TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: Eric J. Gallt, City Traffic Engineer
DATE: February 13, 2015
SUBJECT:title
A Traffic Study for Halsted Court. Ward 9, Alderman Bugg.
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PURPOSE:
To determine the need for a NO OUTLET sign at the entrance to Halsted Court, the entrance located at the intersection of Hobson Lane and Halsted Lane.
BACKGROUND:
A Resident notified Alderman Bugg who filed ACR Case ID 108847, expressing the Resident's desire to reduce the volume of lost or confused drivers who have entered Halsted Court unaware they have entered a Dead End. The Resident maintains that mitigating these lost divers will have the effect of lessening traffic on Halsted Court and thus improve the quality of life for its Residents. All streets are classified Residential with an established Speed Limit of 25mph.
DISCUSSION:
The intersection has Halsted Lane and Halsted Court both running in a straight line east and west, with Hobson Lane coming in from the north. Drivers traveling west on Halsted Lane have no warning they are entering a Court with no exit, other than the Hobson Lane street sign. Perhaps even experienced Residents traveling west on Halsted Lane occasionally forget to make the right-hand turn onto Hobson Lane, and are surprised they must turn around when they meet the end of Halsted Court. It may be an easy mistake even for semi-experienced delivery-truck drivers not completely familiar enough with the Court to miss the turn onto Hobson Lane. Traffic volumes have not been measured on Halsted Court as it would be almost impossible to determine which vehicles live there vs. which are lost and turn around. Nevertheless, a NO OUTLET sign may be in order simply because of the roadway geometry: Halsted Lane does run straight on into Halsted Court with no substantial warning other than driver experience.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Street Department will be responsible for the installation of the NO OUTLET sign at the entrance to Halsted Court.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends installing a NO OUTLET sign at the entrance to Halsted Court .
cc: Alderman Hart-Burns, Chairman
Alderman Johnson
Alderman Mesiacos
Alderman Mervine, Alternate