City of Lawrence
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DIVISION
MEMORANDUM
TO: Charles Soules, Director of Public Works
FROM: David Woosley, Transportation/Traffic Engineer
DATE: 14 March 2007
SUBJECT: Traffic Safety Commission, March 5, 2007
27th Street & Sawgrass Drive
Agenda Item No. 2
At the March 5, 2007, Traffic Safety Commission meeting, the commission heard a request to improve safety at the 27th Street recreational path crossing at Sawgrass Drive. The view for southbound drivers on Sawgrass Drive approaching the recreational path along 27th Street is obscured by an iron fence on private property when stopped in advance of the crosswalk; this is not a problem for approaching pedestrians, but can be a problem for approaching bicycles. The iron fence does not violate any city ordinance. A STOP sign could be installed for bicyclists on the recreational path; this would not improve sight distance so improved safety would only be as good as obedience to the STOP sign. Another alternative would be to relocate the recreational path closer to 27th Street; this would give southbound traffic a clear view of approaching bicyclists when stopped in advance of the crosswalk. The TSC had heard this request at their August 2006 meeting and requested that staff meet with the homeowners association to find out if they would be interested in relocating their fence. Staff did meet with the president of the association; he relayed that at a recent board meeting, they determined that they were not interested in relocating the fence.
The Traffic Safety Commission came to the consensus that bicyclists need to ride defensively when approaching this intersection and that relocating the path would not be the best use of the city’s money. The commission voted 6-1 to deny the original request.
Attach: Background Materials