1. Traffic Control Process201 1"Avenue Last, AD. Box 1997, Kalispell, MT 59903 Phone (406)758-7720-- Fax (406)758--7831
w w w. kalxspelf com
June 17, 2009
To: Mayor Kennedy and City Council
From: James C. Hansz, P.E., Director of Public Works/City Engi eer
Myrt Webb, Interim City Manager
Subject: June 22 work Session - Stop Signs
Summer weather usually brings with it an increased number of requests to install stop signs
around Kalispell. Most of these requests are referrals of constituent requests by Council
members. The Interim City Manager and Public Works staff believes it would be helpful and
informative to outline for Council the process and the regulations that are followed when
reviewing a stop sign request. Staff will present this information outlining answer questions.
CITIZEN PERCEIVES
EXCESSIVE SPEEDS
CITIZEN PERCEIVES
EXCESSIVE SPEEDS
WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE?
INSTALL STOP SIGN?
REVIEW CURRENT
TRAFFIC CONDITIONS?
rmlMMdwuwwm F
' Trattic N DevicesMY
g
��
MUTCD Section 213-05 STOP Sign Applications
STOP signs should be used if engineering judgment indicates
that one or more of the following conditions exist:
A. Intersection of a less important road with a main road where application of
the normal right-of-way rule would not be expected to provide reasonable
compliance with the law;
'-.�•�+f .. _ --dam . , -.
:=f Y
f ATUAVE E
_. _:�., yam. • . _ � .• �. �,� - ��:
�G;iiiii ; MII11
a�4
P
MUTCD Section 213.05 STOP Sign Applications
STOP signs should be used if engineering judgment indicates
that one or more of the following conditions exist:
A. Intersection of a less important road with a main road where application of
the normal right-of-way rule would not be expected to provide reasonable
compliance with the law;
B. Street entering a through highway or street;
Ak
Ing
INV"
STOP }1�
1L.-A
MUTCD Section 213-05 STOP Sign Applications
STOP signs should be used if engineering judgment indicates
that one or more of the following conditions exist:
A. Intersection of a less important road with a main road where application of
the normal right-of-way rule would not be expected to provide reasonable
compliance with the law;
B. Street entering a through highway or street;
C. Unsignalized intersection in a signalized area;
ill WAY
- m owftw�
MUTCD Section 213,05 STOP Sign Applications
STOP signs should be used if engineering judgment indicates
that one or more of the following conditions exist:
A. Intersection of a less important road with a main road where application of
the normal right-of-way rule would not be expected to provide reasonable
compliance with the law;
B. Street entering a through highway or street;
C. Unsignalized intersection in a signalized area;
D. High speeds, restricted view, or crash records indicate a need for control
by the STOP sign.
�
.��
-y.�- c
'
•.mot
_ i�
p1 �
` �Y-y
�
��•
, 11 •: •
S i Y
_,. .
two, wl
x
Where else are stop signs warranted
by the MUTCD?
Control vehicle/pedestrian conflicts near locations that generate high
pedestrian volumes: schools, clinics, business districts, other
. "WX
CHILDREN
F L S �s�'^ a._ � ` •, pr � j6.ri. � 'F�►�`a� +FF 17�i' ..i Y� Y ♦ .. ;.
t
1
,M.•'
,• . ?a' C � � 7q,, b. � - 's T�rs�S�yr�y`.•�� � ,y�rl: � va -
'Or
L r,
af
a �
• _� � %.,per �''YX���__ 1µ
_ ..,: .t. - s"=_ ..r:-:. r _ �c • .}� .. •_� •gam �� � '=y]�i�
3-WAY
.5
l
1,
rvr t• 4 f ' 3Y. a � n i -I.,
t•jr .� yy L' � v�
f y, may. '�• .. ti��N�', a . � , � :`�� r •t ' '
`�4�q.�, .f � '� ice_ �t�"- a• .i -_ � .�
Y
al
kita 5 T H AVE E
STO
F-I
4-WAY
x
5
Where are multiwav stop signs
warranted by the MUTCD?
MUTCD Section 213.07 Multiway STOP Applications
Multiway stop control is used where the volume of traffic on the
intersecting roads is approximately equal.
The decision to install multiway stop control should be based on
an engineering study.
The following criteria should be considered in the engineering
study for the multiway STOP sign application:
MUTCD Section 213.07 Multiway STOP Applications
A. Where traffic control signals are justified, the multiway stop is an interim
measure that can be installed quickly to control traffic while arrangements
are being made for the installation of the traffic control signal.
B. A crash problem, as indicated by five or more crashes in a twelve month
period that are susceptible to correction by a multiway stop installation.
C. Minimum Volumes:
1. The vehicular volume entering the intersection from the major street
approaches (total of both approaches) averages at least 300 vehicles
per hour for any 8 hours of an average day, and
2. The combined vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle volume entering the
intersection from the minor street approaches (total of both
approaches) averages 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
S AVE
TO
4A l l WAY R
.+/
CITIZEN PERCEIVES
EXCESSIVE SPEEDS
ENFORCEMENT OF SPEED LIMITS
IS THE SINGLE BEST WAY TO
DETER SPEEDING.
MUTCD Section 213.05 STOP Sign Applications
STANDARD: STOP signs should not be used for speed control.
A review of 70 technical papers (written between 1976 and 1999) regarding
the effectiveness of unwarranted stop signs used for speed control found:
Multi -way stops do not generally control speed.
Unwarranted stops increased speed some distance from intersections.
Stop compliance is poor at unwarranted multi -way stop signs.
Safety of pedestrians is decreased at unwarranted multi -way stops, especially
small children. It seems that pedestrians expect vehicles to stop at the stop
signs but many vehicles have gotten in the habit of running the "unnecessary"
stop sign.
Unwarranted stops may present potential liability problems for undocumented
exceptions to accepted warrants.
IF NOT A STOP SIGN, WHAT?
UNCONTROLLED
INTERSECTION
ALL -WAY STOP
INTERSECTION
AO
X 9TH St E
ww;
STY
QUESTIONS?
1
�'-
THE END