Pittsboro staff outline Sanford Road pedestrian-safety plan; board approves traffic and parking ordinance changes near elementary school

Town staff on April 14 presented a package of short-term changes intended to improve pedestrian safety on Sanford Road near Pittsboro Elementary School and the Little League ball field, and the Board of Commissioners approved two code amendments to implement the changes.

What staff proposed: Planners, police and public works staff described a site visit that identified sight-line and parking problems between the traffic circle and the school. Staff recommended (1) amending the town traffic schedules to make the intersection at Pittsboro Elementary School Road and Farrell Street a stop in all directions, and (2) amending parking schedules to create a no-parking zone on Pittsboro Elementary School Road between Farrell Street and Cotton Street and to add loading zones to serve businesses along the corridor.

Why it matters: Staff said vehicles parking on both sides of Pittsboro Elementary School Road during events at the Little League field reduce sight lines and create hazardous conditions for pedestrians crossing between vehicles. East Chatham Little League leaders and the school’s representatives told staff they had observed close calls and supported reducing on-street parking in key segments. Staff also said that additional off-street parking on adjacent town-owned property will be prepared and opened to help offset lost curbside spaces.

DOT coordination and pedestrian-beacon request: Staff said they discussed a rapid-flash beacon at the Sanford/Chatham Street crossing with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). DOT said it wanted the town to install additional street lighting before the town installed the beacon; staff said DOT otherwise approved the proposed lane markings and loading-zone locations. Staff also said Duke Energy and DOT had recently approved an application for new street lights and that installation scheduling is underway.

Board action: The board adopted the traffic-schedule amendment to add the multi-way stop and adopted the parking-schedule amendment to prohibit parking on Pittsboro Elementary School Road between Farrell and Cotton, both by voice vote.

Next steps: Staff said it will paint stop bars and markings, install the signs and deploy expanded off-street parking on town property adjacent to the ball field, coordinate the rapid-flash beacon reassessment with DOT after additional lighting is installed, and work with police on enforcement plans during peak event times.