City of Lawrence

TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DIVISION

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:              Charles Soules, Director of Public Works

                  

FROM:         David Woosley, Transportation/Traffic Engineer

 

DATE:           4 January 2007

 

SUBJECT:     Traffic Safety Commission, November 6, 2006

11th Street between New Jersey Street and New York Street

 

 

At the November 6, 2006, Traffic Safety Commission meeting, the commission heard a request to construct a MID-BLOCK PEDESTRIAN-ACTIVATED TRAFFIC SIGNAL on 11th Street between New Jersey Street and New York Street, due to difficulty that students and other neighborhood residents have crossing 11th Street.

 

This issue has been reviewed for several months.  This recommendation is supported by the East Lawrence Neighborhood Association, New York Elementary School PTO, the After School Program, the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, and the Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

 

The commission recommended, on a 6-2 vote, to construct the traffic signal.  Commission Chair Hamby opposed the request because it does not meet national established warrants for a mid-block traffic signal; Commissioner Woods opposed the request because he thought placing it adjacent to the alley would be a disaster and it wouldn’t get used very much.  The estimated cost for the traffic signal and necessary sidewalk construction is approximately $30,000.

 

Action Requested:  Approve the construction of a mid-block pedestrian-activated traffic signal on 11th Street between New Jersey Street and New York Street, as appropriate

 

 

Note:  This project is not budgeted in 2007.  Project will be paid from contingency funds.