AGENDA #8
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Report and Recommendations on Draft Options for Traffic Calming Policy and Procedures
DATE: June 30, 2004
This report is a follow-up to the June 14, 2004, public forum on draft Traffic Calming Policy and Procedures. We have included the information that was provided at the forum, and provide comments on the issues raised by citizens who spoke at the forum.
Adoption of Resolution A would establish formal policy and procedures for receiving, evaluating, prioritizing, and funding traffic calming requests using a petition process.
Adoption of Resolution B would establish formal policy and procedures for receiving, evaluating, prioritizing, and funding traffic calming requests using a neighborhood survey process.
The Manager recommends adoption of Resolution A.
Previously presented materials regarding this issue are available for review in the Town Clerk’s Office and in the Chapel Hill Engineering Department. Materials can also be accessed through the Town’s website, http://www.townofchapelhill.org.
The Town regularly receives requests for various means and methods to manage traffic in and around neighborhoods. We receive both non-specific requests for help as well as specific requests for traffic control measures, including but not limited to stop signs, informational signs, striping, raised islands/medians, roundabouts, rumble strips, speed humps/tables, textured crosswalks, etc. The Town has implemented various traffic calming measures in seven neighborhoods over the past three years.
The Town Council held a work session on November 24, 2003, and discussed several alternatives that were presented by the staff for Traffic Calming Policy and Procedures. The alternatives presented were:
(1) Continue the current process of dealing with traffic calming requests on a first come-first served basis when each request is received;
(2) Establish formal policy and procedures for receiving, evaluating, prioritizing, and funding traffic calming requests; and
(3) Include a mechanism in the policy and procedures to allow assessment of some or all of the costs of traffic calming projects to benefited properties.
The Council stated its preference for establishing policy and procedures for receiving, evaluating, prioritizing and funding traffic calming requests without assessment of costs to property owners. The Council subsequently referred the report to the Town’s Transportation Board for review and recommendations prior to scheduling further Council consideration of this matter.
At its May 10, 2004 meeting, the Council scheduled a public forum on June 14, 2004, meeting to receive comments on the draft options for Traffic Calming Policy and Procedures.
Three citizens spoke at the Public Forum on June 14, and their comments along with staff responses are provided in Attachment 1. A copy of June 14 Council report is provided in Attachment #2.
DISCUSSION
POLICY AND PROCEDURE OPTIONS
Based on comments from the Council and the Transportation Board, we have drafted two traffic calming policy and procedure options for the Council’s consideration. Neither option includes assessments to property owners, and both are identical with the exception of the petition versus neighborhood survey steps.
The draft options are presented in Attachment 2.
Key points of the draft traffic calming policy and procedure options are:
1) Service Area: The Engineering Department would designate a “service area” (area of influence) surrounding the requested traffic calming project site(s), and would provide the citizen submitting the request with petition forms to be signed by interested property owners within the service area. The size and extent of the service area would be 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:
· All properties abutting the proposed street segment to be modified.
· All properties on adjacent street(s) with ingress/egress only possible via the modified street segment.
· All properties on adjacent street(s) that have alternative points of ingress/egress but are expected to be otherwise affected by the modified street segment.
Defining the service area for traffic calming projects would be challenging. Town staff would do its best to be professional, reasonable and consistent in defining service areas. However, property owners in the vicinity of proposed traffic calming projects could come to different conclusions about the boundaries of the service areas, and Town staff determinations could be challenged.
We suggest that the Town Transportation Board consider appeals from citizens regarding service area boundaries. The Board may agree with staff or may recommend a different service area. If Town staff disagrees with changes recommended by the Transportation Board, the matter would be brought to the Council for a final decision.
2) Ranking System: Traffic calming projects would be prioritized using a ranking system described in Appendix C of the attached draft policy and procedure documents. This procedure for establishing project priorities would be similar to the process used by the Town to rank sidewalk and bicycle improvement projects.
The Transportation Board discussed the proposed ranking system and recommended one additional point category involving assignment of points the length of time that a petition has been on the list without being implemented. We have revised the proposed ranking system to include this change recommended by the Transportation Board.
3) Annual Report: In the fall of each year, the Town Manager would present a report for the Council’s consideration including:
· A prioritized list of traffic calming projects for which a valid petition was received
· A copy of each petition
· A summary of the data pertaining to each project.
· The Town Transportation Board’s recommendation regarding each project
· The Town Manager’s recommendation regarding each project
We would expect to submit the traffic calming project report and recommendations concurrently with the annual sidewalk and bicycle project report and recommendations.
4) Project Construction: Once project funding is approved by the Council, the Engineering Department would prepare construction plans and specifications and an updated cost estimate. When the final project drawings are complete, the Engineering Department would schedule a neighborhood meeting to discuss the plans, estimated costs, and construction procedures/schedule. Each property owner in the service area of the project would be notified when and where the meeting is scheduled. The project would be constructed by Town forces or by private contractor.
5) Monitoring and Follow-up Studies: Town staff would monitor the performance of completed traffic management projects, and would report to the Council and 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 management 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.
PENDING TRAFFIC CALMING PETITIONS
Currently, we have 23 petitions for traffic calming measures that are pending further action by Town staff or the Council. We have completed traffic studies and have developed preliminary plans for several of these petitions, but they have been held until the Council decides on a policy and procedures for traffic calming Town-wide. If the Council establishes a traffic calming policy, we suggest that the existing projects on the list be re-evaluated to the extent practicable using the procedures associated with that policy.
TRAFFIC CALMING PROJECT FUNDING
Recently approved Sidewalk and Street Improvements Bonds include $650,000 for neighborhood, pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements including traffic calming measures, such as speed humps, signing, roundabouts; crosswalk lighting system, changing signal lenses and pedestrian/bicycle safety improvements. The Council plans to issue $300,000 of bonds in 2004-05 that could be used for traffic calming, and pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements.
CONCLUSION
The policy and procedures presented in Option #1 are a synthesis of Town staff experience with traffic calming requests in Chapel Hill and policies/procedures being utilized in other North Carolina communities.
We think that the proposed Option #1 policy would provide a reasonable and equitable means for prioritizing traffic calming projects based on evaluation of comparable merit. We also believe that the 2/3’s majority support by residents within the service area, as designated by signatures on a formal petition, could decrease the potential for discord among residents and/or neighborhood groups within the service area.
Petitions for stop signs, speed limits, and parking restrictions would continue to be received by the Council and referred to the Manager for review and recommendations. Routine requests (e.g. requests for stop sign installations, parking restrictions, etc.) could continue to be handled directly by the Council based on the Manager’s recommendation(s). The Manager would recommend that more complex requests be processed in accordance with adopted traffic calming policy and procedures.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Transportation Board Recommendation: The Transportation Board prefers Option #2 that describes traffic calming policy and procedures based on use of a neighborhood survey process for receiving, evaluating, prioritizing traffic calming requests, without assessment of costs to property owners. Adoption of Resolution B would establish the policy and procedures outlined in Option #2.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution A establishing formal policy and procedures for receiving, evaluating, prioritizing, and funding traffic calming requests using a petition process as described in Option #1.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Staff Responses to Comments Received at the June 14, 2004 Public Forum (p. 8).
2. June 14, 2004 Council Report (p. 10).
RESOLUTION A
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A FORMAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR RECEIVING, EVALUATING, PRIORITIZING AND FUNDING TRAFFIC CALMING REQUESTS USING A PETITION PROCESS (2004-06-30/R-17a)
WHEREAS, the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill is concerned about vehicular and non-vehicular safety and mobility on Town streets; and
WHEREAS, the Council held a work session on November 24, 2003, to discuss a staff report including draft policy and procedures for dealing with traffic calming requests; and
WHEREAS, the Council subsequently received recommendations from the Transportation Board regarding the draft policy and procedures; and
WHEREAS, the Council held a public forum on June 14, 2004, to discuss and to receive public comment on draft policy and procedures for dealing with traffic calming requests; and
WHEREAS, the Council received a staff report on June 30, 2004, including two options for policy and procedures for receiving, evaluating, prioritizing, and funding traffic calming requests without assessment of costs to property owners;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council adopts formal policy and procedures for receiving, evaluating, prioritizing, and funding traffic calming requests as described in Option #1, attached hereto, using a petition process.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council directs the Manager to evaluate all pending and future traffic calming petitions using the adopted policy and procedures for traffic calming.
This the 30th day of June, 2004.
RESOLUTION B
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A FORMAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR RECEIVING, EVALUATING, PRIORITIZING AND FUNDING TRAFFIC CALMING REQUESTS USING A NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY PROCESS (2004-06-30/R-17b)
WHEREAS, the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill is concerned about vehicular and non-vehicular safety and mobility on Town streets; and
WHEREAS, the Council held a work session on November 24, 2003, to discuss a staff report including draft policy and procedures for dealing with traffic calming requests; and
WHEREAS, the Council subsequently received recommendations from the Transportation Board regarding the draft policy and procedures; and
WHEREAS, the Council held a public forum on June 14, 2004, to discuss and to receive public comment on draft policy and procedures for dealing with traffic calming requests; and
WHEREAS, the Council received a staff report on June 30, 2004, including two options for policy and procedures for receiving, evaluating, prioritizing, and funding traffic calming requests without assessment of costs to property owners;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council adopts formal policy and procedures for receiving, evaluating, prioritizing, and funding traffic calming requests as described in Option #2, attached hereto, using a neighborhood survey process.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council directs the Manager to evaluate all pending and future traffic calming petitions using the adopted policy and procedures for traffic calming.
This the 30th day of June, 2004.