Title
Rossburn Way Traffic Calming Request
PURPOSE: The Town Council is asked to consider stage 1 traffic calming measures for Rossburn Way in Kent Woodlands.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning
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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 E). 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 Kent Woodlands neighborhood submitted a traffic calming request to Planning staff in 2023 and completed a signed petition in August of that year (Attachment B). A detailed staff report (Attachment C) provides an analysis of the application based on the steps outlined in the RTMP and includes the results of traffic counts at three locations: 413 Rossburn Way, 403 Rossburn Way and 301 Rossburn Way.
Vehicle counts were conducted at 403 Rossburn Way and 301 Rossburn Way in November 2023; bike-ped counts were conducted at the same locations in March 2024. Following the completion of the initial 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 was for the installation of a crosswalk treatment in the vicinity of 301 Rossburn Way, where there are existing curb cuts at a neighborhood park frequented by students walking to Carrboro High School amongst others. Signage alerting drivers of the crosswalk was also recommended.
The request was presented at the Transportation Advisory Board meeting on September 5, 2024. Residents within the Area of Influence received mailed notice of the meeting (Attachment D) and were invited to attend. Residents supported the installation of the crosswalk but were concerned at speeding in the vicinity of 413 Rossburn Way. Based in large part of this request, the TAB tabled the staff recommendation in favor of additional traffic counts.
Additional traffic counts were conducted at 413 Rossburn Way and 301 Rossburn Way on October 15-16, 2024. Based on the additional counts, staff added to their initial recommendation a segment of double yellow line in the vicinity of 413 Rossburn Way, where the street curves into the neighborhood. At the Transportation, Mobility, and Greenways Advisory Commission meeting on January 16, 2025, the request was presented, and the TMGAC concurred with the staff recommendation (Attachment F).
Therefore, staff recommends installing a crosswalk treatment and warning signage adjacent to 301 Rossburn Way as well as a segment of double yellow line adjacent to 413 Rossburn Way (Attachment G).
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT: There are minor fiscal impacts associated with restriping, installation of thermoplastic crosswalk treatment, 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 adopt the resolution (Attachment A) authorizing the installation of the stage 1 traffic calming measures in accordance with the conceptual design shown in Attachment G
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