City Council Minutes 2015 01 20 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes January 6, 2015 Page 11 of 18 Mayor Muckle requested a staff presentation. Public Works Director Kowar updated Council on the options available regarding the crosswalk at the McCaslin/Washington intersection. Since the opening of the underpass, there have been numerous discussions regarding the necessity of the at- grade crossing and concern that maintaining the crosswalk creates an unsafe condition. Many comments received by the City have been to remove the crosswalk and direct pedestrians to the newly constructed underpass. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) suggests this intersection should be marked with a crosswalk. It is important to follow the MUTCD to create consistent traffic control throughout the City. Unique, customized solutions confuse motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. Staff is concerned that a non - standard solution at the McCaslin and Washington intersection would establish an inappropriate precedent suggesting pedestrians crossings in similar situations elsewhere need to be discouraged from crossing when they have the legal right to cross. He asked if the City should remove the crosswalk marking and install warning signs advising the use of the underpass. The crosswalk could give a false sense of security and lead to more people using it instead of the underpass. Or, should the City leave the crosswalk marking in place and install warning signs. Some people will still cross and the warning signs would alert drivers they may encounter pedestrians and be prepared to yield. PUBLIC COMMENT Terre Rushton, 671 W. Ash Street, Louisville, CO stated she originally opposed the underpass because of the expense, but she is now a proponent. She stated it is not about urban planning or about making Louisville more pedestrian /bicyclist friendly or how to mark the intersection, it is about safety. The City Council constructed the underpass because they felt it was the safest way to provide a crossing for pedestrians or bicyclists. There was discussion of a traffic signal at the intersection however the City staff was opposed because the steep grade on McCaslin would make it difficult for northbound traffic to stop in icy or wet conditions. The underpass is well designed, well - lit and provides a safe crossing. She referred to CDOT research on crosswalks, which indicate when traffic volumes and speed increase at a marked intersection, pedestrian accidents increase more at marked crosswalks than unmarked crosswalks. She stated the speed limit on McCaslin is 40 mph and noted traffic volumes have increased because many drivers are using McCaslin to avoid traffic congestion on US 36. She stated the question of do we want a marked crosswalk or not, should instead be the most effective measure to help pedestrians cross the street. Crosswalks are not considered safety devices and are not used to stop traffic.