Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Department of Public Works

Traffic Engineering Division

TO:	Charles Soules, Director of Public Works
FROM:	David Woosley, Transportation/Traffic Engineer
CC:	Mark Thiel, Asst. Director of Public Works David Cronin, City Engineer
Date:	5 July 2013
RE:	Lincoln Street; 2^nd Street to 7^th Street

Background

At the May 21, 2013, City Commission meeting, the Commission requested that Lincoln Street between 2^nd Street & 7^th Street be evaluated for TRAFFIC CALMING and that the intersection with 5^th Street be evaluated for a MULTI-WAY STOP (there are currently stop signs on 5^th Street at Lincoln Street.

          The City’s Traffic Calming Policy provides that traffic calming devices may be provided on “local” streets if the 85^th percentile speed of traffic is 5mph or greater over the speed limit, if the 24-hour two-way traffic volume is greater than 1000, if cut-through traffic comprises more than 50% of the traffic during the peak hour of the day, or if any two of the conditions are satisfied to the extent of 80% or more.

          The “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices” provides the following criteria for installation of a multi-way stop: Where traffic signals are justified, five or more reported crashes in a 12-month period, where the volume on the main street averages at least 300 vehicles per hour for 8 hours of an average day and the volume on the minor street averages at least 200 units per hour for the same 8 hours, or if the number of crashes and traffic volume are satisfied to the extent of 80% or more.

Analysis

Traffic data was collected for a 3-day period, June 11-14, for east-west traffic in each block of Lincoln Street and for the 5^th Street approaches to Lincoln Street, however, a cut-through traffic study has not been conducted.

          The average 85^th percentile speed in each block was found to be 29mph between 2^nd Street & 3^rd Street, 32mph between 3^rd Street & 4^th Street, 33mph between 4^th & 5^th Street 33.5mph between 5^th Street & 6^th Street and 30mph between 6^th Street & 7^th Street; the speed limit as established by State Law is 30mph.

          The average 24-hour volume in each block was found to be 770 between 2^nd Street & 3^rd Street, 640 between 3^rd Street & 4^th Street, 430 between 4^th Street & 5^th Street, 410 between 5^th Street & 6^th Street and 710 between 6^th Street & 7^th Street.

          Based on this data, traffic calming devices are not currently warranted by the City’s Traffic Calming Policy.

          A crash analysis of the intersection of 5^th Street & Lincoln Street found one (1) reported crash at the intersection during the past three (3) years.

          A multi-way stop analysis found the average volume on Lincoln Street during the 8 highest hours of the day to be 29 and the average volume on 5^th Street during the same 8 hours to be 9.

          Based on this data, a multi-way stop is not currently warranted by the “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.”