AGENDA #5b

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Report on Impact Recovery Pedestrian and School Zone Signs

 

DATE:             January 13, 2003

 

 

This report provides information on “impact recovery” pedestrian and school zone signs in response to a citizen request. (Impact recovery signs are typically non-metallic units mounted on flexible posts that can bend over and recover to an upright position if struck by a vehicle.)

 

The Manager does not recommend installation of the signs.

 

BACKGROUND

 

At its August 26, 2002 meeting, the Council received staff recommendations regarding a petition for traffic calming devices on Highgrove Street and Gardner Circle in the Culbreth Ridge neighborhood. The Council authorized the Manager to implement traffic calming measures on these streets using Town funds.

 

Ms. Adele Van Dame, a resident of Culbreth Ridge, spoke at the meeting in support of the traffic calming devices and further requested the installation of impact recovery pedestrian crossing signs on Highgrove Drive at Gardner Circle as a pilot project.  The Council asked the Manager to provide more information on impact recovery pedestrian crossing signs and to provide recommendations regarding the requested pilot project.

 

DISCUSSION

 

Town staff researched and found that several universities and communities are using impact recovery signs at crosswalks in school zones and at other high-volume pedestrian crossings. Studies indicated that these types of signs are most effective at unsignalized crosswalks. Attachment #1 provides photographs and literature regarding such signs. 

 

Impact recovery signs are mounted in the street on flexible post assemblies designed to “fold down” upon impact and to right themselves afterwards.  The desired effect of these signs is to increase driver awareness of a crosswalk or other feature identified by the signs.  The overall height of these signs is typically 48” with double sided messages.  These signs can be mounted to the pavement with a fixed base or portable base.   Cost of each signs varies from $250 to $400 depending on message and the type of base.

Advantages:

·        Encourages pedestrians to cross at a desired location.

·        Increases driver awareness of crosswalk (or other features).

Disadvantages: 

·        May foster over-confidence in pedestrians that all motorists will yield.

·        Typically requires high level of maintenance and/or regular replacement due to unprotected location on street.

·        Difficult to clean or plow streets without dislodging signs.

·        Increased potential for Town liability issues if signs are installed and not regularly inspected and maintained.

 

Our review of literature regarding the effectiveness of impact recovery signs suggests that they typically increase driver awareness of the feature depicted by the sign and, in the case of pedestrian crosswalks, they typically increase the percentage of motorists yielding to pedestrians in the crosswalks adjacent to the sign.

 

However, the average life span of impact recovery signs that are not protected by a raised median is one month, based on information we reviewed from communities that have experience with the use of such signs.  The cost of replacing the signs is $250 to $400 each, and multiple signs are normally required at each location.  Installation of the signs would also obligate the Town to regularly inspect them for damage much more frequently than is necessary with off-street and median protected signs.

 

At its August 26 meeting, the Town Council approved a raised crosswalk on Highgrove Drive at Gardner Circle.  The raised crosswalk with advanced warning signs was installed in November of 2002.  This intersection is controlled by multi-way stops and motorists approaching from all directions are required to come to a full stop in advance of the raised crosswalk. 

 

CONCLUSION

 

We think that the existing traffic management measures and signs are reasonable and adequate for the conditions at this site. We believe that the relatively high installation, maintenance, and replacement costs of impact recovery signs, and the additional Town responsibilities associated with their installation, are not warranted at this location as requested by the petitioner.

 

We will include impact recovery signs in our palette of traffic management measures for consideration during our evaluation of future projects.

 

MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Council take no action at this time regarding installation of impact recovery signs on Highgrove Drive at Gardner Circle.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.         Literature on Impact Recovery Signs (p. 3).