Contact information is required in order to process this request. Please call DPW Customer Service at (802)863-9094.

DPW Staff will not support this request at this time. The level of service is not currently at a failing condition at the North Williams and Pearl Street intersection. Additionally, there are no perceivable hazards due to the intersection being blocked. Conversely, Staff feel an unsafe condition may be created if a do not block intersection box were painted at this intersection; Staff believe drivers may use the box to put their vehicle into the intersection and block the travel way, thus creating a hazard.
Level of service is a term used to describe the quality of the traffic flow on a roadway facility at a particular point in time. It is an aggregate measure of travel delay, travel speed, congestion, driver discomfort, convenience, and safety based on a comparison of roadway system capacity to roadway system travel demand. Operating levels of service are reported on a scale of A to F, with A representing the best operating conditions with little or no delay to motorists, and F representing the worst operating conditions with long delays and traffic demands sometimes exceeding roadway capacity. Based on preliminary observations, Staff feel as though the North Williams and Pearl Street intersection is not at a failing condition.
Feel free to contact customer service should you have any questions at (802)863-9094.
The Department of Public Works has resolved this request. Thanks for helping to keep Burlington a great place to live and work.

It is my understanding that vehicles are not to block intersections per Burlington ordinance

20-44 Stop when traffic obstructed.

No driver shall enter an intersection or a marked crosswalk unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the intersection or crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle they are operating without obstructing the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians, notwithstanding any traffic control signal indication to proceed.

Why can't signage be placed to make drivers on Pearl Street aware of this requirement??? Your statement, "Staff feel an unsafe condition may be created if a do not block intersection box were painted at this intersection; Staff believe drivers may use the box to put their vehicle into the intersection and block the travel way, thus creating a hazard. " as this would also be a ordinance violation...

There is no specific guidance in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) which directs when and where signage specific to blocking an intersection should be utilized. Based on the existing site conditions and engineering judgement, Staff will not recommend a do not block intersection box pavement marking package, nor would Staff recommend do not block intersection signage at this intersection. If you have any questions please call customer service at (802)863-9094. The Department of Public Works has resolved this request. Thanks for helping to keep Burlington a great place to live and work.

There is specific guidance in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices!

Section 3B.17 Do Not Block Intersection Markings
Option:
01 Do Not Block Intersection markings may be used to mark the edges of an intersection area that is in close proximity to a signalized intersection, railroad crossing, or other nearby traffic control that might cause vehicles to stop within the intersection and impede other traffic entering the intersection. If authorized by law, Do Not Block Intersection markings with appropriate signs may also be used at other locations.
Standard:
02 If used, Do Not Block Intersection markings (see Figure 3B-18) shall consist of one of the following alternatives:
A. Wide solid white lines that outline the intersection area that vehicles must not block;
B. Wide solid white lines that outline the intersection area that vehicles must not block and a white word message such as DO NOT BLOCK or KEEP CLEAR;
C. Wide solid white lines that outline the intersection area that vehicles must not block and white cross-hatching within the intersection area; or
D. A white word message, such as DO NOT BLOCK or KEEP CLEAR, within the intersection area that vehicles must not block.

Option D is what I asked for!!!

Thank you for this update. Our staff will look back into this issue and update you as soon as we can.

Traffic requests cannot be processed anonymously, please call customer service at (802)863-9094 and provide contact information.

Ted Donnell 802-847-4541

DPW Staff preliminary analysis from 10/16/2018 has not changed. DPW Staff have discussed this with the originator of this request. You can discuss this issue with the DPW Commission at their next meeting on Wednesday, December 18th, 2019 at 6:30 pm. This meeting should be in our Front Conference Room, our office is at 645 Pine Street; please be advised, we are finishing up renovations so this meeting may be somewhere else. Please let me know if you are coming and I will provide you with those details, as the meeting date approaches. Feel free to call me should you have any questions. The Department of Public Works has resolved this request. Thanks for helping to keep Burlington a great place to live and work.

Best,

Phillip Peterson, Associate Engineer
Burlington Department of Public Works
645 Pine Street
Burlington, VT 05402
802-865-5832 (phone)
ppeterson@burlingtonvt.gov

Thanks for fixing this request!