CITY OF ELK GROVE SPEED CONTROL PROGRAM GUIDELINES

Transcription

1 CITY OF ELK GROVE SPEED CONTROL PROGRAM GUIDELINES Revised July 11, 2018 Prepared by: City f Elk Grve

2 Public Wrks Department 1. INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND In 2002, the Public Wrks Department develped the Neighbrhd Livability Prgram (NLP) in respnse t a multitude f citizen requests fr neighbrhd traffic calming. The NLP was mdeled after successful prgrams in ther cities that cmbine Educatin, Enfrcement, and Engineering techniques, cmmnly referred t as the Three E s. The NLP cnducted a series f pilt plans in three neighbrhds t educate residents n available traffic calming devices, assess plicies and prcedures set frth, and test the effectiveness f varius traffic calming devices. The NLP is cmprehensive in that it treats an entire neighbrhd. This is beneficial in creating crdinated plans and minimizing the chances f pushing the prblem frm ne street t anther. Hwever, treating an entire neighbrhd takes substantial time and resurces. Since the adptin f the NLP prgram, Public Wrks staff has identified the need fr a streamlined prcess that mre quickly respnds t resident s traffic calming requests. The revised Speed Cntrl Prgram will reduce residents wait time while efficiently using staff time t versee the prgram. The prgram is anticipated t perate in lieu f the NLP. GOAL The Speed Cntrl Prgram will prvide City staff and residents with a streamlined prgram t address neighbrhd speeding in established neighbrhds within funding availability. OBJECTIVES The Speed Cntrl Prgram utilizes the best practices in traffic calming and lessns learned frm the NLP t efficiently address neighbrhd speeding. T truly be effective, the prgram will: Determine eligibility based n clearly defined and easily measured parameters Level One Prgram includes nn-vertical devices which may reslve cncerns and can be readily implemented. Level Tw Prgram includes vertical devices and are fr streets where level ne calming has been implemented and traffic speeds are still well abve the minimum threshlds.. Implementatin f Level Tw devices will ccur n a first cme, first serve basis based n the date the Public Wrks Department receives a petitin requesting treatment that cmplies with the requirements f these Guidelines. Fcus n lcalized traffic issues n individual streets Offer a limited number f traffic calming devices that require little design time, are effective at reducing speed, and yet cst effective Thrugh these bjectives, the prgram is anticipated t reduce the timeframe frm a resident s request fr traffic calming t actual cnstructin. Hwever, this timeframe is dependent n cmpeting demand, pririty ranking, available funding and timing f cnstructin. FUNDING The City f Elk Grve will fund the planning, design, and cnstructin f speed cntrl measures thrugh this prgram. Funding fr the Speed Cntrl Prgram is anticipated t cme frm Gas Tax and/r Measure A and be reauthrized annually frm the City apprved Capital Imprvement Prgram based n the amunt f available funding city wide. The amunt f annual funding will determine the number f speed cntrl requests that can be implemented. Residents r a grup f residents whse street qualifies fr speed cntrl may elect t fund the devices. The resident r Page 2

3 grup f residents must enter int a memrandum f understanding (MOU) with the City f Elk Grve, wherein they agree t pay fr all csts assciated with the installatin f speed cntrl devices n their street (cnstructin, inspectin, administratin, etc.). Once a MOU is executed, the lcatin t receive speed cntrl shall be included in the next City cnstructin prject rather than cmpeting against ther requests. Private payment fr speed cntrl des nt relieve a lcatin frm the public survey requirement (see Chapter 4) r any ther criterin set frth in these guidelines. 2. INITIAL QUALIFYING CRITERIA The Speed Cntrl Prgram begins when a resident submits a Speed Cntrl Prgram Petitin Frm requesting treatment. The Speed Cntrl Prgram Petitin Frm is included with these Guidelines. The petitin shall include the fllwing: Street name Lcatins f cncern (e.g., frm A Street t C Street) Time f day when issue ccurs (e.g., 4:00-6:00 PM) Name, address, phne number, and signatures frm at least 75% f the husehlds that frnt the rad fr which a device is being requested. Signatures must be frm ccupants legally residing at the prperty that are at least 18 years ld. Only ne signature per husehld will be cunted in determining cmpliance with the 75% requirement. Public Wrks staff will review a request and initiate a traffic investigatin t determine whether the street in questin satisfies the requirements listed belw. These requirements are necessary t rule ut mre apprpriate traffic engineering and maintenance slutins (e.g., signage changes r trimming vegetatin t imprve sight distance). In additin, vertical traffic calming measures are nt apprpriate n every street even when basic qualifying criteria are met. Signing, striping and traffic cntrl ptins will be evaluated prir t the recmmendatin f vertical speed cntrl devices. Staff reserves the right t apprve r reject speed hump requests n a case by case basis. The initial qualifying criteria are shwn in Table 1. TABLE 1: SPEED CONTROL PROGRAM INITIAL QUALIFYING CRITERIA Criteria Requirement 1. Street Classificatin 2 lane Lcal Residential Street 2. Psted Speed Limit 25 mph r less 3. Adjacent Land Use 75% Residential, Park r Schl 4. Fire Department Review Eligible streets will be frwarded t the Fire Department fr review, emergency respnse time impact analysis and cmment. Public Wrks staff will evaluate each request based n the initial qualifying criteria shwn in Table 1 and in accrdance with prcedures set frth in Chapter 4. If a street satisfies the minimum requirements and is a candidate fr the prgram, Public Wrks staff will ntify the individual wh submitted the request in writing. Staff will als ntify applicants f nnqualifying streets and prvide an explanatin in writing as t why. If the street fails t meet the necessary requirements, the street may nt be cnsidered fr the prgram fr anther tw years. Based n the needs f the City and cntinued imprvements t the prgram, the prgram is subject t change at any time. Streets, which may have qualified fr the prgram previusly, shall be reevaluated in accrdance with the mst current set f qualifying criteria and ranking system established in subsequent revisins t this dcument. Page 3

4 3. TOOLBOX This chapter presents the tlbx f traffic calming devices available fr use in City f Elk Grve s Speed Cntrl Prgram. Speed cntrl requests typically begin as a traffic investigatin in respnse t a perceived traffic issue. Public Wrks staff will perfrm rutine investigatins t assess if nn-physical (i.e., signing, striping, sight distance imprvements) will address the cncern befre recmmending the Speed Cntrl Prgram. Traffic calming devices applicable t the City f Elk Grve are categrized as ne f the fllwing: LEVEL ONE Nn-Physical Measures - Any measure that des nt require physical changes t the radway. Nn-physical devices are intended t increase drivers awareness f surrundings and influence driver behavir withut physical bstructins. LEVEL TWO Vertical Deflectin measures Physical devices designed t create vertical deflectin in rder t slw vehicles. Vertical deflectin devices such as speed humps r speed tables are the mst effective at reducing vehicle speeds. These types f devices als pse the greatest ptential t slw emergency respnse vehicles, buses, and delivery trucks. 4. IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES PROJECT INITIATION Speed Cntrl Prgram Petitin The prcess is initiated after the Public Wrks Department has reviewed and determined that n level ne calming tls wuld be effective, r if level ne calming has been implemented and the 85 th % speed is still greater than 25 mph. When a resident r grup f residents express interest in addressing speeding n their street and btain a petitin frm City staff, the applicant cmpletes the petitin which requires the signatures frm 75% in favr n the subject street, indicating they perceive a significant prblem and wuld supprt installatin f vertical measures. If the minimum number f signatures cannt be btained, then the prcess des nt cntinue due t a lack supprt fr actin. The petitin frm is prvided n the fllwing tw pages. Public Wrks will cnsider a speed cntrl request withut supprting signatures frm nly a schl, church, park r ther City Department. Define Study Area During the investigatin, Public Wrks staff will define the limits f the study area. The study area may be limited t the segments(s) identified in the petitin r enlarged t encmpass the full length f the street. Public Wrks staff may find it reasnable t extend the study area n radways that serve a higher number f vehicles r t cmbine tw r mre separate requests fr the same street. Lgical study areas are cmmnly defined by physical features such as an arterial radway, creek, traffic cntrl device (e.g., stp sign) r transitin in land use. By defining an apprpriate study area, the prgram will emply a mre cmprehensive apprach than addressing requests n a limited segment by segment basis. It is imprtant t lk at the cumulative impact f installing a series f vertical deflectin measures and the unintended cnsequence they may have n trip diversin and emergency respnse time. Qualifying Criteria Staff will initiate a traffic investigatin t determine whether the street in questin satisfies a series f requirements. These qualifying criteria are necessary t rule ut mre apprpriate level ne traffic engineering and maintenance slutins (e.g., signage changes r trimming vegetatin t imprve sight distance). In additin, vertical traffic calming measures are nt apprpriate n every street even when basic qualifying criteria are met. Staff reserves the right t apprve r reject speed cntrl requests n a case by case basis. Page 4

5 The initial qualifying criteria are listed in Table 1 Fire Department Review The Csumnes Fire Department (CFD) has a respnse time gal f 6 minutes r less, 90% f the time, as measured by the first arriving unit t the scene f the emergency. Fire apparatus are mre sensitive t vertical and hrizntal shifts than passenger vehicles. A reductin in travel speed equates t slwer emergency respnse times. If the street is determined t be a primary fire respnse rute, it culd preclude the installatin f speed cntrl devices. The fllwing measures will be taken befre installing traffic calming measures n a street as part f this prgram: Street must meet qualifying criteria Public Wrks will supply the CSD with an initial map that identifies the prject limits. The CSD will analyze the prpsal and cnsider the fllwing factrs in their evaluatin: Is the street a primary emergency respnse rute fr the area? If s, are there alternate rutes that culd be taken withut significantly negatively impacting respnse times? Speed cntrl devices that have a significant negative impact n emergency respnse times will nt be permitted. In the event that respnse time gals are anticipated t be exceeded as a direct result f device placement, Public Wrks will prepare a reprt t the City Cuncil utlining the infrmatin presented by the Csumnes Fire Department. Site Review Public Wrks staff will review the street fr ther installatin cnstraints and challenges. Engineering judgment will determine the suitability f traffic calming within hrizntal curves r where sight distance may be cmprmised. Respnse t Applicant If a street satisfies the minimum requirements and is a candidate fr the prgram, Public Wrks staff will ntify the individual wh submitted the request in writing. Staff will als ntify applicants f nn-qualifying streets and prvide an explanatin as t why the street was declined. If the street fails t meet any f the necessary requirements, the street may nt be cnsidered fr the prgram fr anther 2 years. PROJECT SUPPORT Once it is determined that a rad is a candidate fr speed cntrl, Public Wrks Staff will wrk with the residents t identify placement f speed humps r ther traffic cntrl devices. In rder fr a device t be installed, the residents that are adjacent t the identified lcatin f the speed hump r ther traffic cntrl device must sign the attached statement indicating that they are willing t have the device installed in frnt f their huse. If there are n residents willing t have the device installed in frnt f their huse, then it will nt be installed. In cases where the speed hump r ther traffic cntrl device is t be lcated n the prperty line, then all adjacent residents must sign. After the draft implementatin list is develped, Public Wrks staff will identify lcal supprt thrugh a survey sent via regular mail r hand-delivered. Only prperties with land adjacent t the subject street(s) will receive a survey. Current residents will receive the survey regardless if they are wners r tenants. Surveys will be sent far enugh in advance t reach recipients at least tw and ne half (2 ½) weeks prir t the respnse deadline. The survey will include a descriptin f the prpsed prject indicating the type and apprximate lcatin f device(s) being prpsed. A minimum respnse rate and supprt rate must be met fr the prject t mve frward. Fr implementatin t be Page 5

6 cnsidered, a minimum f 75 percent f all returned surveys must be in favr. If a street fails t receive the necessary 75 percent apprval, the street may nt be cnsidered again fr the prgram fr five years at which time a new petitin must be submitted. Apartments present a unique situatin because residents may be less likely t respnd. Fr this reasn, surveys frm apartment units are nt cunted tward the minimum respnse rate, but will be cunted in favr r against the prpsed plan. Public Wrks will present City Cuncil with a final implementatin list cnsisting f surveyed, cmmunity- supprted (three-furths majrity) streets fr apprval. Residents will be infrmed f the survey results, Cuncil apprval and cnstructin schedule, if applicable, by mail. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION Public Wrks will prepare final cnstructin dcuments fr the apprved implementatin list and slicit bids fr the annual prject. Specific device lcatin will be finalized in accrdance with lcatin selectin guidelines presented belw. Devices shall be cnstructed in accrdance with device design standards and specificatins set frth in the cnstructin dcuments. Lcatin Selectin Guidelines T finalize the precise lcatin fr device installatin, the fllwing guidelines are recmmended: Devices shall nt be lcated ver manhles, water valves and survey mnuments. A minimum distance f 250 feet frm a traffic signal r stp cntrl shuld be maintained. Devices shuld be lcated a minimum distance f 100 feet frm uncntrlled street intersectins. Devices shuld be lcated at least ten feet away frm driveways and 25 feet away frm fire hydrants. Devices shuld be lcated near street lights t enhance night visibility. Installatin near prperty lines is desirable t minimize impacts n a single parcel. Parking restrictins are nt required at devices lcatins; hwever, drivers may prefer nt t park n the raised device. Care shuld be taken when placing devices within hrizntal r vertical curves and n radways with grades greater than 5 percent. Adequate sight distance t device r advanced warning shall be maintained. Speed humps and lumps shuld be placed at a minimum interval f 300 feet and a maximum interval f 600 feet t maintain effective mid-blck speed cntrl. Speed tables shuld be used discriminately at a minimum interval f 500 feet. The number f devices placed n a street is determined by the street length, interval spacing, and engineering judgment. 5. PROCEDURES FOR DEVICE REMOVAL In the event that residents desire remval f existing devices, a prcess similar t the installatin prcess will be required. The fllwing sectin prvides guidance fr the remval f devices nce installed. The prcess fr remval requires demnstrated resident supprt and may require funding by resident(s) if the devices have been in place fr less than tw years. Device remval may be cnsidered when all f the criteria listed belw are met: A petitin must be submitted identifying the lcatin f speed humps (r similar device) t be remved and the mtivatin fr remving them. The petitin requires signatures frm 75% f the residents n the subject street in favr f remval. If the minimum number f signatures cannt be btained, then the prcess des nt Page 6

7 cntinue due t a lack supprt fr actin. Vertical measures are fund t be ineffective at reducing speed based n a speed survey cnducted ver a 24-hur perid. The mid-blck speed must be less than 2 mph lwer than the speed demnstrated prir t installatin in rder t be cnsidered ineffective. In additin, the mid-blck 85 th percentile speed shuld be within 5mph f the psted r prima-fascia speed. Devices were placed in a lcatin cnflicting with the adpted guidelines, and anther lcatin exists which des nt cnflict with the adpted guidelines. A cmmunity meeting is held t discuss device remval. A survey f residents n the affected street. A 75 percent respnse rate with 75 percent f respndents in supprt is required fr remval. Device remval is subject t City Cuncil apprval. Remvals may be addressed simultaneusly when Public Wrks staff presents the final implementatin list fr the annual cnstructin prject t City Cuncil. Page 7

8 City f Elk Grve, Califrnia Speed Cntrl Prgram Guidelines SPEED CONTROL PROGRAM PETITION FORM Resident Supprt CITY OF ELK GROVE Signatures frm 75% husehlds in supprt f the Speed Cntrl Prgram are required. Signatries must be legal residents 18 years and lder living n the requested street. (Only 1 signature per husehld) We, the undersigned residents f (street) between (street) and (street), d hereby request the City f Elk Grve, t install vertical measures n ur street t attempt t slw speeding drivers. By signing belw, we understand that a speed humps, lumps, tables, etc. with related signing and pavement markings may be installed in frnt f ur prperty. We als understand that installing these vertical measures may prduce sme nise and slw emergency vehicle respnse time t ur hme. 1. Signature Printed Name Address Phne Number July 11, 2018 Page 8

9 City f Elk Grve, Califrnia Speed Cntrl Prgram Guidelines SPEED CONTROL Lcatin Supprt FORM CITY OF ELK GROVE Resident Supprt I am the resident at and supprt the placement f a speed hump in frnt f my residence as shwn n the attached exhibit. Signature: Printed Name: Address: Phne Number: July 11, 2018 Page 9