Laserfiche WebLink
I <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />! <br />I <br />I <br /> <br /> Off the <br />An informational <br /> <br /> Beaten Path <br />publication from RLK-Kuu~isto, Ltd. <br /> <br />Responding to <br /> <br />Welcome to Off the <br />Beaten Path, a <br />technical publication <br />designed to provide <br />you with new ideas, to <br />let you know about <br />things you might not <br />be aware of, and to <br />keep you informed on <br />issues related to <br />civil engineering. <br /> <br />One of the most common highway- <br />related requests received by City, <br />County, and Township officials is <br />for the insnallation of stop signs. · <br />This bulletin offers suggestions on <br />how to respond to these requests as <br />well as information to be <br />considered in determining whether <br />or not to install a stop sign at a <br />particular location. <br /> <br />Why Not Just Give Them <br />What They Want? <br /> <br />When you consider that the <br />average cost to install a stop sign <br />is less than $200, it seems difficult <br />to believe that any stop sign <br />request is ever turned down. The <br />cost of inst_~ll_ation, however, is <br />rarely a major factor in <br />considering such a request. <br /> <br />The tree cost of a stop sign <br />includes not only installation, but <br />also highway users costs, such as <br />excess vehicle operation costs, lost <br />time, and increased pollution. <br /> <br />Requests for Stop Signs <br /> <br />Individt~_ 11¥, highway user costs <br />for each stop are minimal; <br />however, when the costs axe added <br />together for all users over a one <br />year period, they are substantial <br />(sec below). <br /> <br />Annual Highway User Costs <br />(per 1,000 vehicles stopping at stop' <br /> sign on a $5 mile per hour streeO <br /> <br />$18,000 ia excess vehicle <br /> operation costs <br /> <br />1,400 hours of lost time <br /> <br />3,800 gallons of extra fuel <br /> <br />8,400 pounds of carbon <br /> monoxide emissions <br /> <br />600 pounds of hydrocarbon <br /> emissions <br /> <br />600 pounds of nitrogen oxide <br /> emissions <br /> <br />Determine the Problem <br /> <br />When a request for a stop sign is <br />made, be sure the reason for the <br />request is clear. The main <br />purpose of a stop sign is to assign <br />right-of-way at an intersection. If <br />the problem to be addressed is not <br />related to right-of-way, then a stop <br />sign is not the answer. <br /> <br />In many cases, stop signs are <br />requested to curb speeding on a <br />street. Numerous studies have <br />been conducted examining the <br />effect of stop signs on speeding. <br />These studies have consistently <br />shown that stop signs are poor <br /> <br />More than cost, the primary <br />consideration in approving a stop <br />sign request is to make sure that a <br />stop sign is the most appropriate <br />and effective solution to the <br />problem Stop si~.q do not' <br />necessarily make an intersection <br />safer. Studies of Iow volume <br />intersections with less than one <br />accident per year have shown that <br />adding stop signs does not reduce <br />the accident rote; this is especially <br />true in cases where unnecessary <br />multi-my stops are created. <br /> <br />Conduct Studies <br /> <br />Once you have determined there is <br />a potential problem that may be <br />corrected by a stop sign, the next <br />step is to conduct studies to <br />docmnent the problem~ Generally, <br />these studies involve one or more <br />of the following: <br /> <br />1. Traffic accident <br /> <br />m~ - Traffic <br />accident reports are <br />reviewed and <br />analyzed. Itisa <br />good idea to look at <br />reports for several <br />years (at least the <br /> <br /> <br />