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5.3. SR 09-05-2006 City of Elk River REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Agenda Section Meeting Date Administration September 5, 2006 Item Description Consider Drafting Traffic Calming Policy Introduction Discussion during site plan reviews of late has brought up the thought of requiring developers of residential plats to include traffic calming designs in their plats, and at their costs. Staff feels that including engineered traffic calming on the front end, eliminates significant staff time later related to complaints about traffic issues/ speeding vehicles, and creates safer neighborhoods for our residents. Discussion One of the most frequent calls for police service or complaints to our engineering department is speeding cars or unsafe traffic flow through neighborhood developments. Historically, the ability of staff to respond to these complaints has been fairly limited. Two of the most common requested responses are usually not staff supported. The most common request has been for additional stop signs. Although this has some impact on slowing traffic, it creates additional safety concerns and often results in drivers speeding from stop sign to stop sign. The second request is often for speed bumps. Although speed bumps work, they create issues for street maintenance, specifically, they are very difficult to plow around in the winter. Our City Engineer, Terry Maurer has significant training in traffic calming techniques. Captain Rolfe from the Police Department will be traveling to the University of Wisconsin, Madison in September to attend two courses. The first, "Traffic Engineering Fundamentals", covers basic traffic engineering studies, traffic control warrants and standards, traffic control devices and materials and common traffic control problems and solutions. The second course, "Solving Neighborhood Traffic Problems", allows the student to learn from communities with active neighborhood traffic programs, view a wide range of traffic calming devices in the field and to experiment in solving common neighborhood traffic programs in a clinical setting. With both these staff persons current on traffic calming techniques, we will be well prepared to address current and future traffic issues that arise in our neighborhoods. More importantly, we believe that we should be proactive by no/adopting developments that based on size and road layout-will present traffic issues over time. C:\Documents and Settings\tallard\Local Settings\ Temporary Internet Files\OLKF\Doc4.doc The United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, has developed a problem-oriented guide for police specifically related to "Speeding in Residential Areas" This guide addresses the problem of speeding in residential areas, often a chief concern of the community and often based on the perceived risk to children. Calls for police service however, often result in our department paying less attention to the speeding issues, and spending more time on issues that are far more serious. Speeding though does create harm, and it is in five basic forms: . It makes citizens fear for children's safety. It makes pedestrians and bicyclists fear for their safety. It increases the risk of vehicle crashes. It increases the risk of serious injuries to those involved in crashes. It increases noise complaints due to engine acceleration and tire friction. . . . . Regardless of these issues, it is important to point out that speed is a factor in only 1/8 of all vehicle crashes. Speeding is more of a quality of life concern, than safety. Yet, it is a concern that is voiced frequently, and one that citizen's demand response to. The guide cites an order of response to speeding concerns. They are listed from proven effectiveness to least effective. We suggest the implementation of effective strategies on the planning end, rather than waiting for problems to occur. Engineering Responses: (Most effective) Traffic calming techniques that make it more difficult to speed. These also make roads easier and safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. They may include: ~ Narrowing the road. ~ Putting bends and curves in the road. ~ Installing speed humps. ~ Adding chicances (traffic deflections that narrow or redirect the road) ~ Marking the road to create the illusion that it is narrowing. ~ Adding pedestrian crosswalks that are raised or made from distinctive materials. ~ Planting trees and foliage along the roadside. ~ Building traffic circles and roundabouts. ~ Building traffic islands. ~ Building gateway entrances. ~ Permitting parking on both sides of the streets. ~ Adding mid-block build-ours. Posting warning signs and signals is the second portion of the engineering phase. Educational Responses: ~ Conducting anti-speeding public awareness campaigns. ~ Informing complainants about actual speeds vs. perceived speeds. ~ Provide realistic driving training courses. (Skid pad training) C:\Documents and Settings\tallard\Local Settings\ Temporary Internet Files\OLKF\Doc4.doc Enforcement Responses: >> Enforcing speeding laws. >> Use of speed cameras. (Not legal in MN) >> U sing speed trailers. >> Having citizens monitor and report speeds. Responses with limited or no effectiveness: >> Reducing speed limits. >> Increased fmes. >> Erecting stop signs. >> Speed bumps. >> Reengineering vehicles. Financial Impact The fmancial impact of this request would be incurred by the developer. No costs to the City would occur in new developments. After a policy is adopted for new developments, further discussion will be needed regarding potential funding of traffic calming in existing neighborhoods. Sample Calmine Techniques-Photos Choker Speed Hump , -, ~ Chicane Traffic Circle C: \Documents and Settings \ tallard\Local Settings \ T(.>rnporary Internet Files \ OLKF\Doc4.doc Center Island Action Requested Weare requesting City Council authorization to develop a policy regarding traffic calming. We anticipate the policy will specify the acceptable types of traffic calming devices; where they should be used and warrants for their installation into existing areas. Warrants could include items such as average daily traffic volume and/or documented speeding problems. We expect that once a policy is adopted by the City Council, developers would be required to incorporate traffic calming into their projects. Staff or citizen requests for traffic calming devices in existing streets would be measured against the warrants listed in the policy and the ability to fund their installation. Council Action Motion by Second by Vote Follow Up C:\Documents and Settings\tallard\Local Settings\ Temporary Internet Files\OLKF\Doc4.doc