98-30 DESIGNATING FOUR-WAY STOP INTERSECTION

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EXCERPTS FROM MINUTES OF THE MEETING � OF THE TRAFFIC AND PARKING COMMISSION Wednesday, May 13, 1998 ITEM#1 Request for an All-way Stop at the Intersection of Riverview and Taylor Avenues. Matthew Newell began by saying that he had traffic counters placed at this intersection for the standard period of 24 hours, and the results are as stated on the map attached to the meeting agenda. Currently there are around 900 vehicles a day traveling on Riverview both directions and 400 vehicles a day on Taylor. The speeds on Taylor are lower (15 mph) than on Riverview (30 mph). There is currently a stop sign on Taylor both ways. People driving on Taylor have a fairly good view of oncoming traffic. People on Riverview have a generally poor view of oncoming traffic. The accident history reflected only one accident in the past three years relating to conditions at the intersection. The accident rate is 0.91 accidents per million vehicles entering the intersection, which is less than the expected accident rate. Staff could see no defining reason as to why this intersection should be an all-way stop. The members of the neighborhood group presented a short video of the intersection showing the dangers drivers encounter when driving through it. Tom Frazier, of 1537 West Riverview, read a statement as a representative of the West Riverview Avenue Neighborhood Association, stating their case for installation of an all-way stop at this intersection (copy attached). Newell stated that the average vehicle speed was 26 mph, and 85% of the vehicles were traveling less than 30 mph. The standard by which he bases his recommendation is set by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). There are traffic volumes set by the FHWA that may suggest a need for an all-way stop. These volumes are not present. There were some cars traveling in excess of 40 mph, and that can be found on any street in the City. The problem with the speeds on the street is that Riverview is not generally used to get to the mall or someplace like that, so the people who speed are residents of the nei�hborhood who live on or near Riverview. Nine hundred is an average number of cars for a residential street. Each house can have as many as ten trips a day with one vehicle in a residential area, so 900 cars is a realistic number for that street. Nordholm stated that this Commission determines where stop signs are to be placed, via Chapter 34 of the City Code. Newell advised that nothing has been done to change traffic patterns to accommodate the west end bike path, because the bike path is not drawing large enough volumes of vehicle traffic.