Petition for Traffic Controls- 5th Ave and County Rd #3REPORT ON PETITION FOR TRAFFIC CONTROLS
AT NORTHEAST CORNER OF 5th AVENUE COUNTY ROAD #3
On November 17, 1981, the City Council received a petition from residents of
the apartment building at #49 5th Avenue South requesting the installation of
certain traffic controls and improvements to improve safety for a driveway that
provides entrance to and exit from a basement parking garage in their building.
The matter was referred to the police and engineering departments for study and
report.
Attached is a copy of the original petition, a copy of the Police Department
report and recommendations, and a copy of a letter from Dennis L. Hansen, P.E.
County Traffic Engineer. The County was requested to study and comment since any
traffic control requested would have to be approved by them as they have juris-
diction for traffic controls on county roads.
POLICE COMMENTS
The Police report prepared by Sergeant Calvin C. Johnson is a very thorough
review of all the facts bearing on the problem, including pictures taken from
various angles. Sgt. Johnson recommends the installation of (A) stop signs at
the east side of 5th Avenue South where County Road 3 northbound off -ramp joins
it (See D and E on Annex A), (B) place Stop Ahead (See G on Annex A), (C) remove
the 15 minute parking zone on 5th Avenue South as shown at G on Annex A, (D) place
driveway signs as described on Annex E.
COUNTY COMMENTS
The letter from the County Traffic Engineer recommends no change in the
method of traffic control nor to install any additional warning signs at this
time. They do recommend the placement of an additional yield sign and increasing
the size of the sign. The County would install these yield signs.
ENGINEERING COMMENTS
The existing yield sign permits traffic to flow freely. If a stop were
installed, this would mean that the northbound vehicles on the right turn lane
would have to stop whether or not traffic on 5th Avenue were present. There is
an uphill grade from County Road 3 to a point approximately 150 feet north. This
forced stop at all times would impede traffic flow, especially under ice and snow
conditions when it is desireable to keep a vehicle moving (assuming there is no
need to yield). The heavy volume of vehicles making the right turn from westbound
to northbound would probably result in a backup in the right turn lane and a
large proportion of "running" stops and disregard of the stop sign.
TRAFFIC CONTROL
5th Co. Rd. 3
Page 2
The traffic accidents referred to seem to be rear end collisions involving
cars northbound, both entering 5th Avenue off the right turn lane being discussed.
If the stop were made at the stop sign and the driver of the lead car was intending
to make a right turn into the apartment driveway, the car behind would most likely
not anticipate that the first car would immediately slow down to make a right turn
into the apartment driveway. The attention of the second car is usually to the left
to avoid the cars northbound on 5th Avenue. This is a problem for both the yield
situation or a stop sign situation. The yield is considered safer than a stop
since it actually determines right of way when common practice too often simply
means an immediate "go We would have to make a stronger case to convince the
County that a stop sign is warranted.
All parties reviewing the petition are of the opinion that installing a curb
to force northbound traffic into a center lane would not be effective and probably
create a hazard.
The Police report recommended that the 15 minute parking zone be removed. This
limited parking zone was granted by the Council at the time that all the on- street
parking was removed.
The Police report recommends consideration of the placing of signs calling
motorists attention to hidden driveway and /or hidden exit. The County feels that
these signs would not be effective because the low volume of vehicles in and out
of this driveway would soon result in driver ignoring the sign.
If the Council decides on ordering any of the traffic controls which the County
opposes, we can make every effort to get their approval, but we cannot install any
control measures on the County roads without their approval.
Respectfully submitted,
John J. Strojan
City Engineer
4/15/82