OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

CITY HALL

375 MERRIMACK STREET

LOWELL, MA  01852

TELE: (978) 970-4000  FAX: (978) 970-4007

Bernard F. Lynch

City Manager

TO:                  Mayor Edward “Bud” Caulfield

                                    And

                        Members of the Lowell City Council

FROM:            Bernard F. Lynch, City Manager

DATE:             June 6, 2008

SUBJECT:     MOTION OF 4/29/08 BY COUNCILOR RITA MERCIER

“REQUEST THE TRAFFIC DIVISION INSTALL A SAFETY MIRROR ON POLE #81 AT VARNUM AVENUE AND OLD FERRY ROAD”

In regards to the above-mentioned motion, Jeff Gomes, Transportation Engineer, reviewed the request to place a mirror at this location.  Although there have been previous requests to install mirrors on utility poles, this method of providing a perception of improved visibility for drivers is not an accepted practice in Transportation Engineering.  The National Highway Safety Act of 1966 requires that public rights of way be regulated in conformance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).  The MUTCD was developed and updated regularly with input from the American Traffic Safety Services Association, American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), U.S. Department of Transportation, the Transportation Research Board and the National Commission on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. 

The City makes its best efforts to conform to these regulations.  We have therefore not made a practice of complying with requests for mirrors, as it can present a dangerous situation, a false sense of actual distance and visibility and could put the City at risk for nonconformance.  Furthermore, utility poles are privately owned and we cannot fasten a mirror or other mechanisms on these poles without proper authority.  Banners and signage that appear on cobra and Victorian street lights are a different matter since the City has an ownership interest in the streetlights.

It is therefore recommended that a mirror not be installed at this location and that motorists abide by the regulatory control currently in place.  Motorists on Old Ferry Road must come to a full stop and carefully determine that the right of way is clear for access to Varnum Avenue as with all other stop locations.

Please contact me with any questions regarding this information.  Thank you.

cc:        Lt. Tim Crowley, Lowell Police Department

Anne Barton, Deputy Director

Diane Tradd, Chief Design Planner

Jeffrey Gomes, Transportation Engineer

            Matthew Roux, Assistant Traffic Planner