Fredericksburg City Council voted 4 to 3 on January 10, 2017, to decommission traffic signals at five intersections, and install alternate means of traffic control.
Councilor Billy Withers, Ward 2, Charlie Fry, Ward 4, and Kerry Devine, At Large, voted against the resolution. They wanted the Fall Hill Avenue/Germania Street signal to be left in service.
City staff worked with traffic engineering firm A. Morton Thomas and Associates to study the continuing need for traffic signals at the five intersections. The signals are aging, replacement parts are hard to come by, and new signals are expensive.
The study concluded the signals at all five intersections are not currently warranted, and recommended that the signals be decommissioned.
The intersections and the alternate traffic controls are:
1 – Hanover Street/Littlepage Street – change to a four way stop.
2 – Hanover Street/Kenmore Avenue – change to a four way stop.
3 – William Street/Littlepage Street – Provide William Street traffic the right of way through the intersection; install stop signs on the Littlepage Street approaches.
4 – Fall Hill Avenue/Germania Street – Provide Fall Hill Avenue traffic the right of way through the intersection; install stop sign on Germania Street approach west bound. (There is no fourth approach to the intersection.)
5 – Princess Anne Street/ Canal Street – Provide Princess Anne Street traffic the right of way through the intersection; install a stop sign on Canal Street east bound (coming from the Dorothy Hart
Community Center); convert the block of Canal Street between Princess Anne Street and Caroline Street to one way traffic east bound. A separate public hearing will be held on February 14, on the conversion of the traffic flow on the block of Canal Street between Princess Anne Street and Caroline Street to one-way traffic east bound,
City staff estimates the total cost of decommissioning the signals is $25,000. “These funds will be used for signs, eradication of existing pavement markings, installation of new pavement markings, and such,” said Doug Fawcett, director of Public Works.
The signals will be decommissioned sequentially as listed above, beginning in March 2017. Notice will be given to the public. The signals will be left in place for a short time, while the results are monitored.
“I’m certainly comfortable going forward, knowing that we are going to monitor this closely,” said Council Member Tim Duffy, Ward 3.
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City Proposes Removal of Traffic Signals at Five Intersections
