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Home My WebLink About2007 03 12 Informational 102 Winter Springs Boulevard Tuscora Drive Intersection COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM 102 INFORMATIONAL March 12, 2007 Meeting MGR DEPT Authorization REQUEST: Public Works Department Informing the City Commission on Sight Distance Improvements at the Winter Springs Boulevard I Tuscora Drive Intersection PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to provide the City Commission with a summary of the analysis and recommended sight distance improvements at the Winter Springs Boulevard I Tuscora Drive intersection. CONSIDERATIONS: · Tuscora Drive intersects Winter Springs Boulevard directly opposite of the Tuscawilla Country Club entrance. At the Commission's request, Staff analyzed this 4-way intersection for safety improvements, including adequate sight distance and the possible installation of stop signs on Winter Springs Boulevard. Stop signs are currently in place at the Tuscora Drive and Country Club driveway approaches, but not on Winter Springs Boulevard. SIGHT DISTANCE REVIEW AND IMPROVEMENTS: · Staff performed a field review ofthe intersection to determine ifthere was adequate sight distance at the intersection to safely complete all turning movements. For intersections such as Tuscora Drive with stop control on the minor road, there are three maneuvers that must be considered: 1. Case 1 - Right turns from the minor road 2. Case 2 - Left turns from the minor road 3. Case 3 - Crossing the major road from the minor road · Sight distance was sufficient for Case I (right turns), but not for Cases 2 and 3 (left turns and crossing movements) from both Tuscora Drive and the Country Club driveway. The primary sight distance conflict is caused by the 2 to 3-foot high plant material located within the first 100- feet of the WS Blvd medians approaching the intersection. To address this sight distance problem, the plant material was removed and replaced with sod and ground cover, at a cost of $2,500. Informational Agenda Item 102 March 12,2007 Page 2 of 2 · Exhibit 1 shows sight distance triangles for left turning maneuvers at the intersection. The length of the sight triangles are based on FDOT sight distance criteria. The area within the shaded site distance triangles should, where practical, be clear of obstructions that would prohibit a driver's view of potentially conflicting vehicles. Removal of the plant material has significantly improved the site distance at this intersection. MUL TIW A Y STOP CONSIDERATIONS: · The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is the national standard for the installation of traffic control devices, including stop signs. MUTCD criteria does not support the installation of stop signs on Winter Springs Boulevard at this time, because: 1. Multiway stop control is used where the volume of traffic on the intersecting roads is approximately equal; this is not the case at this intersection, as WS Blvd has a much higher volume than Tuscora Drive. 2. The intersection does not have a crash problem indicated by 5 or more reported crashes in a 12-month period. There has been only one reported crash at the intersection since January 1, 2006 per Police Department records. 3. The combined vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle volume entering the intersection from the minor street approaches (total of both approaches from Tuscora Drive and the Country Club driveway) do not average at least 200 units per hour for the same 8 hours, with an average delay to minor-street vehicular traffic of at least 30 seconds per vehicle during the highest hour. · Additional MUTCD criteria that may be considered in a study of a potential multi way stop intersection include: 1. The need to control left-turn conflicts; 2. The need to control vehicle/pedestrian conflicts near locations that generate high pedestrian volumes; 3. Locations where a road user, after stopping, cannot see conflicting traffic and is not able to reasonably safely negotiate the intersection unless conflicting cross traffic is also required to stop; and 4. An intersection of two residential neighborhood collector (through) streets of similar design and operating characteristics where multi way stop control would improve traffic operational characteristics of the intersection. · The sight distance improvements described above should reduce conflicts and preclude the need for a multiway stop. However, Staff will continue to monitor the intersection to determine if additional improvements are required. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Exhibit 1 - Intersection Sight Distance COMMISSION ACTION: