23 - Downtown Stop Sign StudyItem No. 23
TO: Mayor, Mayor Pro -Tem and City Council
Grayson Path, City Manager
FROM: Andrew Mack, AICP Director Planning & Community Development
Cheri Bedford, Main Street Coordinator & Historic Preservation Officer
SUBJECT: Presentation on 90 Day Downtown Stop Sign Study
MTG. DATE: December 12, 2022
Presentation Report Summar
The following points are summarized in this report regarding the collaborative implementation
between the City of Paris, TxDOT Paris District Offices, and the Lamar County Chamber of
Commerce. This was a temporary measure to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of replacing
traffic control signals at the downtown square with stop signs between January 12, 2022 and
April 13, 2022. The following topics will be discussed in this memo:
1. Scope of the 90 Day Stop Sign Study
2. Joint Work Session between the City Council, Main Street Advisory Board, Traffic
Commission Advisory Board, TxDOT & Lamar County Chamber of Commerce
3. Public Awareness Campaign
4. Intent of study: partial test of Toole Downtown Plan recommendations — Signalized
Stop Lights v. Stop Signs
5. Expanded scope of study as required by TxDOT from 3rd SE to 8d' SE
6. Cost of materials & labor for study
7. Follow up meeting discussions with TxDOT
8. Accident report statistics
9. TxDOT Public Survey Results
10. Next Steps
Report Background and Anal °sis
Items #1 and #2 — Scone and Joint Work Session
In late 2021, City Staff and TxDOT representatives met to discuss implementation strategies
for the possible reversion of the long standing one-way traffic pair system of State Highway
Roads going into, out of and within the Downtown Square (North/South and East/West), to
Page 1 of 5
two-way traffic. The one-way pair system was devised nearly 80 years ago to help move traffic
through the downtown square as the community developed and expanded over time. Priority
was given to the most efficient and safe way to move vehicular traffic through the area with an
emphasis on improving the level of service along the State Trunk Highway System (Business
82 and Business 271). This was also around the time the loop system around the city was being
planned and constructed to accommodate growth and relieve traffic pressures through the
downtown area.
The adopted Toole Design Downtown plan by the City recommended that stop signs be
installed to replace the traffic signals along the one-way pair system. At that time, TxDOT
officials expressed concern over the anticipated drop in levels of service for these areas
resulting in traffic backups (from eliminating the `platooning' effects at intersections where
lights currently are timed and sequenced) by permanently replacing lights with stop signs. This
was a big part of the community input and participation by the public with the consultant and
hence the recommended implementation action step in the downtown plan. As a result of these
concerns, the idea was conceived to temporarily replace the 4 traffic control signals around the
square with stop signs as a trial. TxDOT informed staff that it would have to be for a minimum
period of 90 days, the traffic signals would be switched to blink red, and stop signs would have
to be placed on both sides of the streets thereby doubling the number of signs required. From
there a joint work -session with the City Council, Main Street Advisory Board and Traffic
Commission was held to discuss the plan on 10/5/21 (please see attached staff memo dated
10/5/21). From there the plan map was prepared and the City Council approved the
implementation of the temporary study at its 10/25/21 regular meeting.
Item #3 — Public Awarenessm CampaiL
The city staff worked with the Texas A & M Commerce Public Relations 2021 Fall Class, led
by Professor Tim Carroll, to develop a plan for public outreach. The class provided several
ideas that were utilized:
• Develop a slogan, "Stop, Look and Be Safe" was adopted.
• Reach out to area school administration to inform the students, bus drivers and teachers.
• Chamber of Commerce developed a flyer in partnership with TxDOT, Main Street and
City of Paris that was placed inside store fronts, and used on social media.
• Chamber of Commerce sent out information to all their membership.
• Two weeks in advance of the study, electronic informational traffic signs were set
between 8t' and 6t' SE as well as on S. Main near Bywaters Park with anticipated dates
of the study.
• Several press releases were sent before the study and one after the study.
• A city of Paris webpage was created, dedicated to the study.
• Facebook posts were created.
• Radio interviews were conducted.
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4 y
Item ITITm - Intent o Stu „ µm-ITToole Desg,Downtown mmPlan
The Toole Design Study was conducted in 2018. While the Toole Design Study called for a
reversion from one-way traffic to two-way traffic with stop signs, in consultation with TxDOT,
it was determined financially and practically infeasible to temporarily test two-way traffic.
Therefore, in a good faith effort to test some of the study recommendations, the "Stop, Look
and Be Safe" stop sign study on one-way traffic was conceived. Had we been able to feasibly
test temporary two-way traffic, we may be able to assume the outcome of the study would have
been different. For more information on the Tool Design Plan's stop sign recommendations,
please see pages 11-13 of the Plan.
Item..#5 Expanded,Scol)e of Study.b . TxWT
While the initial discussions of scope of the study was to add stop signs to the four corners of
the plaza, the City suggested that we include the intersections at 3rd SE. The reasoning for this
was 3rd SE marks the entering into the plaza along Lamar Avenue, the exiting of the plaza
along Clarksville Street, and to address the parking row in front of downtown businesses.
However due to concerns of traffic stacking up at the intersection of 3rd SE, thereby potentially
blocking nearby businesses, it was advised by TxDOT to extend the boundaries to 8a' SE.
TxDOT informed city staff that stop signs could be removed during the study if they proved
unnecessary or if problems arose, however additional signage (expansion) would not be added.
From our observation, Lamar Avenue did not appear to experience any stacking of traffic at
any of the intersections. With this, upon hindsight, the stop signs at 6d' and 8d' SE could have
been removed.
Item #6 — Costs
The following are costs and staff time estimates for all participating partners:
• $16,000 in temporary stop signs
• Brochure design & layout production costs (no charge)
• Approximate Labor Hours: 120 (Chamber 20, TxDOT 30, City 70)
o Meetings, maps, reports, traffic counts, stop signs set up, maintenance &
removal, etc.
o Monitoring of side street degradation due to possible increased traffic flow
avoiding the plaza.
o Installing and relocating the traffic counters.
o Resetting signs due to high winds, tampering, damage, etc.
o Final removal.
Item #7 — Followm pR discussions
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After completion of the study and removal of the temporary stop signs in mid-April, a number
of follow up meetings between city staff and TxDOT officials were held to assess the results
of the study. This was a time consuming and lengthy process. One of the first conclusions that
TxDOT arrived at was that the traffic control signals were not able to be removed from the 4
intersections on the square irrespective of the stop study. The stated reasons at that time were
two -fold. First it was concluded by TxDOT that pedestrians would be safer with signalized
crosswalks at intersections vs. the unprotected walk without a signal. Second, it was stated that
the Paris' downtown signals were the first in the state to receive audible crossing technology
and they could not allow this provision for visually -impaired pedestrians to be removed. It
was upon these two primary considerations that 1) stop signs would not be approved as a
replacement for the traffic control signals, and 2) the signals would require upgrade in order to
accommodate the reversion for two-way vehicular travel. Had these two pedestrian -related
issues been brought up prior, the study and expense might not have occurred.
A concern going in to the study was potential increased traffic counts on side roads as traffic
might choose to avoid the stop signs. The city's side roads are not up to the same condition as
the TxDOT roads through downtown and may, in time, degrade faster under heavier traffic
than existing. The City collected traffic count data on select roadways before and during the
study. It was concluded that no additional traffic volumes occurred during the study with the
counts consistently totaling 11,000 trips per day. Additional counts were also taken by TxDOT
on their roads during the study, but have not been provided to the City of Paris. For additional
information on traffic engineering analysis, please see the Toole Design Plan and the work
performed by AECOM in support of the downtown roadway plans.
Item#8-mAccident reiqrt_statistics
The Paris Police Department has provided an accident report for this study. The report shows
the number and severity of accidents within the scope area during the 4 months prior to the
study, 4 months of the study, and 4 months after the study. Please see the attached report. For
questions regarding the report, please speak with the Paris Police Department.
Item #9-wTxDOT µSurvey, Results
An electronic public survey was performed by TxDOT. The survey was available on Facebook,
on the City of Paris website, and on the TxDOT website. There were approximately 2500
responses to each of the survey's questions. Due to the volume and size of the survey, we have
not attached it to the agenda, but it is available to anyone who requests it.
In conversations city staff have had, the Chamber of Commerce, the Paris Downtown
Association, the Main Street Advisory Board, and the Historic Preservation Commission are
all in support of the stop signs and the Toole Plan recommendations as adopted.
Item #10 — Pro'ect Summar ym _& Next Steps
Page 4 of 5
It is our recommendation that we continue to work with our TxDOT partners, Main Street
Advisory Board, and Traffic Commission to identify the most feasible means to implement the
two-way traffic reversion plans assuming that traffic controls remain at the square. Many more
discussions need to take place to determine what options we may have. This may even include
revisiting the Toole Design Study to update it given the work that has occurred downtown
since 2018; something that must be done in close partnership with TxDOT.
On more positive notes, as a result of the Plan 4 Health Conference held in Paris this past
August, a number of short-term low cost measures are being explored to help calm and slow
traffic through the immediate downtown area. This would employ the use of vertical
delineators in the stripping gore areas along the sidewalks where curb extension eyebrows will
someday be reconstructed with enlarged sidewalk/planting/dining areas. This will result in
safer travel distances at intersections. TxDOT has expressed a willingness to allow these
devices to be installed. They have also agreed to allow the City to create design changes to
the crosswalks that would look similar to the stamped and stained brick designs on Church
Street that could be added to the existing street paved surface. TxDOT has also agreed to a
trial exercise for the temporary improvement of back in parking to the existing angled parking
areas on one side of the square. This has been tried successfully in other community's in Texas
and other states. This was also an outcome recommendation from the Plan 4 Health Conference
as a part of the walk audits that were conducted in our downtown area and recommended by
the keynote speaker Mr. Mark Fenton.
Page 5 of 5
Richard Salter 2910 Clarksville Street, Paris Texas 75460
Chief of Police 903-784-6688 Office 903-783-4710 Fax
Randy Tuttle
Asst Chief of Police
As results of below detailed traffic study; 6 accident occurred.
Data was compiled to reflect the same intersections 4 months before and 4 months after.
The 90day study is beingconducted by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the
City of Pais. The installation of two stop signs at each intersection, In addition rt to changing the
existing traffic signals to Dashing red will begin on the ptaza around 9:00 a.m., on Wednesday,
January 12, 202Z The stop signs will remain in place through April 13, 2922.
StreetBPI Street SE and continue ba, the Irt and
signs for motorist going east to downtown Will begin at the intersection of Grand Aveand 111� Stree
SK and,00ntinuing to 31" Street SE and Clarksvitle Stre�el. The streets will remain one way at this
Rite.
Vehicle Persons
Injury Severity
V a t rmus:*,c Svvtwfl f;;Ode w enkoad os a WVW-fto nurnenc char ter betomen 0 and A incapacitaUng
7, whem 0 rep We [out damepond 7 the Y t t, It a yohiclot Non Incapacitating
Possible Injury
ftwublo d0rr 4 a 'T Mlfig shote bo toportod, T V roti K stilled
to 004WS4 VAth POO&SVISAS of wyd" W t I,. ors. N Not Injured
Notes:
1. Injury code 'U' = unknown -hit and run
2. If more than one passenger in a vehicle was injured; all codes greater than 'N' are listed
(Example B, B = two people in vehicle reported Non Incapacitating Injury)
3. Vehicle with 4, 3 means vehicle was damaged in two separate areas.
Any questions: Email awebb�.v1, �aristexas,.,.,,ov or Call 903-737-4113
Alice Webb - Records Clerk - Paris Police Department
......�-.
4 Months Before Study0910112021
T ...... .
w_ wwww .. w
1
20212T986
0912312021 19:11
10 Lamar Ave
1
1
N
N
2
202135687
1210812021 09.27
100 Lamar Ave
3
4
N
N
Stud _..�
0 111212022 Thru 0411312022
Incident
Date & Time
Location
1
202207907
0312412022 21:07
101 Lamar Ave
2
1
N
N
2
202208220
0312812022 08:28
100 Clarksville St
1
2
N
C
3
202204001
02/1212022 16:58
200 Lamar Ave
6
4
N
N
4
207202907
02/01i2022 12:01 -
fi00 Lamar Ave
1
2N
�._
N
5
202204992
02/2312022 10:15
600 Lamar Ave
1
1
N
N
6
202207595
0312112022 15:23
800 Lamar Ave
1
2
N
N
4 Months After Study,
05101/2022 Thru 08/31/2022
1
202222288
08/0712022 16:35
10 Lamar Ave
_4......
4,3 W
2
202212711
05!0912022 13:16
100 Grand Ave
1
2
U
C
3
202215970
06/0912022 11:59
200 Lamar Ave_
3
1
N
N
4
202219281
.L ...0710912022 15:17
300 Lamar Ave �.i
2
2
mm
N
C
Injury Severity
V a t rmus:*,c Svvtwfl f;;Ode w enkoad os a WVW-fto nurnenc char ter betomen 0 and A incapacitaUng
7, whem 0 rep We [out damepond 7 the Y t t, It a yohiclot Non Incapacitating
Possible Injury
ftwublo d0rr 4 a 'T Mlfig shote bo toportod, T V roti K stilled
to 004WS4 VAth POO&SVISAS of wyd" W t I,. ors. N Not Injured
Notes:
1. Injury code 'U' = unknown -hit and run
2. If more than one passenger in a vehicle was injured; all codes greater than 'N' are listed
(Example B, B = two people in vehicle reported Non Incapacitating Injury)
3. Vehicle with 4, 3 means vehicle was damaged in two separate areas.
Any questions: Email awebb�.v1, �aristexas,.,.,,ov or Call 903-737-4113
Alice Webb - Records Clerk - Paris Police Department