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Council reviews Priest & Nichols traffic study; agrees to several safety fixes, debates stop sign at Barton Hill
Summary
Consultants presented a multi-site traffic and speed study recommending signs, a vertical barrier on US 281, raised crosswalks and pavement markings. Council generally agreed to the smaller sign and marking changes but engaged in extended debate over installing a stop sign at Barton Hill and Casey Road.
Council members on Aug. 11 received a traffic- and speed-study briefing from Priest & Nichols that identified safety problems at several intersections and proposed a package of improvements with preliminary cost estimates.
Consultant Laura Baule summarized the findings and estimates for each site and said the study'wide total for the recommended intersection and roadway changes was "approximately a $137,400 to a $154,700." For one location on US 281 she told the council, "The preliminary cost estimate includes a range of different, kinds of vertical barrier treatments ranging from $21,000 to $36,900." The engineering team recommended a vertical barrier and a three-foot pavement widening at the Heimer Lane/US 281 culvert and a mix of signage, stop-bar striping or raised crosswalks at other locations.
Councilmembers moved through the study item-by-item. They directed staff to prepare ordinance language and line-item cost estimates for Shepherd's Ranch/Grand Road (additional stop bar, refreshed centerline markings and sign updates), Edgebrook neighborhood (25 mph posting and a raised crosswalk near the pool), Marble/Premiere (no-parking zone and optional red-curb painting) and several segments of Grand Road. A number of the recommendations require updates to the city code of ordinances before enforcement or signage changes can be made.
The most contentious item was the recommendation to convert a yield sign to a stop sign at Barton Hill Drive and Casey Road. Engineers cited sight-distance issues and one recorded crash over three years; some council members raised concerns that the local grade and traffic speeds could increase rear-end risk for drivers accelerating from a stop. After extended debate the council recorded a majority consensus to install the stop control and related warning signage, while agreeing to monitor outcomes and revert to yield control if the change produced negative safety effects. The council directed staff to return with itemized cost estimates and the ordinance language to implement the agreed changes.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 844 topicfinish SEG 1162
