The Lewisburg City Council on Sept. 9 approved multiple traffic measures: a modification to the traffic control device at Second Avenue North and College Street to improve flow; authorization to proceed with a federally funded traffic signal and striping project at the Ellington/Mooresville Highway intersection; and an amendment to speed zones on State Route 373 (Morrisville Highway) that reduces the number of posted speed changes on the outbound (westbound) side.
City staff and the mayor explained that the traffic signal and striping project is funded through federal funds available to cities of 5,000 or more, typically on an 80/20 match basis, though the project was designated a safety project and required no local match (except a small $6,000 match for a crosswalk item). The total project—including engineering and NEPA work—was described as “a little over a million dollars,” with signal activation anticipated in May or June (the contractor schedule later noted June as the latest estimate).
On the Second Avenue/College Street device, council discussion focused on whether changing the phasing might increase crash risk because drivers are accustomed to the current timing and sightline issues exist on the side streets. Public works staff reported they had received no complaints about the intersection; proponents said the change should reduce unnecessary stops on Second Avenue when no vehicles are waiting on the side streets.
Regarding Morrisville Highway (State Route 373), the council approved a resolution to simplify speed zones on the westbound/outbound lane so that the posted limits change at mile marker 7 from 30 to 45 mph and then to 55 mph further outbound (restoring a prior configuration in effect before recent changes). Discussion noted the change applied to outbound lanes only and that a separate agenda item should address inbound speed zones.
Votes and next steps: motions to modify the intersection device and to change the Morrisville Highway speed zones passed on roll call. Staff said the striping would begin soon and the signal installation was expected by June at the latest; the city will use the federal safety designation funds and proceed with needed signage and striping.