As members of Council are aware, several all-way stop sign installations exist in various locations in the city. In many locations, the all-way stop sign installations were preceded by an engineering and crash data analysis in order to determine if the installation met the warrant requirements of the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD is accepted as the standard for traffic control devices in the United States and allows for all-way stop signs to be installed at roadway intersections where all-way stop control would improve traffic operational characteristics or where the characteristic of the intersection is hindered by site restrictions, pedestrian conflicts, and where similar traffic volumes are equal from each approach to the intersection.
Subsequent to staff being informed that a school age child was almost hit by a vehicle turning onto Madison Street off of Massachusetts Avenue, staff performed a seven-day traffic study. The data collected identified 37,665 vehicles traveling on Madison Street and 39,360 vehicles traveling on Massachusetts Avenue during the seven-day traffic study.
In addition to the traffic study data collection, staff contracted with Florida Design Consultants to review the data collected and identify possible regulatory solutions for staff to implement. Their report concluded that the intersection at this current state, met three (3) of the five (5) warrants identified in the MUTCD and that an all-way stop sign intersection at Madison Street and Massachusetts Avenue should be installed. Warrants that were met included crash experience. There were six (6) reported crashes in a 12-month period, five (5) of which could have been avoided with the installation of an all-way stop. 13 reported crashes at the intersection over a three (3) years span; seven (7) were of the type susceptible to correction by the installation of an all-way stop. The warrant for eight (8) hour volumes including vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles was met for Massachusetts Avenue. The total average was 417 vehicles within the eight (8) hour time frame. The criterion for the warrant is 300 vehicles. Included in the same warrant Madison Street had a total average of 297 vehicles within the eight (8) hour time frame. The criteria for the minor road are 200 vehicles. Finally, the warrant for other factors took into account that Richey Elementary is less than 1,000’ from the intersection and functions as a pedestrian attractor and that an all-way stop sign intersection at Madison Street and Massachusetts Avenue should be installed.