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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-314attach.docTO: FROM: DATE: RE: MEMORANDUM Richard Wollangk, City Manager Mark Huddleston, Transportation Director July 18, 2001 Q/HKO/H ON THE WATER Items Defeated by the Traffic Review Board at their July 10, 2001 Meeting 1) 2) REQUEST TO REMOVE THE STOP SIGN ON HAZEL STREET AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH MERRITT AVENUE. [EXISTING CONDITION: 4-WAY STOP SIGNS]...and... REQUEST TO REMOVE THE STOP SIGN ON HAZEL STREET AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH 1RVING AVENUE [EXISTING CONDITION: 4-WAY STOP SIGNS]. The relocation of Mercy Medical Center has reduced the traffic volumes on Hazel Street and the removal of the stop signs on Hazel Street at Irving Avenue and Merritt Avenue has been requested. The warrants for a four-way stop are shown below: a) At least 500 vehicles per hour entering the intersection from all approaches during any eight (8) hours of an average day, and; b) The vehicular volume crossing the major street averages at least 200 vehicles for the same eight (8) hours and; c) The traffic volumes are approximately equal in distribution. The following traffic counts were done by the City of Oshkosh in May, 2001. MERRITT AVENUE/HAZEL STREET Time North/South East/West Total 05:00 a.m. - 06:00 a.m. 18 06:00 a.m. - 07:00 a.m. 75 07:00 a.m. - 08:00 a.m. 290 08:00 a.m. - 09:00 a.m. 126 09:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 92 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 103 ll:00a.m.- 12:00noon 130 12:00 p.m. - 01:00 p.m. 122 01:00 p.m. - 02:00 p.m. 73 12:00 p.m.- 03:00 p.m. 116 03:00 p.m. - 04:00 p.m. 185 04:00 p.m. - 05:00 p.m. 176 05:00 p.m. - 06:00 p.m. 246 06:00 p.m. - 07:00 p.m. 203 07:00 p.m. - 08:00 p.m. 159 08:00 p.m. - 09:00 p.m. 133 09:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 69 10:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m. 36 11:00 p.m.- 12:00 a.m 17 12:00 a.m. - 01:00 a.m. 13 01:00 a.m. - 02:00 a.m. 9 02:00 a.m. - 03:00 a.m. 5 03:00 a.m. - 04:00 a.m. 2 04:00 a.m. - 05:00 a.m. 3 TOTAL2,401 % of Split 60% 1,576 4 22 24 99 55 345 46 172 49 141 68 171 65 195 61 183 67 140 101 217 109 294 126 302 196 442 207 410 161 320 119 252 67 136 21 57 12 29 6 19 6 15 3 8 2 4 1 4 40% 3,977 Page 2 MERRITT AVENUE/HAZEL STREET Number of hours exceeding total volume warrant ............... Number of hours exceeding minor street volume warrant ..... IRVING AVENUE/HAZEL STREET TRAFFIC VOLUMES MAY, 2001 Time North/South East/West 05:00 a.m. - 06:00 a.m. 17 0 06:00 a.m. - 07:00 a.m. 74 7 07:00 a.m. - 08:00 a.m. 320 58 08:00 a.m. - 09:00 a.m. 123 24 09:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 95 46 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 134 52 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon 131 79 12:00 p.m. - 01:00 p.m. 143 58 01:00 p.m. - 02:00 p.m. 100 55 12:00 p.m. - 03:00 p.m. 194 56 03:00 p.m. - 04:00 p.m. 191 68 04:00 p.m. - 05:00 p.m. 207 102 05:00 p.m. - 06:00 p.m. 280 133 06:00 p.m. - 07:00 p.m. 264 189 07:00 p.m. - 08:00 p.m. 154 158 08:00 p.m. - 09:00 p.m. 156 168 09:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 59 87 10:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. 40 27 11:00 p.m. - 12:00 midnight 19 6 12:00 a.m. - 01:00 a.m. 12 8 01:00 a.m. - 02:00 a.m. 7 2 02:00 a.m. - 03:00 a.m. 4 1 03:00 a.m. - 04:00 a.m. 6 2 04:00 a.m. - 05:00 a.m. 7 1 TOTAL 2,737 1,387 % of Split 66% 34% Total 17 81 378 147 141 186 210 201 155 25O 259 3O9 413 453 312 324 146 67 25 20 9 5 8 8 4,124 IRVING AVENUE/HAZEL STREET Number of hours exceeding total volume warrant ............... Number of hours exceeding minor street volume warrant ..... These intersections do not meet the warrants for a four-way stop. Both intersections do have sufficient traffic volumes to retain a stop sign on the cross street. The sight distance at Hazel Street and Irving Avenue is excellent and the split of traffic certainly favors the removal of stop signs on Hazel Street. There may be some concern regarding the speed of traffic near Menominee Park and Webster Stanley School. I have notified the school principles and the Parks Director. Page 3 The sight distance at Merritt Avenue and Hazel Street isn't very good. There are bushes on the northwest comer and the property on the southeast comer is elevated above the roadway restricting the sight distance. The obstructions require vehicles to pull across the crosswalk to properly see traffic on Hazel Street. The traffic split isn't as great as at Irving Avenue, with 60% of the traffic on Hazel Street and 40% on Merritt Avenue. Hazel Street south of Merritt Avenue also becomes narrower and is off-set from Hazel Street north of Merritt Avenue. The removal of stop signs on Hazel Street may also encourage additional traffic on Washington Avenue east of Bowen Street. Merritt Avenue is the designated collector street in this area. DEFEATED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD, (0-7). REQUEST FOR A 4-WAY STOP SIGN AT THE INTERSECTION OF WISCONSIN STREET AND LINWOOD AVENUE. [EXISTING CONDITION: STOP SIGN ON LINWOOD AVENUE. This is a request from a citizen. There is currently a stop sign on Linwood Avenue at Wisconsin Street, which is the correct traffic control for this type of intersection. The intersection of Viola Avenue and Wisconsin Street located one block south is controlled by a four-way stop. I have provided the traffic counts for both intersections in the chart shown below: WISCONSIN STREET AT LINWOOD AVENUE AND VIOLA AVENUE TRAFFIC VOLUMES APRIL, 2001 Time North/South Linwood Viola 05:00 a.m. - 06:00 a.m. 19 29 7 06:00 a.m. - 07:00 a.m. 62 57 16 07:00 a.m. - 08:00 a.m. 259 104 32 08:00 a.m. - 09:00 a.m. 106 58 19 09:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 104 90 31 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon 193 84 20 12:00 p.m. - 01:00 p.m. 147 63 18 12:00 p.m. - 03:00 p.m. 196 109 47 03:00 p.m. - 04:00 p.m. 225 133 37 04:00 p.m. - 05:00 p.m. 224 103 32 05:00 p.m. - 06:00 p.m. 209 126 17 06:00 p.m. - 07:00 p.m. 169 130 19 07:00 p.m. - 08:00 p.m. 98 80 21 08:00 p.m. - 09:00 p.m. 78 53 12 09:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 40 35 7 10:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m. 36 31 3 11:00 p.m.- 12:00 midnight 7 4 1 12:00 a.m. - 01:00 a.m. 6 7 1 01:00 a.m. - 02:00 a.m. 5 2 1 02:00 a.m. - 03:00 a.m. 2 1 1 03:00 a.m. - 04:00 a.m. 1 0 0 04:00 a.m. - 05:00 a.m. 14 9 0 TOTAL 2,545 1,459 386 I would not support another four-way stop on the section of Wisconsin Street between Smith Avenue and Murdock Avenue. I would support moving the existing 4-way stop at Viola Avenue to Page 4 Linwood Avenue. This seems to make sense because the children from Oaklawn Street cross Jackson Street at Linwood Avenue and there are higher traffic volumes on Linwood Avenue. The Board attempted to make this change a number of years ago, but there were objections from parents at Oaklawn School. DEFEATED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD, (0-7). REQUEST FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: A) WITZEL AVENUE AND WESTHAVEN DRIVE, B) JACKSON STREET AND PACKER AVENUE, C) 20TH AVENUE AND OHIO STREET AND D) WESTFIELD STREET AND WITZEL AVENUE. The Oshkosh Common Council has allocated funds for the installation of one traffic signal in 2001. I have investigated four (4) intersections for the possible installation of a traffic signal. The pertinent information is shown below: TRAFFIC VOL [JMES AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC Intersection Maj or Minor Witzel Avenue/Westhaven Drive Jackson Street/Packer Avenue 20th Avenue/Ohio Street Witzel Avenue/Westfield Street 9,800 3,300 16,800 2,300 15,600 1,400 16,200 2,400 The motorists using the minor street will have their travel time improved at the expense of those motorists using the major street. The Board must weigh the impact of improving the travel time for motorists on a minor street against creating a delay for the much higher number of motorists on the major street. ACCIDENT DATA The next chart shows the number of accidents at each location for the last three years. It should be noted that a traffic signal will generally reduce the number of right angle accidents, but an increase in rear-ends type accidents can be expected. 1998 - 2000 ACCIDENT DATA Intersection 2000 1999 1998 Total Witzel Avenue/Westhaven Drive 3 2 1 6 Jackson Street/Packer Avenue 1 1 0 2 20th Avenue/Ohio Street 6 2 3 11 Witzel Avenue/Westfield Street 4 5 3 12 The Wisconsin Department of Transportation uses the following rule of thumb in determining a potentially hazardous intersection. The rates are expressed in terms of 1,000,000 vehicles entering the intersection. INTERSECTION ACCIDENT RATES 0 - 1.5 Normal to Typical 1.6 - 2.0 Gray Area Over 2.1 Investigation Warranted Page 5 The following three year rates were calculated for the intersections under consideration for a traffic signal. 20th Avenue/Ohio Street .6 Witzel Avenue/Westhaven Drive .4 Witzel Avenue/Westfield Street Jackson Street/Packer Avenue .4 .1 The four intersections under consideration for traffic signals fall within an acceptable level for accident rates. VEHICULAR VOL ~E WARRANTS The principle function of a traffic signal is to permit crossing stremns of traffic to shaJ:e the stone intersection by means of time separation. Therefore, the major criterion for traffic signals is the volume of traffic entering the intersection. The need for a traffic signal at any particular location must be carefully evaluated in relation to the established warrants. WARRANT 1 - M1NIMUM VEHICULAR VOLUME (HIGHEST 8 HOURS) Vehicles Per Hour On the Major Street Vehicles Per Hour On the Minor Street (both approaches) (one direction) Four Lanes Two Lanes 600 200 NUMBERS OF HOURS EXCEEDING VOLUME REQUIREMENT Intersection Major Street Minor Street Witzel Avenue/Westhaven Drive Jackson Street/Packer Drive 20th Avenue/Ohio Street Witzel Avenue/Westfield Street 7 1 15 0 13 0 13 4 An intersection qualifies under this warrant if it exceeds the required traffic volumes for at least eight (8) hours on the major and minor streets. The four intersections under consideration for a traffic signal did not meet or exceed this warrant. WARRANT 2 - INTERRUPTION OF CONTINOUS TRAFFIC (HIGHEST 8 HOURS) Vehicles Per Hour On the Major Street (both approaches) Vehicles Per Hour On the Minor Street (one direction) Four Lanes Two Lanes 900 100 Page 6 NUMBERS OF HOURS EXCEEDING VOLUME REQUIREMENT Intersection Major Street Minor Street Witzel Avenue/Westhaven Drive Jackson Street/Packer Avenue 20th Avenue/Ohio Street Witzel Avenue/Westfield Street 0 13 8 10 8 2 10 12 An intersection qualifies under this warrant if it exceeds the required traffic volumes for at least eight (8) hours on the major and minor streets. The intersections of Jackson Street/Packer Avenue and Witzel Avenue/Westfield Street did qualify for the installation of a traffic signal under this warrant. This doesn't automatically mean that a traffic signal should be installed at those locations. The Board must ask the following questions before making a final determination. 1) 2) 3) 4) The impact on the flow of traffic on a major arterial. The availability of alternative routes with existing signals to access major arterials. The amount of traffic making a right turn. The accident rate at this intersection. JACKSON STREET AND PACKER A VENUE 1) 2) 3) 4) The impact on the traffic flow would be minimal. There are signals at Snell Road and Jackson Street to serve industrial park traffic. Main Street southbound to Murdock Avenue is also a protected route with a signal at Murdock Avenue and Main Street. I have not conducted a right turn count at this intersection. If the Board feels this intersection needs a traffic signal, I will complete a right turn analysis prior to the next meeting. The accident rate doesn't indicate any problem with this intersection. ?VTZEL A VENUE AND ?VESTFIELD STREET 1) 2) 3) 4) There is a traffic signal located one (1) block to the west of this intersection. The traffic from West High School can use the signals at Eagle Street/Witzel Avenue or Sawyer Street/Witzel Avenue to access Witzel Avenue. Koeller Street (one block west) also parallels Westfield Street from Robin Avenue to Witzel Avenue. I believe the number of right tums, at this intersection are significant. The accident rate at this location is within acceptable levels. SUA/gdAR Y My philosophy is to protect the free flowing movement on arterials by minimizing the number of traffic signals on major arterials. I have not observed any long term traffic delays on the minor streets being considered for a traffic signal. The accident rates are also well within acceptable levels and don't indicate a safety hazard. It may be difficult to cross a major street during peak periods, but if altemative routes are available it may negate the need for additional signals on a major arterials. ALL LOCATIONS DEFEATED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD, (0-7).