2834-24 Mitchell-Valley-All-Way-Stop-Report.pdf

2834-24 All-Way Stop Analysis Valley Road & Mitchell Street Township of West Orange Essex County, New Jersey December 28, 2023 Prepared For Zayibeth Carballo, PE, PLS, PP, CME, CFM, CFS Assistant Municipal Engineer Department of Public Works/Engineering Division 25 Lakeside Avenue West Orange, New Jersey 07052 Prepared By Bright View Engineering 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 109 Livingston, NJ 07039 (973) 228-0999 Joseph A. Fishinger, Jr., P.E., P.P., PTOE NJ P.E. License #46314 John J. Jahr, PTP, TSOS Certificate No.: 503 BVE Project No.: 230143

All-Way Stop Warrant Analysis Valley Road & Mitchell Street Project No.: 230143 December 28, 2023 Page 2 of 10 Table of Contents I. EXISTING CONDITIONS .......................................................................................................... 3 II. DATA COLLECTION ....................................................................................................... 5 III. ALL-WAY STOP ANALYSIS .......................................................................................... 6 IV. SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................... 9 EXHIBIT 1 – Crash Data (2018-2022) EXHIBIT 2 – Traffic Counts (November 30, 2023) 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 109 PO Box 99 Livingston, New Jersey 07039 Roseland, NJ 07068 C: (732) 236-7557 T: (973) 228-0999 F: (201) 753-3904 BrightViewEngineering.com

All-Way Stop Warrant Analysis Valley Road & Mitchell Street Project No.: 230143 December 28, 2023 Page 3 of 10 I. EXISTING CONDITIONS Multiple field investigations were conducted to obtain an inventory of existing roadway conditions, posted traffic controls, adjacent land uses, lane configurations of the roadways in the study area, and existing vehicular and pedestrian traffic patterns. The following is a brief description of the roadways: The intersection of Valley Road & Mitchell Street is a four way unsignalized intersection with a stop control on the eastbound and westbound (Mitchell Street) approaches. Valley Road is a local street under the Township of West Orange which spans 1 mile between Freeman Street and Northfield Avenue. This section of the roadway is classified as an Urban Minor Collector and is under Municipal jurisdiction per the available NJDOT Straight Line Diagram (last inventoried February 2016). There is no speed limit posted for this roadway. It is our opinion that a posted at 25 MPH speed limit is appropriate and conforms with the guidance set forth within the New Jersey Statutes Title 39. Valley Road provides an approximate pavement width of 30-ft and allows for bi-directional travel with one travel lane for each approach. On-street parking is permitted along both sides of the roadway south of the intersection with Mitchell Street. On street parking is prohibited along the southbound lane north of the intersection with Mitchell Street. The land use along Valley Road is generally residential in nature with neighborhood businesses at intersections. Mitchell Street is a local street under the Township of West Orange which spans approximately 0.74 miles between Gregory Avenue and Scotland Road. There are no NJDOT Straight-Line Diagrams available for this roadway. The speed limit on this section of Mitchell Street is posted at 25 MPH. Mitchell Street provides an approximate pavement width of 30-ft and allows for bi- directional travel with one travel lane for each approach. On-street

section of Mitchell Street is posted at 25 MPH. Mitchell Street provides an approximate pavement width of 30-ft and allows for bi- directional travel with one travel lane for each approach. On-street parking is permitted along both sides of the roadway. The land use along Mitchell Street is generally residential in nature with neighborhood businesses at intersections. 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 109 P.O. Box 99 Livingston, New Jersey 07039 Roseland, NJ 07068 C: (732) 236-7557 T: (973) 228-0999 F: (201) 753-3904 BrightViewEngineering.com

All-Way Stop Warrant Analysis Valley Road & Mitchell Street Project No.: 230143 December 28, 2023 Page 4 of 10 Figure 1 – Study Location STUDY LOCATION Valley Road & Mitchell Street FIGURE All-Way STOP Analysis Township of West Orange., Essex Co., NJ 1 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 109 PO Box 99 Livingston, New Jersey 07039 Roseland, NJ 07068 C: (732) 236-7557 T: (973) 228-0999 F: (201) 753-3904 BrightViewEngineering.com

All-Way Stop Warrant Analysis Valley Road & Mitchell Street Project No.: 230143 December 28, 2023 Page 5 of 10 II. DATA COLLECTION CRASH HISTORY DATA BVE obtained crash data through the Township of West Orange’s Police Department. We were provided with a data range from May 2018 through March 2022. These are shown in Table 1 below: Table 1 – Crash Data 5/18 to 3/22 DATE STREET CROSS STREET TYPE Circumstance 5/17/2018 Valley Road Mitchell Street Right Angle Driver Inattention 7/12/2018 Valley Road Mitchell Street Side Swipe Driver Inattention 10/18/2018 Mitchell Street Valley Road Right Angle Failed to Yield 5/8/2019 Valley Road Mitchell Street Right Angle Driver Inattention 8/5/2019 Mitchell Street Valley Road Right Angle Failed to Yield 10/03/2019 Mitchell Street Valley Road Right Angle Driver Inattention 9/1/2021 Valley Road Mitchell Street Left Turn / U Turn Improper Turning 3/14/2022 Valley Road Mitchell Street Head On Field to Yield 4/8/2022 Valley Road Mitchell Street Rear End Driver Inattention Based upon the crash data provided, we observe that approximately nine (9) incidents were reported in the study area between 2018 and 2022. The reported incidents are as follows: five (5) Right Angle, one (1) Sideswipe, one (1) Left Turn / U Turn, one (1) Head On, and one (1) Rear End . The intersection of Valley Road & Mitchell Street experienced crash frequency of approximately 2 incidents within a 12-month

eswipe, one (1) Left Turn / U Turn, one (1) Head On, and one (1) Rear End . The intersection of Valley Road & Mitchell Street experienced crash frequency of approximately 2 incidents within a 12-month period. It is important to note that during the year 2020, there is a reduced frequency of crashes likely due to COVID-19 restrictions. There are less than six (6) reported crashes in a 36-month period that are correctable by an all-way stop installation. However, there are three (3) reported “Right Angle” crash in a 2019. Right Angle crashes are susceptible to correction by an All-Way Stop installation. It is our opinion that an All- Way Stop may be considered at the study intersection to improve the operational characteristics of the roadway. TRAFFIC VOLUME DATA The traffic volume data was collected using Manual Turning Movement Counts (MTMC). Counts were conducted on Thursday, November 30, 2023, from 12:00AM to 11:59PM. Table 2 – 2023 Existing Traffic Volumes Valley Road & Mitchell Street Valley Road (NB) Valley Road (SB) Mitchell Street Mitchell Street Peak Hour (WB) (EB) of Operation L T R P L T R P L T R P L T R P 7:45AM-8:45AM 5 425 13 12 16 346 38 30 11 19 44 12 31 15 11 13 3:00PM-4:00PM 0 474 14 30 15 298 18 15 14 10 39 24 25 12 7 18 *L – Left, T – Thru, R – Right, P - Pedestrians 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 109 PO Box 99 Livingston, New Jersey 07039 Roseland, NJ 07068 C: (732) 236-7557 T: (973) 228-0999 F: (201) 753-3904 BrightViewEngineering.com

All-Way Stop Warrant Analysis Valley Road & Mitchell Street Project No.: 230143 December 28, 2023 Page 6 of 10 III. ALL-WAY STOP ANALYSIS We performed a All-Way STOP Analysis for the intersection of Valley Road & Mitchell Street following MUTCD guidelines. We identified Valley Road as the Major Street, which has higher traffic volumes and is classified as the Urban Minor Collector, while the local Valley Road is identified as the Minor Street. The approach speed of both the major street and minor street is 25 MPH which is less than the 40 MPH MUTCD guideline, thus the minimum vehicular warrants of at least 300 vehicles per hour for any 8 hours of an average day from the major street approach (total of both approaches) and at least 200 combined vehicles and pedestrian volume per hour for the same 8 hours from the minor street approach (total of both approaches). The volumes used for an All-Way Stop analysis is detailed in the table below: Table 3 – Traffic Volume Analysis for Valley Road & Mitchell Street Approach Major Minor Major Minor Time Valley Road Mitchell Street >300 MUTCD 16.1.A >200 MUTCD 16.1.B 1 3:00PM-4:00PM 817 107 YES NO 2 4:15PM-5:15PM 766 123 YES NO 3 7:45AM-8:45AM 842 131 YES NO 4 5:30PM-6:30PM 704 102 YES NO 5 2:00PM-3:00PM 583 106 YES NO 6 6:00AM-7:00AM 373 69 YES NO 7 9:00AM-10:00AM 541 88 YES NO 8 1:00PM-2:00PM

373 69 YES NO 7 9:00AM-10:00AM 541 88 YES NO 8 1:00PM-2:00PM 506 93 YES NO From this data we observe that the major approach hourly volumes do meet the hour requirements (300 veh), and the minor approach do not meet the hourly volume requirements (200 veh). Based on the MUTCD (Section 2B.16), an All-Way Stop control is not recommended where the minor approach does not meet the requirements. Additionally, the existing roadway geometry and sight distance conditions at the study intersection are insufficient due to parked vehicles at the corner of the intersection and other objects that obstruct the view. We also observed that the two streets are of similar design and operating characteristics where an All-Way Stop control would improve the safety and operation of the intersection. Based upon these other criteria, we recommend that an All-Way Stop be implemented at the intersection of Valley Road & Mitchell Street. It is our opinion that this is appropriate based upon the existing sight distance limitations, conflicting traffic, and pedestrian safety. Our recommendations are based upon the guidance presented within section 2B.14 of the MUTCD which are outlined on the following page. 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 109 PO Box 99 Livingston, New Jersey 07039 Roseland, NJ 07068 C: (732) 236-7557 T: (973) 228-0999 F: (201) 753-3904 BrightViewEngineering.com

All-Way Stop Warrant Analysis Valley Road & Mitchell Street Project No.: 230143 December 28, 2023 Page 7 of 10 We utilized the following criteria in evaluating the study location for the application of an All- Way STOP treatment. Based upon MUTCD, Section 2B.12-17, All-Way Stop Control, the following justification is provided: Section 2B.12 All-Way Stop Control Support: 01 The provisions in the following sections describe warrants for the recommended engineering study to determine all-way stop control. Warrants are not a substitute for engineering judgment. The fact that a warrant for a particular traffic control device is met is not conclusive justification to install or not install all-way stop control. Because each intersection will have unique characteristics that affect its operational performance or safety, it is the engineering study for a given intersection that is ultimately the basis for a decision to install or not install all-way stop control. 02 All-way stop controls at intersections with substantially differing approach volumes can reduce the effectiveness of these devices for all roadway users. Guidance: 03 The decision to establish all-way stop control at an unsignalized intersection should be based on an engineering study. The engineering study for all-way stop control should include an analysis of factors related to the existing operation and safety at the intersection, the potential to improve these conditions, and the applicable factors contained in the following all-way stop control warrants: A. All-Way Stop Control Warrant A: Crash Experience (see Section 2B.13) B. All-Way Stop Control Warrant B: Sight Distance (see Section 2B.14) C. All-Way Stop Control Warrant C: Transition to Signal Control or Transition to Yield Control at a Circular Intersection (see Section 2B.15) D. All-Way Stop Control Warrant D: 8-Hour Volume (Vehicles, Pedestrians, Bicycles) (see Section 2B.16)