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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVI (C) Discussion/ Action re: Traffic Calming Policy Agenda 7-15-97 Item VI C "CENTER OF GOOD LIVING-PRIDE OF WEST ORANGE" MAYOR•COMMISSIONER S. SCOTT VANDERGRIFT Ocoee \ ,� COMMISSIONERS O CITY OF OCOEE DANNY HOWELL �) SCOTT ANDERSON — � • — 150 N.LAKESHORE DRIVE p OCOEE,FLORIDA 34761-2258 SCOTT A.GLASS et,, ?V (407)656-2322 NANCY J.PARKER ylf �J� CITY MANAGER °f G 000 ELLIS SHAPIRO STAFF REPORT To: The Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners From: Janet G. Resnik,AICP, Capital Projects/Concurrency Analyst Through: Russell B. Wagner, AICP, Director of Planning pp/ Date: July 9, 1997 Subject: Traffic Calming and Street Closing Policy ISSUE Should the Mayor and City Commissioners adopt the attached Traffic Calming and Street Closing Policy? BACKGROUND In recent discussions before the City Commission regarding the potential closing of Bexley Boulevard, staff was directed to formulate a policy for street closings and other methods of addressing traffic problems in neighborhoods. DISCUSSION The attached Traffic Calming and Street Closing Policy outlines the goals and objectives of the program and provides an overview of possible alternatives when faced with traffic problems on local residential streets. It also includes a process which when followed, should provide a clear understanding of the traffic problem and assist in determining the best possible solution which meets the needs of the neighborhood and the City. Many factors need to be considered when implementing traffic calming measures. The most important element is to create safer and more pedestrian-friendly streets where non-vehicular uses gain greater significance; however, the City must also maintain adequate traffic flow and traffic patterns, and both the City and the neighborhoods must attempt to keep the costs of the improvements feasible. In order to establish a fair and cost-efficient process, staff recommends that all requests be made by formal application and that an application fee be adopted to cover some of the costs associated with review of the request. JHK&Associates estimates that it will cost$350 to perform and ZS Page 2 Traffic Calming and Street Closing Policy Staff Report July 9, 1997 evaluate the initial traffic studies upon submittal of an application. This would basically be a 48 hour traffic count which also provides for the collection of speed information. To this end, staff recommends that if the City Commission adopts this policy, a minimum fee of $250 be charged in conjunction with submitting an application in order to defray a portion of the costs. Actual costs for the process may be higher due to further review that JHK may be involved with, as well as mailings and advertisements for public meetings; however, the initial studies may also show that no further action is warranted. Whit Blanton, AICP, and Chris Sinclair,AICP, of JHK, Inc.,have researched traffic calming and street closing policies in Orlando, Maitland, Orange County, and other Florida jurisdictions as well as cities leading the nation in successful traffic calming strategies. They have been involved in the drafting of this policy and staff anticipates their involvement in implementing the program in Ocoee. RECOMMENDATI.ON Staff respectfully recommends that the City Commission adopt the attached policy, and direct staff: (1) to prepare a Resolution adopting an application form, and (2) to prepare a Resolution adopting a fee of$250. cc: Ellis Shapiro, City Manager Jim Shira, P.E., City Engineer/Utilities Director Russ Wagner, Director of Planning Richard Corwin, Public Works Director Ron Strosnider, Fire Chief Bob Mark, Police Chief Chris Sinclair and Whit Blanton, JHK/Transcore Attachments trafficcalm.sr.doc CITY OF OCOEE Traffic Calming and Street Closing Policy Adopted by the City Commission on , 1997 TABLE OF CONTENTS TRAFFIC CALMING AND STREET CLOSING POLICY Introduction 1 Goals and Objectives of the Program 1 What is Traffic Calming 1 Traffic Calming Methods 2-3 Street Closings 3 Administrative Procedures 3-4 Design and Engineering Principles 4 Process for Reviewing Requests 4-5 Evaluation Report 5 Funding 6 Exceptions and Authorization 6 INTRODUCTION This Traffic Calming and Street Closing Policy provides a process for identifying and addressing problems on local residential streets related to speeding, excessive volumes, and safety. The policy is formulated into a program with authorization, by the City Commission, to the City Manager or his designee(s) to administer the specifics and develop procedures for implementation of the policy. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM Traffic calming may be implemented to achieve a variety of goals. Residents of neighborhoods where these streets are located are usually seeking to increase their quality of life by creating safer and/or more attractive streets where non-vehicular uses (walking, bicycling, etc.) gain a greater significance. The main objectives of traffic calming are to slow motor vehicles to speeds no greater than the legal speed limit of the roadway, reduce the frequency and severity of accidents, increase the safety for non-motorized users of the street(s), reduce the need for special police enforcement, and reduce cut-through traffic. Many factors need to be considered when implementing traffic calming measures. The location where the traffic calming is needed (entrance, internal intersection, mid-block location) must be evaluated, as well as the street type (local or local collector), street geometry, adjacent land uses, aesthetic considerations, community preferences, mass transit needs, and budget. Street closings are a traffic calming approach that should only be undertaken as a last resort to solving traffic problems within a neighborhood. WHAT IS "TRAFFIC CALMING"? Traffic calming uses physical measures and enforcement methods to encourage driving behavior appropriate to the environment, usually including attempts to reduce the speed of vehicles and/or induce drivers to select another route for their travel, which in turn improves conditions for non- motorized street users. Traffic calming is generally used on local residential streets or local residential collector streets. Local residential streets provide direct access to abutting residential properties. Local residential collector streets have primarily residential property abutting the road, and pass through residentially zoned areas providing for movement of traffic between local residential streets and the arterial network. These roads balance the need for individual lot access and through travel. Besides using a local residential collector street to get to a home located along it, people also use these roads to get from one neighborhood to another and from the neighborhood to a main road. With very few exceptions, these are the only two classifications of roadways that are eligible for traffic calming measures since other types of roadways must continue to operate with higher levels of traffic to maintain a viable city-wide transportation network. 1 TRAFFIC CALMING METHODS Traffic calming devices generally modify the street design in one or more of the following manners: 1. Narrowing the Pavement (reducing street width) or providing the appearance of narrowing the pavement Narrowing the street reduces its "design speed" to the point at which most drivers are comfortable. This can be done in varying degrees ranging from continuous narrowing of the street to spot reductions in width. Roads may be striped where lanes have a maximum width of nine (9) to eleven (11) feet. The remaining pavement can be striped for bicycle lanes. On-street parking on one or both sides effectively narrows the driving lanes. The parking can be staggered to create a weaving path on the roadway, further informing drivers that caution should be used in the neighborhood. Another method is to remove existing curb and gutter and rebuild the street with a smaller pavement width. Not only does this narrow the pavement, but the remaining property can be used to provide more room for wider sidewalks, landscaping area, or other improvements. 2. Deflecting the Vehicle Path (reducing the driver's sight distance by introducing curvature into the street design) Horizontal deflectors require drivers to negotiate turns and curves that they would not ordinarily meet. The increased attention needed to navigate these areas causes drivers to reduce their speed to where they feel more comfortable. Angled slow points, sometimes call "chicanes", are curbed or other physical barriers are built into an existing straight path on a roadway. Trees can be planted in these slow points to restrict drivers' vision down the street which in theory slows them down to where they feel comfortable. Channelization devices can also be built at intersections to deflect any vehicles moving straight through the intersection, as well as providing for clear delineation of the path turning vehicles should take. This type of modification is most appropriate for a three-way intersection, as the turning movements in a four-way intersection are too complicated to try to deflect all movements simultaneously. 'Knockdowns" or 'bulbouts" at intersections limit the pavement width sufficiently to require motorists to alter their path and reduce their speed. With these devices pedestrian crossings are shorter, and therefore safer. The "roundabout" or "traffic circle" deflects cars out of their straight-line path as they travel through an intersection. With landscaping included, they also break up the uninterrupted sight lines and reduce design speed accordingly. 3. Deflecting the Vehicle Profile (with humps and/or textures) Speed humps or speed tables can be used as a vertical deflector. A speed hump is typically 14 to 22 feet long and two to four inches high. A speed table is a level elevation with angular ramps that elevates both the front and rear wheels of a car. Speed humps and tables can be made for automobiles without affecting an adjacent bicycle lane. Textured pavement can also be used and can be both aesthetically pleasing and effective at slowing traffic. 4. Rerouting Traffic (through regulatory measures) Some traffic calming devices reduce cut-through traffic. In some cases, this is done by making through movements impossible. More often, rerouting of through traffic is accomplished by making a trip so inconvenient, that the driver is discouraged from using the route and selects an alternative street pattern. 5. Enforcement of Measures Already in Place (stop signs, speed limits, etc.) or adding additional signs and patrols Automatic clocking and display devices are a highly. visible means of traffic calming. Traditional enforcement is also an option. This would involve police officers giving tickets to speeders and other traffic offenders. Additional signing may also help to inform drivers. STREET CLOSINGS Under this approach, City staff works with residents to evaluate the type and severity of the traffic problems. The closing of a street shall only be considered when legally permissible and clearly necessary to solve a traffic safety or traffic operations problem. To be considered, a street must first be evaluated under the traffic calming policy. If no practical solutions can be found utilizing any of the many traffic calming methods, then the City will evaluate the possible closing of the street. Permanent street closures involve a number of complex issues including but not limited to: various legal precedents, property rights, traffic operations, traffic safety and emergency vehicle access. The facts and circumstances of each particular situation shall be considered when developing a recommendation to the City Commission. Since local residential collectors have a higher through traffic function, the traffic management solutions will differ from those on local residential streets. A neighborhood containing a street which is proposed for closing shall have a defined traffic operations or safety problem that the City Commission determines can not be mitigated by other conventional or traffic calming alternatives and the street closing conducted on a temporary or test basis results in a successful mitigation of the problem without creating new or transferring existing traffic operations or safety problems to other local streets. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES Requests for traffic calming will be evaluated on a case by case basis, although certain initial studies will be performed to assess the problem. At any time during the process, City staff shall be authorized to take corrective action should a traffic safety problem be discovered. In order to make efficient use of City resources, staff will prioritize traffic management requests. All things 3 being equal, requests will be evaluated in the order they are received. To the greatest extent possible, policy will be carried out to support the Traffic Circulation Element of the Ocoee Comprehensive Plan. Design and Engineering Principles The following list of principles will be used when designing traffic calming solutions: 1. Traffic may be rerouted from one local street to another as a result of traffic calming measures. The amount of rerouted traffic that is acceptable shall be defined on a project- by-project basis. 2. Emergency access shall be provided which meets Public Safety standards. Police and Fire Departments will review plans to ensure adequate emergency access and response times. 3. Traffic calming should encourage and enhance pedestrian, bicycle, and transit access to neighborhood destinations. 4. Traffic calming devices shall be planned and designed in keeping with sound engineering practices. The City Engineer shall direct the installation of all traffic control devices as needed to accomplish the objective, in compliance with applicable standards. 5. Appropriate traffic studies will be performed prior to implementing traffic calming devices. Process for Reviewing Requests A formal application and fee must be submitted to begin the process. The first step for all applications is to perform a traffic study applicable to the nature of the problem. Studies may be done to measure volume and or speed of cars as well as cut-through traffic and safety issues. These studies then help establish the magnitude and nature of the problem(s). As a general rule, the following criteria shall be used to determine if further evaluation is warranted: Traffic Conditions Volume(Vehicles Per Volume(Vehicles Per Average Speed Percent of Cut- Day) Local Residential Day) Local Residential (Miles Per Through Traffic Collector Street Street Hour) Acceptable < 1,800 < 900 < 26 < 7 Marginally Acceptable 1,800 to 2,500 900 - 1,200 26 to 30 7 to 9 Unacceptable > 2,500 > 1,200 > 30 > 9 4 Accident data will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and take into account the severity of the accidents and how the rate compares with rates on similar streets in the City. If traffic conditions meet acceptable standards for all criteria, City staff will inform the applicant(s) that the data does not warrant further review of the issue. Applicants may reapply after a one year time period to reassess those traffic conditions if they still feel a problem exists. At the completion of the initial study phase (no more than 90 days after the original request is made), staff will meet with the individual or group making the request to discuss the results of the studies and the staff recommendation based on those studies. If the studies show that further evaluation is warranted, and the applicants want to continue the process, a petition to the City Commission signed by two-thirds of the people within the neighborhood(s) designated by staff as being the "impacted area", will be required (one signature per household). The petition wording must be approved by City staff. The petition should include an explanation of the problem(s) being studied, potential solutions, procedures to be taken to reach a conclusion, and potential costs involved to the people in the area. City staff may hold a public meeting before the petition is distributed, .to inform residents in the area of the request to study a potential traffic problem, and to describe possible alternatives and gather additional input about the traffic problems and related neighborhood concerns. Obtaining signatures on the petition is the responsibility of the person or group who originally contacted the City. If a petition is routed, the City will notify by mail, any known nonresident property owners. This step ensures that a majority of residents and nonresident property owners are aware of the traffic problems being studied and can provide their opinions on implementing traffic calming measures and whether they are willing to pay for the improvements. Once the City receives a valid petition (two-thirds majority in favor), staff will meet with the neighborhood to determine possible alternatives. A public hearing will then be held by the City Commission. The staff report will outline the process followed, study findings, and recommendations of the neighborhood and staff. If the request is for a street closure, it must first be scheduled at a meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission (not a public hearing) for its consideration and recommendation to the City Commission. EVALUATION REPORT All traffic calming measures installed under this program will be evaluated for effectiveness. Six (6) months after installation is complete, City staff will meet with the neighborhood residents and nonresident property owners to gather input on the effectiveness of the project. Staff will also conduct any traffic studies deemed necessary to evaluate the project. A report will then be issued to the City Commission to include findings of the follow-up studies, whether or not the neighborhood feels the improvements have successfully solved the traffic management problems, and recommendations for further action. 5 FUNDING It is the general policy of the City that traffic calming devices will be paid for by the neighborhoods requesting them. If it is the City's opinion that a specific improvement must be installed to address a safety issue, the City may fund all or a portion of the project. In most cases the City will provide funds to maintain the improvement once it is in place. EXCEPTIONS AND AUTHORIZATION Nothing in this policy or procedures shall be interpreted to restrict or prohibit the City from implementing measures to improve traffic safety, correct accident causing situations, or mitigate traffic operational problems within and around residential neighborhoods. 6