Traffic Calming

Map of traffic calming recommendations for Blueridge Road

• Possible traffic calming meausres
• Online comment card

Traffic Calming Request and Petition (Fall 2017 through Spring 2018)

During the fall of 2017, planning staff received requests for traffic calming measures along Cobblestone Drive from three residents of the street, each of whom noted safety concerns related to excessive speeding on Cobblestone Drive and the desire for a traffic calming solution, such as speed bumps or tables. David Resnik submitted a formal request through the Residential Traffic Management Plan related to these concerns on October 19th, 2017.

A completed petition with over 75 percent signatures was submitted on May 5, 2018. Mr. Resnik moved out of the neighborhood and Stephanie Wade became the petition point of contact in August 2018. 

Data Collection and Analysis (Fall 2018 through Spring 2019)

Two-way, 96-hour traffic and speed counts for two mid-block locations along Cobblestone Drive were conducted November 14-17, 2018.

For both locations, the 85th percentile speed was approximately 37 MPH, significantly in excess of the 25-mph speed limit. The counts indicated that on the north end (near 130 Cobblestone Drive) over 50 percent of vehicles were traveling above the posted speed limit, and on the south end (near 116 Cobblestone Drive) this percent rises to higher than 70 percent. Traffic volumes of 554 and 558 vehicles at the two counter locations are within the expected range (200 to 800 vehicles per day) for this type of subcollector street.

The Residential Traffic Management Plan includes scoring criteria that are used to identify community actions (primarily Stage 1) or street improvements (Stage 2) that can be used to calm traffic on Town streets. The criteria include volume and speed, pedestrian and bicycle volumes, the presence of bus stops (both school and public), distance to a pedestrian generator. Additional points are provided for higher volumes and vehicle speeds. Due to the high vehicle speeds, Cobblestone Drive reached the threshold for Stage 2.

The Board of Aldermen considered the request and directed staff to proceed to Stage 2 improvements and to work diligently to install some improvements before the fall school schedule commenced. The Board’s agenda materials and minutes, including the staff report, can be reviewed online.

In relation to the opening of the new Phase 1B/CHHS-Homestead Road multi-use path, exploration of a ‘bicycle boulevard’ through Cobblestone to Claremont South and the multi-use path was also requested.

Pilot Project (began Summer 2019)

A pilot design that incorporates traffic calming features (i.e. 3 chicanes and 1 speed bump) to reduce vehicle speeds along the street, and bicycle route designation (i.e. painted sharrows and bicycle route wayfinding signage using the town’s new wayfinding sign style) was developed and was installed last week so they’d be in place as we move into the regular season of the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools and UNC-Chapel Hill.

In addition to the comments that are being received, speed and volume counts to evaluate travel behavior with the pilot improvements in place will be taken in early September. Staff will evaluate the findings of the counts, develop the final Stage 2 traffic calming plan, and schedule the follow-up review by the Transportation Advisory Board and the Board of Aldermen. A drop-in session to share that information in the neighborhood in late September will also be offered. Mailed notice, per the RTMP process, will go out to all properties within the area of influence in advance of the TAB and Board meetings.