Agenda - Public Works Committee - 11/18/2014

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Public Works Committee Meeting Date: 11/18/2014 By: Bruce Westby, Engineering /Public Works Title: Consider STOP sign installations on 146th Avenue at Iodine Street. Purpose /Background: On August 14th, the Public Works Committee received input from residents living in the neighborhood surrounding the intersection of 146th Avenue and Iodine Street. The residents in attendance voiced concerns about traffic in the area, particularly about vehicles speeding on 146th Avenue as they traveled through the intersection of Iodine Street and the dangers this posed due to the existing sight distance issues. It was discussed that in the past the police had been notified and that the residents were happy with the response, but then when the extra enforcement left speeds increased again. While police records show no accidents, no tickets and no warnings for speed at this intersection, the area residents are still concerned about the safety of their children and are requesting that something more permanent be done. It was also discussed that speeding, and as is often the case the perception of speeding, in residential neighborhoods is a common problem throughout the City. Staff's typical response is to request increased police patrol and deployment of the "speed sign" trailer to gather existing traffic information and to remind drivers of the speed limit on that street. And as has been discussed numerous times in the past, stop signs and speed bumps are not effective speed control devices as they often create a more unsafe situation by introducing traffic controls where drivers are not expecting them, plus they can cause other unintended issues such as increased noise due to stopping and starting, or increased speeds between the devices as drivers try to make up for lost time due to these controls. Per direction from the Public Works Committee, Staff reviewed the intersection in question and found it to be very similar to an issue that was presented to the Committee in the past at the intersection of 145th Avenue and Tungsten Street. At that time it was determined that STOP sign controls were warranted on 145 th Avenue due to the vertical grade differences on 145th Avenue through the intersection of Tungsten that prevent drivers on either side of Tungsten Street from being able to see what's on the other side of the intersection until they are very close to the intersection. Due to the similarities of these two intersections, and considering that the sight distance issues at the intersection of 146 th Avenue and Iodine Street are further compounded by the horizontal curvature of the street, staff recommends installing STOP signs on 146th Avenue on both sides of Iodine Street. Staff plans to review the existing traffic control modification policy this winter to determine if a more analytical process would be appropriate for determining if warrants are met for installing STOP controls to address future sight distance issues. Timeframe: 10 minutes for presentation and discussion. Observations /Alternatives: PW staff gathered some basic information on the intersection: A STOP sign is located on Iodine Street at the T- intersection with 146th Avenue 146th Avenue is a through street T- intersection ahead signs exist on both approaching legs of 146th Avenue 30 MPH posted at 146th Ave and County Road 5