8T Consent 2011 0620 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Traffic Calming 2 June 20, 2011 neighborhood traffic issues is limited. For example, speed humps cannot be placed on short blocks or on roadway curves due to sight distance constraints. Additionally, they may contribute to the diversion of cut - through traffic onto other parallel residential routes (i.e., they may just move the problem to another inappropriate residential roadway). For these reasons, in July 2003 the City Council approved the expansion of the Speed Hump Program to include a toolbox of various other traffic calming devices and to provide objective guidelines in administering the Speed Hump Program's available funds. This expanded program is called the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program. Purpose of Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program: The purpose of the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program (NTCP) is to improve livability and quality of life through the deployment of a wide array of engineered traffic calming devices and to provide objective guidelines in administering the NTCP's available funds. The NTCP provides a more comprehensive approach to traffic calming on local residential and residential collector roadways. It is the City's intent to continue to supplement the NTCP through educational and enforcement efforts, and possibly expand these efforts as resources become available. Highlights of the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program: • A request can be made by a resident or property owner by contacting the Engineering and Transportation Department for an NTCP application • Staff will define a study area and will collect traffic speed and traffic volume data to determine if at least one of the following minimum criteria is met: o 85 Percentile Speed -- Critical speed is at least 32 miles per hour for residential local roadways and 34 miles per hour for residential collectors; OR o Average Daily Traffic- -The average daily traffic volume is at least 1,000 vehicles for local roadways and 2,000 vehicles for residential collectors • If the roadway meets one of the minimum criteria, then the neighborhood will be prioritized each October along with all the other requests based on traffic speed, volume, pedestrian generators and collisions • Based on current proposed funding levels and existing staffing levels, at least one neighborhood will be selected for improvement each year. If a neighborhood is not selected but meets all of the criteria for speed humps, then the process for speed hump installation can be pursued again for those neighborhoods • Staff will hold a neighborhood meeting with the selected neighborhood to identify more specifically the issues and to inform them about the NTCP process • Staff will mail out ballots to initiate the NTCP process to all residents and property owners within the Focused Area (Improvement Area). 67% approval is required • Staff will develop traffic calming alternatives based on input from the first neighborhood meeting • Staff will hold a second neighborhood meeting to present the alternatives and identify a neighborhood preferred alternative • If a project is recommended, temporary devices may be installed for 6 -9 months • Staff will mail out ballots to residents and property owners within the Focused Area (Improvement Area) and Influence Area (Neighboring Area) to approve the final