AGENDA #4g
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TO: |
Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager |
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FROM: |
George Small, P.E. Engineering Director Kumar Neppalli, Engineering Services Manager |
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SUBJECT: |
2007 Annual Traffic Calming Report and Recommendations |
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DATE: |
May 21, 2007 |
Adoption of the attached resolution and enactment of the attached ordinance would authorize use of up to $36,000 of 2003 Sidewalk and Street Improvement Bond funds for the installation of traffic calming measures at the following locations for which we have received valid petitions:
Legion Road Extension: 1-Speed table
Meadowmont Neighborhood:
Faison Road: 2-Speed tables
Simerville Rd: 2-Speed tables and 1-Raised crosswalk
West Barbee Chapel Road: 2-Raised crosswalks
Meadowmont Lane: 1-Speed table
Faison Road and Falkner Drive: All-way stop control
We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution and enact the attached ordinance.
At its June 30, 2004, meeting, the Town Council adopted the “Policy and Procedures for Traffic Calming Measures” on Town streets. A copy of the policy is provided in Attachment 1. Key points of the policy are provided below:
1) Service Area: The policy requires designation of a “service area” (area of influence) surrounding the requested traffic calming project site(s). Citizen(s) submitting the request are provided with petition forms to be signed by interested property owners within the service area. The size and extent of the service area is based upon the type of traffic calming project being proposed, the layout and type of properties in the vicinity, and the characteristics of the street network surrounding the proposed project site(s). Depending on the circumstances, the service area could include:
2) Valid Petition: A valid petition for traffic calming measures must be signed by two-thirds of the property owners within the service area surrounding the requested traffic calming site(s).
3) Ranking System: Traffic calming projects are prioritized using a ranking system described in the policy documents. (This procedure for establishing project priorities is similar to the process used by the Town to rank sidewalk and bicycle improvement projects.)
4) Annual Report: The Town Manager will present a report each year for the Council’s consideration including:
We have received two petitions that comply with the Town’s Policy requesting the installation of traffic calming measures on the following streets:
Legion Road Extension Area:
Legion Road Extension
Cooper Street
Garden Street
Meadowmont Neighborhood:
Faison Road
Simerville Rd
West Barbee Chapel Road
Meadowmont Lane
Town staff conducted traffic speed and volume studies on all of the streets proposed for traffic calming installations. Our studies indicated that speeding is a moderate problem at some locations, and a significant problem on Cooper St, Meadowmont Lane, and West Barbee Chapel Road. The 85th percentile speed varied from 23 to 39 mph and average speed varied from 17 to 32 mph. Existing conditions and related study results for each area are provided in Attachment 2.
We developed traffic calming plans for each petition area based on the procedures set forth in the Town’s Policy, including consideration of input from affected residents received via neighborhood meetings and surveys. In developing a proposed plan for each area, we considered a variety of possible traffic calming measures including traffic circles, narrowing streets, diverters, speed tables, speed humps, etc.
Recommended traffic calming measures for each area, with location maps, are provided in Attachment 3. The exact field placement of traffic calming measures, if approved by the Council, would be coordinated with the neighborhood residents.
We have ranked and prioritized each petition based on the procedures set forth in the policy. The following table lists the streets/areas identified for installation of traffic calming measures, their numerical ranking, priority, recommended traffic calming measures, and the estimated project costs.
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Street/Area |
Ranking Points |
Priority List |
Proposed Traffic Calming |
Approximate Cost |
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1) Cooper Street |
79 |
1 |
1-Speed Table |
n/a* |
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2) Legion Road Extension Area |
74 |
2 |
1-Speed Table |
$3,500 |
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3) West Barbee Chapel Road |
73 |
3 |
2-Raised Crosswalks |
$10,000 |
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4) Meadowmont Lane between Simerville Rd and Island |
64 |
4 |
1-Speed Table
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$3,500 |
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5) Simerville Road |
49 |
6 |
2-Speed Tables 1-Raised Crosswalk |
$12,000 |
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6) Faison Road |
46 |
7 |
2-Speed Tables |
$7,000 |
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|
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Total Cost |
$36,000 |
* Speed table on Cooper Street was recently installed as part of the Performance BMW SUP.
Please see Attachment 4 for details of the ranking system used for prioritizing projects. Because of the size and number of pages of the actual petitions for each area, we have not included them with this agenda item. The actual petition documents for each project area are available for review in the Town Engineering Department.
The 2003 Sidewalk and Street Improvements Bonds include $650,000 for neighborhood, pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements, including installation of traffic calming measures, signing, lighting, and pedestrian/bicycle safety improvements. The Council issued $300,000 of the bonds in fiscal year 2004-05, of which approximately $193,500 has been spent to date. We recommend that a portion of the remaining bond funds be used for installing the traffic calming measures discussed above.
Neighborhood Review of the Traffic Calming Devices: Affected neighborhoods reviewed and supported the recommended traffic calming devices. One citizen opposed the recommended speed tables on Simerville Road in the Meadowmont neighborhood. Please see Attachment 5 for the citizen’s written communication to Town staff. We believe that the speed tables recommended on Simerville Road meet the criteria set forth in Town’s Policy for traffic calming devices. Simerville Road is used as major walking and vehicular route to the Rakshis Elementary School and we think that the recommended speed tables would improve safety conditions for all pedestrians, including children walking to the school.
We believe that the recommended traffic calming measures for the identified locations would help to mitigate existing speeding problems. The proposed traffic calming plans were developed in accordance with the adopted Town Policy and Procedures for Traffic Calming Measures. The measures proposed for each area have been approved by a majority of residents/property owners in each service area, as signified by the valid petitions on file in the Town Engineering Department.
If approved by the Council, the Engineering Department would prepare construction plans and specifications and an updated cost estimate for each project. When the final project drawings are complete, the Engineering Department would schedule neighborhood meetings to discuss the plans, estimated costs, and construction schedules. We expect to contract for the construction of approved projects.
Town staff would monitor the performance of completed projects, and would report to the Council and the Transportation Board regarding the operation and effectiveness of the traffic calming measures within 12-18 months following installation. This follow-up report could result in Council action to revise or remove a previously approved traffic calming measure. Citizen requests for removal of traffic calming devices would be required to follow the same procedure as the initial request for installation of the devices.
Transportation Board Recommendation: The Transportation Board voted 9-0 supporting the recommendations for traffic calming devices at various locations, as listed in the table above. The Board also recommended that the Town not consider speed tables on Gardner Street and on Cooper Street between Legion Road Extension and Gardner Street, due to low traffic volumes and vehicular speeds. We agree with the Board’s recommendation. The Board’s recommendation is provided in Attachment 6.
Staff Recommendation: We recommend that the Town Council adopt the attached resolution and enact the attached ordinance that would authorize use of up to $36,000 of 2003 Sidewalk and Street Improvement Bond funds for the installation of traffic calming measures at the following locations for which we have received valid petitions:
Legion Road Extension: 1-Speed table
Meadowmont Neighborhood:
Faison Road: 2-Speed tables
Simerville Rd: 2-Speed tables and 1-Raised crosswalk
West Barbee Chapel Road: 2-Raised crosswalks
Meadowmont Lane: 1-Speed table
Faison Road and Falkner Drive: All-way stop control
