2. Resolution 5085 - Multi-way Stop Control - Sherry Lane at Northridge DrKALISPELL POLICE DEPARTMENT
O Box 9 .S2 - E T 5990.E
REPORT: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Frank Garner, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Multi —way Stop Control — Sheer Lane and Northridge Drive
MEETING LAB* Janus , 2006
RACKGROUND: Recently a connection was completed between Northridge
and Stillwater Road. Public Works conducted an engineering study of the intersection as
a result of an increased concern over safes at the intersection oNorflifige Drive and
Sheer Lane. The profile of ta intersection is currently a two-way stop with stop signs
on Sheer Lane at Northridge Drive. The engineering study recommends a four-way stop
o improve traffic operational characteristics of the intersection, including sight distance.
See attached engineefing mod,.
RECoM NDAR0N&: Council should pass a resolution approving a multi -way
stop at the intersection of Northrige Drive and Sherry fie.
FISC EC 'S: None.
"ERN.TWE&- As recommended by council.
Respectfully submitted,
F ank Garner
Chief of Ponce
James Patfick
City Manager
FRANK GARNER, CHIEF OF `OLVCI ROGER KRAUSS, ASSIS-IFANTCHIEFOF POLICE
RESOLUTION NO. 5085
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PLACEMENT OF STOP SIGNS ON ORTH I GE
DRIVE AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH SHERRY LANE AND DECLARING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE .T RESOLVED Y THE CITY COUNCIL of THE CITY of IAL SPE L AS FOLLOWS:
OWS:
SECTION I.. That vehicles, including rotor vehicles, bicycles, or other vehicles shall be
required to stop in the east and west bound lanes of Northridge Drive at its
intersection with Sherry Lane.
SECTION 11. The Chief f Police is authorized and directed to erect stop signs at the above
location.
S CTIo 111. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its Passage by the
City Council and approval by the Mayor.
PASSED ,AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIG-NED BY THE MAYOR of THE
CITY OF KALI.SP LL, THIS 3R-D DAY OF .IANUARY, 2006.
Pamela B. Kennedy
Mayor
ATTEST -
Theresa White
City Clerk
V.: City(%)f Ktalispel-1 'ublic Works '"ep
:r t
Posh. Office Box 1997, , Kalispell, Montana -1 Telephone --' - 1
TO: Frank Garner, Chief of Police
t
FROM: James C. Hans , P.E., Director of Public � kswir
SUBJECT: Multiway Stop Control — Sherry Lane anSNSrtbAdge Dri
DATE: 14 December 2005
t the present time there is two -ay Stop control on Sherry Lane at Northridge with no control
n Northridge. It is our understanding that your traffic division officers have identified this intersection as
now having a serious and growing hazard for drivers because of recent changes in traffic patterns in the
area. At your request we have reviewed intersection and street design and the existing Step control for the
intersection of Sherry Lane and Northridge Drive to identify a way to improve intersection safety now
that Northridge Drive (previously a dead-end) has been extended into the Northland subdivision with
conn.ectIvity to Stillwater Road.
No traffic counts were done because of the cold and snowy weather. Our counters are not able to
maintain their battery charge in very cold weather long enough to collect the normal Tuesday through
Thursday data. In addition, plowing operations present a hazard with potential damage to the counter
tubes that are installed across the roadway. Nonetheless, it is apparent that the recent connection of
Northridge to the Northland road network has raised traffic volumes on Northridge through this
intersection. We believe this is due in large part to non -local and local traffic now making use this new
route to avoid congestion n meridianRoad.
.both roads are approximately equal in design and operating characteristics and Northridge is no
a through street. Intersection geometry is reasonable with adequate sight distances in most cases.
However,, inspection has shown that stopped north -bound traffic on -Sh. rry Lane has a restricted view of
east- bou d traffic on Northridge entering the intersection.. Northridge curves sharply left just west of the
intersection which creates . this condition. In addition, speeds on Northridge are 25 mph entering the
intersection. The speed of this east -bound traffic coupled with the restricted sight distance for stopped
north -bound traffic on Sherry has created a condition that prevents north -bound Sherry Lane traffic from
reasonably and safely negotiating the intersection. After reviewing the MUTCD, we believe that
installation of multi ray Stop control should be considered. This is discussed in section 2B.07, which
states yin. part:
ro40.o
"Section 2B.07 Multiway Stop Applications
Support;
M ltiway stop control can be useful as a safety measure at intersections if certain traffic
conditions exist. Safety concerns associated with multiway stops include pedestrians, bicyclists,
and all road users expecting other road users to top. Multiway .stop control is used where the
volume of traffic on the intersecting roads is approximately equal.
The restrictions on the use of STOP signs described in Section 2B.05 also apply to muXti vay stop
applications.
Guidance:
The decision to install multiway stop control should be based on an engineering study."...
Specifically, we believe that optional criteria C and D are most appropriate in making this analysis. These
optional criteria are (emphasis added) :
"Option.:
Other criteria that may be considered in an engineering study include:
A. The need to control left -turn conflicts;
B. The need to control vehicle/pedestrian conflicts near locations that generate high pedestrian
volumes;
C. Locations where a road user, after stopping, cannot see conflicting traffic and 1*s not able to
reasonably safely negotiate the intersection unless conflicting cross traffic is also requiread
to stop; and
D. An intersection of two residential n kh orhood collector (through) streets ofsimilar
design and operating characteristics where r rrl i ay stop control would improve traffic
operational characteristics of the in ersec&n. "
n summary, we believe the hazard condition exists, the design and operating characteristics of
these two roadways at this location are approximately equal now that Northridge is a through street, and
therefore this intersection meets the waffant conditions of both option C and Option D.
Public Works fully concurs with the initial conclusions of your traffic officers that multiway stop
control would improve the operation of this intersection. As a result we recommend installation of
multiway Stop control at the intersection of Northridge Drive and Sherry Lane. This will require
installation of new Stop signs east -bound and west -bound on Northridge Drive: Please let me -know when
you intend to present this recommendation to City Council for approval. We will install the signs
immediately thereafter.