Minutes 07/16/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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107 TItlJRSI)AY, JULY 16, 1998 A special and duly-called meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, with Mayor Mark A. Crabtree presiding, was held Thursday, July 16, 1998, in the Council Chamber, City Hall, beginning at 9:00 A.M. The purpose of the meeting was a Work Session, the first portion of which was devoted to Council's attendance of a meeting of the City's Transportation Safety Commission. During the second portion of this Work Session Council received a presentation on the development plan for the former R. P. Thomas site, from the firm of Mattern and Craig of Roanoke, Virginia. The following members of Council were present: Dr. Mark A. Crabtree, Mayor; M. Gene Teague, Vice-Mayor; Bruce H. T. Dallas; Elizabeth H. Haskell; and Terry L. Roop. The purpose of Council's attendance of the Transportation Safety Commission meeting was to hear a report on the results of a traffic study conducted by the engineering firm of Mattern and Craig, presented by Mr. Gene Cress. The study area involved three intersections in the City: Spruce Street at Sprucedale Drive, Brookdale Street at Sprucedale Drive, and Brookdale Street at Spruce Street. Information was presented and discussion was held on the subjects of traffic and accident data in these areas, field observations, and analysis and evaluation of the information gathered. Mr. Cress noted that there had been forty-six accidents within the study area during the period 1995-1997, that 85% of these accidents had occurred at two intersections, and that of these accidents 24 had occurred at the intersection of Brookdale and Sprucedale and 15 had occurred at Brookdale and Spruce. Mr. Cress also noted that some 90% of the accidents at these two intersections were right-angle, or broadside accidents, and that about 40% of those involved in the accidents at Brookdale and Sprucedale were senior citizens above the age of 60. Traffic volume figures showed that the highest traffic volumes in the area occurred during the period between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. each day, with recent readings during this period of 797 vehicles on Brookdale, 786 vehicles on Spruce and 272 vehicles on Sprucedale. Mr. Cress stated that, based on this information and other observations, installation of a traffic signal was not warranted at the intersection of Spruce Street and Sprucedale Drive, but that installation of signals were warranted at the intersections of Brookdale Street at Sprucedale Drive and Brookdale Street at