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Winmore Traffic Calming Request
PURPOSE: The Town Council is asked to review a traffic calming request for East Winmore Avenue in Winmore and consider adopting a Town Code amendment for the installation of a new stop sign.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning
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Contact
CONTACT INFORMATION: Becca Eversole, Transportation Planner, 919-918-7332, beversole@carrboronc.gov; Christina Moon, Planning and Transportation Administrator, 919-918-7325, cmoon@carrboronc.gov; Patricia McGuire, Planning Director, 919-918-7327, pmcguire@carrboronc.gov; Kevin Belanger, Public Works Director, 919-918-7427, kbelanger@carrboronc.gov
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Council Direction
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
___ Race/Equity ____ Climate __X__ Comprehensive Plan __X__Other
Council Direction Statement
The Town of Carrboro Residential Traffic Management Plan (RTMP) provides a mechanism for residents to petition for the installation of traffic calming devices (Attachment F). The Comprehensive Plan, Carrboro Connects speaks to the RTMP and recommendations to reduce street design speeds and vehicular speeds in the Transportation & Mobility Chapter under Strategy 2.2. A Racial Equity Assessment Lens (REAL) for the RTMP has been completed; the abridged version has been provided (Attachment H).
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Information
INFORMATION: Residents from the Winmore village mixed-use community submitted a traffic calming request to Planning staff in 2018 and completed a signed petition in September 2023 (Attachment C). A detailed staff report provides an analysis of the application based on the steps outlined in the RTMP and includes the results of traffic counts at two locations: just east of East Winmore and Atterbury Street and just west of East Winmore and Jewell Drive. Vehicle counts were conducted in November 2023 and bike-ped counts in March 2024. Following the completion of the counts, staff analyzed the data and presented its findings to the Traffic & Parking Committee, an interdepartmental committee consisting of staff from the Public Works, Police, Fire, Economic Development and Planning departments. The staff recommendation is for the installation of Stage 1 traffic calming measures, including a new stop sign and stop bar (pavement marking) in the eastbound lane of East Winmore Avenue at the intersection with Jewell Drive.
The request was presented at the Transportation Advisory Board meeting on September 5th. Residents within the Area of Influence received mailed notice of the meeting and were invited to attend. Residents supported the installation of the stop sign, however, one resident asked about the installation of a second stop sign heading westbound. Based in large part of this request, the TAB recommended converting the intersection into a three-way stop, with stop signs installed at both the eastbound and westbound lanes of East Winmore (Attachment G). Installing a stop sign at the westbound lane of East Winmore and Jewell Drive, however, would potentially lead to vehicle stacking on an existing speed table and bridge located just east of the Jewell Drive. In addition, existing street trees along the north side of East Winmore may hide the stop sign during certain months of the year.
Therefore, staff recommends installing only the eastbound stop sign at this time and reevaluating traffic conditions in three to six months. Stage 1 traffic calming focuses on education and enforcement rather than physical controls or impediments on the roadway. Staff will also explore the placement of warning signs such as MUTCD W4-4P ‘cross traffic does not stop’ to be used in combination with the stop signs are the junction of the Winmore Greenway and East Winmore.
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT: There are minor fiscal impacts associated with fabrication/procurement and installation of signage, as well as any staff time associated with outreach (and enforcement if deemed necessary).
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Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Town Council: 1) adopt the resolution (Attachment A) directing the installation of the traffic calming measures, and 2) adopt the Town Code Amendment (Attachment B) codifying the new stop sign on East Winmore Avenue into the Town Code.
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