to other concerns included in Ms. Council’s petition, not related to traffic issues, are included in a separate agenda item tonight.
Town staff met with Ms. Council and discussed her concerns, and field reviewed the segments of West Rosemary Street and Mitchell Lane related to those concerns. We comment on each item below:
Petition Request: Change the speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph on West Rosemary Street.
Staff Response: The current Town Code states that the speed limit on West Rosemary Street between Church Street and the west Town limit is presently 25 mph. During our field investigation, we found 35 mph signs were posted on West Rosemary Street at some locations. We have corrected the signs to reflect the existing 25 mph speed limit for this segment of West Rosemary Street. However, the Code does not identify a specific speed limit for the segment of West Rosemary Street between Columbia Street and Church Street. Therefore, we have attached an ordinance which would establish a consistent 25 mph speed limit for the entire length of West Rosemary Street.
Petition Request: Improve the visibility of crosswalks on West Rosemary Street.
Staff Response: The specific request is that the Town install advance warning signs for the existing mid-block pedestrian crosswalk on West Rosemary Street near Breadmen’s Restaurant. We think this is a reasonable request and we have installed new high-visibility green advance warning signs at this crosswalk.
Petition Request: Install a sidewalk on West Rosemary Street from the Tate Realty Building to Breadmen’s Restaurant and install a crosswalk on West Rosemary Street at Mitchell Lane.
Staff Response: The Town Council has approved construction of a sidewalk along West Rosemary Street to fill in gaps between existing sidewalk segments. When completed, these infill sidewalk improvements will result in continuous sidewalk along both sides of West Rosemary Street from North Columbia Street to the Town limits. This includes construction of sidewalk from Tate Realty to Breadmen’s, as requested by the petitioner. We believe that the requested crosswalk will not be necessary since the sidewalk will be continuous on both sides of West Rosemary Street. We anticipate reporting to the Council the status of this project in the next month or two.
Petition Request: Install child safety signs on Mitchell Lane:
Staff Response: The petitioner requests that the Town install “Children at Play” signs on Mitchell Lane because some children must cross Mitchell Lane going to and from the Hargraves Center playground or pool.
We periodically get requests for installation of “Children at Play” or similar signs on public streets in Chapel Hill. It is long-standing Town policy that such signs are not allowed on public streets because "Children at Play" and similar signs could imply that it is acceptable and safe for children to play in the street and, in some cases, could actually encourage children to do so.
Additionally, such signs are not recognized as official traffic control devices by any regulatory agencies, and we are concerned about the potential liability issues related to installation of unofficial signs on public streets. We have been consistent over the years in recommending against the installation of such signs on public streets in Chapel Hill and we believe that the policy is appropriate.
However, in an effort to respond to this request and in accordance with standard practice, we will install official high-visibility green pedestrian signs on Mitchell Lane to inform motorists of pedestrian activity in the area around the Hargraves Center.
CONCLUSION
We believe that the actions outlined above address most of the petitioner’s concerns about traffic issues on West Rosemary Street and Mitchell Lane.
The Manager recommends that the Council enact the attached Ordinance establishing a uniform 25 mph speed limit on West Rosemary Street.
1. Vicinity Map (p. 5).
2. Petition (p. 6).
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING SPEED REGULATIONS (2002-11-11/O-4)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:
Section 1. Section 21-11 (B) (2) of the Town Code of Ordinances, “Twenty-five (25) miles per hour on the following streets.” is hereby amended by deleting the following:
“Rosemary
Street (Church Street to west town limits)”
Section 2. Section 21-11 (B) (2) of the Town Code of Ordinances, “Twenty-five (25) miles per hour on the following streets.” is hereby amended by adding the following in appropriate alphabetical order:
“West Rosemary Street (from Columbia Street to west Town limits)”
Section 3. This ordinance shall become effective upon adoption.
This the 11th day of November, 2002.