Fifth & Bell Traffic Signs
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MEMORANDUM
July 12, 2004
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Signage on Fifth & Bell Streets
Acting Public Works Director/City Engineer Gus Psihoyos is providing further
information regarding the July 7, 2004 City Council agenda item recommending that
stop signs be authorized for east and west traffic on 5th Street and that Bell Street traffic
be allowed to proceed without any stop or yield signs.
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Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, Acting Public Works Director/City Engineer
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MEMORANDUM
July 12, 2004
TO:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gus Psihoyos, Acting Public Works Director
SUBJECT: Signage on Fifth & Bell Streets ~,
INTRODUCTION
At the July 7, 2004 City Council meeting, City Engineering recommended that
stop signs be authorized for east and west traffic on 5th Street and that Bell Street
traffic be allowed to proceed without any stop or yield signs.
At the meeting, two questions were asked by the City Council:
1. Could a sign be placed on 5th Street indicating that cross traffic does not
stop?
2. Could there be additional signage installed so that northbound vehicles on
Bell Street know that a left-turn takes them back into the City?
DISCUSSION
1. Could a sign be placed on. 5th Street indicating that cross traffic does
not stop?
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is recognized as
the national standard for traffic control devices on all public roads. Uniformity
of the meaning of traffic control devices is vital to their effectiveness. By
adhering to the principles set forth in the MUTCD, motorists are more likely to
encounter similar signage for similar conditions throughout the country. The
"Cross Traffic Does Not Stop" sign may be used on approaches to two-way,
stop-controlled intersections to warn road users who might misinterpret the
intersection as a four-way stop intersection.
The sign should not be used until it has been demonstrated that it is
necessary. If the sign is used at this intersection, there may be some
expectation, particularly from visitors to the City, that this sign would be used
at other two-way stop intersections, thus creating unsafe conditions.
2. Could there be additional signage installed so that northbound vehicles
on Bell Street know that a left.turn takes them back into the City?
Engineering has discussed with the Chamber of Commerce the installation of
four (4) additional Wayfinding signs in the "Port of Dubuque" District. The first
sign would indicate, "Shot Tower, Amphitheater" (straight ahead) &
"Downtown District" (left) and would be placed on the east side of Bell Street
south of 5th Street. The second sign would indicate, "Riverboat Casino,
Riverboat Cruises" (straight ahead) and "Downtown District, Museum &
Aquarium" (right) and would be placed on the west side of Bell Street north of
5th Street. The third sign would indicate, "Museum & Aquarium" (left) and
would be placed on the north side of 5th Street east of Fourth Street. The
fourth sign would be placed on the north side of 5th Street east of Bell Street
and would indicate, "Downtown District, Museum & Aquarium" (straight) and
"Riverboat Casino, Riverboat Cruises" (left). The Chamber is in agreement
with the signage.
Prepared by Bill Schlickman, Engineering Assistant
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ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, BY MODIFYING SUBSECTION (b) OF
SECTION 32-214 THEREOF PROVIDING FOR THE ADDITION OF
STOP SIGNS ON EAST FIFTH STREET AND BELL STREET
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. That the Code of Ordinances of the City of Dubuque,
Iowa, be amended by adding East Fifth Street and Bell Street from
Subsection (b) of Section 32-214 thereof as follows:
Stop Intersections.
"Sec. 32-214.
(b)
*
*
*
EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND
Fifth Street, East, and Bell Street
Passed, approved, and adopted this - day of
2004.
Attest:
r
~eanne F. Schneider, CMC, City Clerk
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ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, BY MODIFYING SUBSECTION (b) OF
SECTION 32-214 THEREOF PROVIDING FOR THE DELETION OF
STOP SIGNS AT THE INTERESECTION OF EAST FIFTH STREET AND
BELL STREET
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. That the Code of Ordinances of the City of Dubuque,
Iowa, be amended by deleting East Fifth Street and Bell Street from
Subsection (b) of Section 32-214 thereof as follows:
Stop Intersections.
"Sec. 32-214.
(b)
*
*
*
SOUTHBOUND
Bell Street and East Fifth Street
WESTBOUND
East Fifth Street and Bell Street
Passed, approved, and adopted this - day of
2004.
Attest:
Jeanne F. Schneider, CMC, City Clerk
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, BY MODIFYING SUBSECTION (b) OF
SECTION 32-216 THEREOF PROVIDING FOR THE DELETION OF A
YIELD SIGN AT THE INTERSECTION OF EAST FIFTH STREET AND
BELL STREET
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. That the Code of Ordinances of the City of Dubuque,
Iowa, be amended by deleting East Fifth Street from Subsection (b) of
Section 32-216 thereof as follows:
"Sec. 32-216. Yield Intersections.
(b)
* * *
(3) Eastbound Vehicles
Fifth Street, East, and Bell Street
Passed, approved, and adopted this - day of
2004.
Attest:
Jeanne F. Schneider, CMC, City Clerk
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MEMORANDUM
June 28, 2004
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Signage on 5th & Bell Streets
An evaluation of the existing traffic control at the intersection of 5th and Bell Streets was
conducted by the City Engineering staff. Acting Public Works Director/City Engineer
Gus Psihoyos is recommending that stop signs be authorized for east and west traffic
on 5th Street and that Bell Street traffic be allowed to proceed without any stop or yield
signs. The intersection would be monitored for any future need for a 4-way stop sign.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Michc!el C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, Acting Public Works Director/City Engineer
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MEMORANDUM
June 25, 2004
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, Acting Public Works Director ~(:;;:?
TO:
SUBJECT: Signage on 5th & Bell Streets
INTRODUCTION
Engineering staff has been requested to reevaluate the existing traffic control at
the intersection of 5th and Bell Streets.
DISCUSSION
At the City Council meeting of November 4, 2002, Engineering staff
recommended a traffic control configuration that was approved and is currently in
place. The City Code requires vehicles southbound on Bell and westbound on
5th to stop. Vehicles eastbound on 5th Street are required to "yield". Northbound
traffic on Bell has the right-of-way over all other traffic. This particular
configuration is recognized and approved by the Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD, published by the US Department of
Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, constitutes the manual and
specifications for a uniform system of traffic control devices for use upon
highways and streets and has been adopted by the Iowa Code. The current
traffic control at 5th and Bell allows for the major traffic movements to occur with
minor disruption and delay at the intersection. The major traffic volume
movements are eastbound 5th Street, turning right onto Bell, and northbound Bell
Street turning left onto 5th Street.
Recently, concern has been expressed that due to the number of tourists and
visitors in this area that this particular configuration is confusing to some
motorists. Again the current set-up was recommended to allow major traffic
movements to occur with as little disruption as possible.
Page 2
June 25, 2004
Staff was asked to evaluate the need for a four-way stop condition. The MUTCD
provides that the following criteria should be considered in the engineering study
for a multiway STOP sign installation.
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 5 or more reported crashes in a 12"
month period that are susceptible to correction by a multiway stop
installation. Such crashes include right- and left-turn collisions as well
as right-angle collisions.
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..."
Upon completion of traffic counts and a review of accident reports, it appears that
the intersection does not meet any of the warrants as described in the MUTCD
for multi-stop traffic control.
The traffic counts performed by Engineering indicate a daily volume of 1,356
vehicles on 5th Street and 1,056 vehicles on Bell Street. These numbers are well
below those that should be considered for a four-way stop installation.
A review of the Police Department accident reports indicates that one accident
has occurred at the intersection since the current traffic control devices were
installed on November 12, 2002.
The installation of a two-way stop at the intersection requiring the traffic on 5th
Street to stop for traffic on Bell Street would be the preferred method of
controlling traffic.
Page 3
June 25, 2004
The advantages are:
1. Not requiring all vehicles approaching the intersection to stop, thus
reducing noise and vehicle emission pollution, as well as delay to at least
half the vehicles entering the intersection.
2. By stopping traffic on 5th Street, the eastbound vehicles will be required by
signage to do what they are already required to do by law if no control was
present; i.e., to yield to the vehicle on the right.
3. Allowing Bell Street to function as a through street. During special events,
Bell Street will carry the majority of the traffic especially at the conclusion
of large events when all vehicles will likely be departing at the same time.
This will become more of a factor when the Alliant Amphitheater is in use.
RECOMMENDATION
Due to the inevitable development in the area, it is understood that traffic
dynamics will change and a four-way stop may be warranted at some time in the
future. At this time, I would recommend a two-way stop requiring traffic on 5th
Street to stop at Bell. .
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
The City Council is requested to pass the attached ordinances requiring traffic on
East Fifth Street to stop for traffic on Bell Street.
Prepared by Bill Schlickman, Traffic Engineering