To

Mayor and Council

Subject

Cherokee Avenue - Re-striping and Safety Improvements

Initiator

Engineering Department

Recommendation

Approval is requested to authorize the re-striping of Cherokee Avenue as a \n \n four-lane roadway with traffic safety improvements.

Approval

Approved

Background

Cherokee Avenue has been studied to provide traffic safety improvements from

Garrard Street north to Camille Avenue to reduce the potential for traffic

accidents with vehicles ending up in Weracoba Creek. Traffic safety

improvements were considered to include channelizing the creek, installing

guardrail, installing a three-lane section with reversible lanes, re-striping

as a three-lane section with a clear zone buffer next to the creek to

continuing the roadway as a four-lane roadway.

Analysis

During this evaluation period, a public information hearing was held to include

considerable discussion involving the pros and cons of various alternatives.

Concurrently, with the discussion period, there has been significant utility

work that limited the use of all lanes during construction. The construction

projects are nearing completion with asphalt resurfacing ready to begin.



Knowing that the 2007 school year begins the second week of August, it is

important to place this street back into operation prior to opening day of

school. To accomplish this goal, the City Manager recommends re-striping

Cherokee Avenue as a four-lane roadway with certain interim traffic safety

improvements. These improvements include the reconfiguration of the Camille

Avenue at Cherokee Avenue (completed), install rumble strips at key locations

to alert motorists of roadway curvature and install a flashing light at or near

the Cherokee Avenue and Slade Drive intersection. A critical component of

these safety improvements will be a concentrated and cooperative speed

enforcement of this section of Cherokee Avenue with zero tolerance to

speeding. The speed enforcement will be provided using all of the City's

Public Safety Departments.

Financial Considerations

The re-striping and safety improvements will be implemented thru the Traffic

Engineering Division Operating budget in an amount estimated from $7,500 to

$8,500.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement

Legal Considerations

This action is being supported by a resolution approved by Council.

Recommendations/ Actions

Approved the attached resolution authorizing the re-straining of Cherokee

Avenue as a four-lane roadway with traffic safety improvements.

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