AGENDA #5e
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: One-way Traffic Flow on Battle Lane Between East Franklin Street and Boundary
Street
DATE: November 11, 2002
The following is in response to a petition by Mr. Wilson Cross, 111 Battle Lane, requesting one-way traffic flow (southbound) on Battle Lane between East Franklin Street and Boundary Street. Please see the attached map (Attachment #1).
The Manager recommends retaining the existing two-way traffic flow on Battle Lane.
If the Council wishes to establish one-way traffic flow on Battle Lane, as requested by the petitioner, this item would need to be pulled from the “Information” category on tonight’s agenda and the attached ordinance would need to be enacted.
The Council received the attached petition (Attachment #2) from Mr. Wilson Cross, 111 Battle Lane, requesting one-way traffic flow (southbound) on Battle Lane between East Franklin Street and Boundary Street. Mr. Cross expressed the following concerns:
· Limited sight distance at the intersection of Battle Lane and East Franklin Street
· Narrow travel lanes on Battle Lane
· On-street parking on Battle Lane restricts two-way traffic flow
Battle Lane is a paved road varying from 17 feet to 22 feet in width. On-street parking by University-issued permit is allowed on the west side of Battle Lane between Hooper Lane and Boundary Street, where the pavement width is 22 feet. On-street parking is prohibited on the remainder of Battle Lane. The posted speed limit is 25 mph and three-way stop control exists at the intersection of Battle Lane and Hooper lane.
Field observations were conducted at various times on different days. We noted that when cars are parked on the west side of Battle Lane, there is sometimes insufficient travel lane width remaining for two-way traffic between Senlac Road and Boundary Street.
Town staff conducted traffic studies in the area during the week of September 26, 2002, and results of the study are presented below:
|
Location |
Daily Traffic Volume |
|
1. Battle Lane near Franklin Street |
1300 |
|
2. Hooper Lane |
105 |
|
3. Senlac Road |
120 |
|
4. Boundary Street near Franklin Street |
2600 |
A survey form (Attachment #3) was distributed to 25 residences on Battle Lane, Hooper Lane, Boundary Street, East Franklin Street, and Senlac Road in addition to the University. A total of 16 surveys were returned, with 3 in favor of implementing one-way traffic flow on Battle Lane (as requested in the petition), 12 opposed to implementing one-way traffic flow and 1 indicating no preference.
Residents who opposed one-way traffic flow on Battle Lane expressed concerns that such a change would increase traffic volume and speeding on Hooper Lane and Senlac Road. The University opposed implementing southbound one-way traffic flow on Battle Lane and favored either no change in traffic operations or, alternatively, implementing one-way traffic flow northbound. A copy of the letter from the University and e-mail comments that were received from the residents are provided in Attachment #4.
We reviewed the accident history for the Battle Lane/East Franklin Street intersection between 1999 and 2002. Over the past four years, there have been 8 recorded accidents at and/or near the intersection. The number of accidents per year is shown below:
2002 5
2001 2
2000 0
1999 1
The majority of accidents in 2002 occurred during the period when Raleigh Street (between Franklin Street and Cameron Avenue) was closed for construction. As a result of the Raleigh Street closure, traffic volume temporarily increased on Battle Lane. We believe that this increase in traffic using the Battle Lane/East Franklin Street intersection contributed to the increase in accidents at this location in 2002.
Town staff conducted a sight distance analysis at this intersection and found that a large oak tree adjacent to East Franklin Street is in the normal sight triangle for drivers looking to their left when exiting Battle Lane onto East Franklin Street. Please see Attachment #5 that includes photographs of the tree in relation to a driver at the intersection.
We believe that the following improvements could mitigate the intersection sight line problems and resultant accidents without removal of the tree:
We think that these measures would improve the sight visibility and overall operations at this intersection and improve safety for two-way traffic flow on Battle Lane. Based on the review of the field conditions, and the above proposed improvements we do not think that it is necessary to establish one-way traffic flow on Battle Lane.
We think that restricting traffic flow to one-way southbound on Battle Lane would divert traffic onto Hooper Lane and Senlac Road, potentially creating unnecessary traffic problems on those streets. We are also concerned that one-way flow would increase congestion at the intersection of Boundary Street and Battle Lane, which is already a difficult intersection to navigate. One-way traffic flow would also restrict access to and from the University residence halls and business offices located on Battle Lane.
We believe that Battle Lane can be improved in the vicinity of its intersection with East Franklin Street to more effectively accommodate two-way traffic. Without different instructions from the Council, it is our intention to pursue these improvements as part of other work planned for this area of Town using State funds made available to the Town by our State Transportation Board member. There is an item on tonight’s agenda that would authorize the Manager to execute an agreement with the State to receive those funds.
MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
The Manager recommends that the Council take no action on the request for implementation of southbound one-way traffic flow on Battle Lane.
If the Town Council wishes to establish one-way southbound traffic flow on Battle Lane, enactment of the attached ordinance would do so.
1. Area Map (p. 5).
2. Petition from Mr. Wilson Cross (p 6).
3. Survey Form (p. 8).
4. Letter from the UNC-Chapel Hill and E-mails Received from the Residents (p. 9).
5. Pictures of the tree in the Sight Distance Triangle (p. 16).
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING ONE-WAY STREETS (2002-11-11/O-8)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:
Section 1. Section 21-10 of the Town Code of Ordinances, “One-way streets” is amended by inserting the following:
“(q) Traffic on Battle Lane between East Franklin Street to Boundary Street shall move only
in a southward direction.”
Section 2. This ordinance shall become effective December 23, 2002.
This the 11th day of November, 2002.