Title
Discussion: Nicholson Drive Traffic Study Results.
Executive Summary: This study by MS Consultants was initiated after a safety study petition was submitted in late September of 2013 to study the "cut-through"/non-destination volumes, speeds and traffic concerns on Nicholson Drive from Streetsboro Street (SR 303) to Barlow Road in the City of Hudson.
Body
Legislative History
No prior legislative history exists on this study.
Purpose & Explanation
In the spring 2013 the City of Hudson's Engineering Department received a petition to provide costs for a variety of infrastructure improvement along the Nicholson Drive corridor. After receiving the results a request was made to Council to undertake the improvements. No further action was taken as there were mixed opinions of the home owners regarding the need for the improvements. The Engineering Department was requested to undertake a traffic study along the Nicholson Drive corridor. MS Consultants was selected to perform the study. The following are the recommendations and conclusions of that study:
Ø With one exception, Nicholson Drive meets the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Location & Design (L&D) Manual and the City of Hudson Land Development Code criteria for a 25-mph design criteria for horizontal curvature, vertical curvature, intersection sight distance, and intersection alignment.
o One sag curve south of Heritage Court only meets L&D criteria for 23.5 mph
Ø Traffic volumes on Nicholson Drive average between 700-1,000 vehicles per day, with higher volumes at the northern portion of the street
Ø Approximately 10 trucks per day use Nicholson Drive, representing less than 2% of traffic volumes
Ø Approximately 10 school buses per day use Nicholson Drive
Ø One crash (vehicle struck mailbox) has occurred on Nicholson Drive in the past 3 years
Ø Average speeds on Nicholson Drive nearly match the posted 25-mph speed limit. 85th-percentile speeds are generally near 30 miles per hour.
Ø The existing multi-way stop control intersections of Nicholson Drive/Heritage Court and Nicholson Drive/Williamsburg Circle do not meet Ohio Manual of Traffic Control Devices (OMUTCD) criteria for multi-way stops.
o Removal of these multi-way stop signs is unlikely to increase vehicle speeds
Ø Origin-destination studies indicate approximately 80 daily "cut-through" trips use Nicholson Drive.
o This represents about 10% of overall traffic volume
o No "cut-through" heavy trucks were counted
Based on the above findings, no major safety or operational issues are occurring on Nicholson Drive. The street experiences traffic volumes and speeds that are typical for a 25‐mph residential subdivision street. Therefore, no actions to slow speeds, or to "calm traffic", are recommended at this time.
Generally signed truck prohibitions are noted by street segment in section 410.08. Nicholson Drive is not noted in section 410.08. There are existing signs prohibiting trucks posted at both ends of Nicholson Drive which according to the MS Consultants study can remain. A review of Hudson City Codified Ordinance Section 440.01 (c), indicates that through trucks exceeding 5 tons are prohibited on local roads. Nicholson Drive, according to the City of Hudson Comprehensive Plan, is a local road. The Engineering Department disagrees with the study's recommendation as we believe it is inconsistent with typical application in the City of Hudson. The Engineering Department recommends removal of the truck prohibition signs.
The unwarranted multi-way stop signs on Nicholson Drive at Heritage Court and at Williamsburg Circle are recommended for removal by MS Consultants. These two intersections are recommended to operate in a manner that only the minor street is under stop control. Vegetation on the southeast corner of the Nicholson Drive/Williamsburg Circle intersection should be monitored to ensure adequate sight distance is maintained.
Timing Considerations
If City Council approves legislation, the stop and truck prohibition sign removals could be accomplished with 90 days following the legislative action of Council.
Fiscal Impact
Currently Budgeted
Supplemental Appropriation Required
X Appropriation Not Required.
Recommendation
Suggested Action
As a result of the study two unwarranted multi-way stop locations were discovered. It is unclear how or why these stop conditions were installed, most likely prior to the City merger. Additionally Nicholson Drive has truck prohibition signage at each end of the road that are redundant per the City's codified ordinances (See the explanation above). It is the Engineering Departments recommendation that the multi-way stops be removed and the minor side streets retain their stop signs with signs alerting motorist of the change; and the truck prohibition signs be removed. Based on the findings of this study, no additional actions related to traffic or speed on Nicholson Drive are recommended at this time.
Submitted by,
Jane Howington, City Manager
Scott Schroyer, Assistant City Manager
Thomas J. Sheridan, PE, PS, City Engineer
Christopher J. Papp, PE, Project Manager