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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2609RESOLUTION NO. 2609 A Resolution regarding the 1997 City Traffic Calming Program WHEREAS, the City recognizes the need to reduce potential for conflicts between automotive vehicles and pedestrians in residential neighborhood; and, WHEREAS, the City has received requests for traffic calming devices in certain residential neighborhood areas; and, WHEREAS, the City received a Community Development Block Grant to construct and evaluate traffic calming devices; and, WHEREAS, the City staff have worked with citizens in the Park Avenue, Anderson Cove, Lebo Boulevard and Westpark neighborhood areas to determine desirable and appropriate traffic calming devices for each area, and, WHEREAS, City staff have developed a traffic calming program for expenditure of the grant funds; now, therefore BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Bremerton: 1. That the "City of Bremenon 1997 Traffic Calming Program" attached hereto is the City program for expending the Community Development Block Grant funds received to date on traffic calming devices. PASSED this 25th day of June,1997 by the City Council of the City of Bremerton David Farr, Council President 97377A\bk CITY OF BREMERTON 1997 TRAFFIC CALMING PROGRAM INTRODUCTION Throughout many residential neighborhoods in the City, automobile traffic competes with pedestrians for space on roadways. Additionally, in some areas, children use the street for a play area. Consequently, community concems are expressed about speeding traffic, along with child and pedestrian welfare within these areas. These concerns have lead to specific requests for non-standard traffic calming devices, since standard strategies of lower speed limits and increased enforcement have not been successful. Some examples of non-standard devices include; speed humps, traffic circles, intersection bulbing, and traffic diverters. In response to these community concerns, the City applied and received funding for installation of these traffic calming devices in specific areas of the City. Both grants, each in the amount of $25,000, are Community Development Block Grants. The first grant was received in late 1996, while the second was received in early 1997. Associated with these grants is a City matching fired of up to $30,000 for design and engineering construction services. An evaluation of the traffic calming devices used will be made as part of this project. This project will principally benefit low and very low-income neighborhoods. The neighborhoods included under this project are the following; the Westpark community, the Anderson Cove area, which consists of Olympic/Rainier/Bloomington Avenues, Park Avenue, and Lebo Boulevard. Public Works staff met with each of these neighborhoods and presented to the residents an overview of the traffic calming program and the devices available. It was our intent to solicit public comment and consensus on the type of traffic calming device desired and the general location of the device. Below is a summary of the meeting results. The attached diagram provides additional detail. WESTPARK NEIGHBORHOOD The Westpark neighborhood street under consideration includes Baer Boulevard between Russell Road and Shorewood Drive along with Gaylan Boulevard, bounded on both ends by Baer Boulevard. Public Works staff attended several monthly Resident Council community meetings to discuss with the residents the project. The results and consensus of these meetings was unanimous support for the installation of speed humps along the two named streets, with the possibility of a reworked or narrowing of the Baer Boulevard/Russell Road intersection, after an evaluation of the effectiveness of the speed humps. City 1997 Traffic Calming Program OLYMPIC/BLOOMINGTONfRAINIER AVENUES (ANDERSON COVE) A meeting with the residents here resulted in unanimous support and eager anticipation for speed humps along the three avenues, bounded by 15th and 19th Streets. PARK AVENUE The area of interest along Park Avenue is the area included between 1 lth street and 17th street. Public comment on this issue was initially mixed and emotional, with varying points of views. After a meeting and lengthy discussion, consensus favoring the installation of two or three speed humps was developed. Park Avenue is also the location of the first traffic circle in the city, located at the intersection of 14th Street and Park Avenue. The feedback on this traffic calming device has been generally favorable. Speeds have reduced in the vicinity of the traffic circle, as vehicles are forced around and through the circle. The addition of the speed humps is expected to compliment the existing traffic circle and further reduce speeds and the bypass traffic. There is some discussion, in the neighborhood, to stop bypass traffic in this area by closing 17th Street at Elizabeth Avenue. Staff recommends first installing the traffic calming devices to address the neighborhood concerns, and continue the evaluation to determine if a street closure is appropriate. LEBO BOULEVARD This was the only neighborhood where strong and unanimous opposition to the program was voiced, in spite of the fact of a past fatality. After two neighborhood meetings, public opinion remained steadfast against use of any of the traffic calming devices available on Lebo. However, the community voiced a strong desire for the installation of a four way stop and/or signal at the intersection of Lebo and Hefner Avenue. This request will not be included under the traffic calming program, and will be evaluated as a separate issue by the public works staff. SPEED HUMP OVERVIEW All neighborhoods supported construction of speed humps as the preferred traffic calming device. The City street department recently completed a test speed hump along Highland Avenue between 6th and 9th streets in order to expose the public to this type of calming device. It had 2 humps, spaced 24 feet apart. Public reaction to the humps have been generally favorable with many citizens requesting them in their neighborhoods. The current hump proposed, based upon public and City staff comment, is for a 12-foot wide hump with a 3.5-inch high crown at the center. A single rather than a double hump is preferred. Spacing between the humps should generally be increased to between 200 to 350 feet apart. The double hump should be used in extreme problem areas and should have a spacing of 46 feet to 60 feet. Field conditions within each of the neighborhoods would dictate the location and layout of the speed humps. A minimum of two speed City 1997 Traffic Calming Program humps shall generally be installed on any given street location, as a single hump is less effective in speed control. Kitsap Transit along with the City of Bremerton Police and Fire Departments were invited to drive their vehicles over these humps at different speeds in order to evaluate the effects the humps have on vehicles. The results of the testing from the two agencies involved included a slowing of the vehicles to about 10 miles per hour for the average passenger car, and to a speed considerably less than that for the larger fire and transit vehicles. Kitsap Transit reaction was one of general acceptance of the speed humps, with the request to extend the hump spacing to at least equal to the wheel base length of a full size bus or 45 feet. City Fire Department opposed the humps, as in their opinion they are an obstacle in the roadway that will slow their response time. The Fire Department is willing to live with this initial limited program, however it is felt that further deployment will add time to emergency responses; jeopardizing patients with spine or neck injuries and reduce service life of medic fire units. Traffic circles were the preferred method over speed humps. City construction and related signage and striping costs for the double speed hump amounted to approximately $1,500. This amount can be reduced to approximately $1,000 for the single hump. It is anticipated that this cost may additionally decrease over time, as the crew becomes more accustomed and productive to constructing them over time. IMMEDIATE ACTION PLAN Pending City Council approval, the next step in this program is to proceed with the construction of speed humps within the particular neighborhoods as shown on the attached diagram. Construction will be carried out by the City Street Department under the oversight and assistance of the engineering staff. Once approved, construction can begin in a timely manner and continue throughout the summer months. City staff will monitor traffic speeds and volumes "before" and "after" installation of the speed humps at certain locations to determine their effectiveness. FUTURE ACTION PLAN Construction costs for these devices will be closely accounted for and monitored. Should any funds remain, the funds may be used to provide additional traffic calming in the identified areas or other areas within the City meeting the guidelines of the grants. An amendment to the grant will probably be required. Once identified, the process of public comment and consensus, followed by City Council notification would be repeated. Construction would then occur until the remaining grant money is exhausted. City 1997 Traffic Calming Program CONCLUDING REMARKS It is anticipated that the installation of these speed humps within the three areas of the City will reduce significantly the problems of speeding traffic along the targeted residential streets. Consequently, child and pedestrian welfare and the probability of accidents within these areas can be reduced. Once the grant money for these areas have been exhausted, other areas, based upon public requests can be evaluated for the traffic calming devices. Staff will pursue additional funding opportunities to continue the program. City 1997 Traffic Calming Program 4 CITY OF BREMERTON 1997 TRAFFIC CALMING PROGRAM INTRODUCTION Throughout many residential neighborhoods in the City, automobile traffic competes with pedestrians for space on roadways. Additionally, in some areas, children use the street for a play area. Consequently, community concerns are expressed about speeding lxaffic, along with child and pedestrian welfare within these areas. These concerns have lead to specific requests for non-standard traffic calming devices, since standard strategies of lower speed limits and increased enforcement have not been successful. Some examples of non-standard devices include; speed humps, traffic circles, intersection bulbing, and traffic diverters. In response to these community concerns, thc City applied and received funding for installation of these traffic calming devices in specific areas of the City. Both grants, each in the amount of $25,000, are Community Development Block Grants. The first grant was received in late 1996, while the second was received in early 1997. Associated with these grants is a City matching fund of up to $30,000 for design and engineering construction services. An evaluation of the traffic calming devices used will be made as part of this project. This project will principally benefit low and very low4ncome neighborhoods. The neighborhoods included under this project are the following; the Westpark community, the Anderson Cove area, which consists of Olympic/Rainier/Bloomington Avenues, Park Avenue, and Lebo Boulevard. Public Works staff met with each of these neighborhoods and presented to the residents an overview of the traffic calming program and the devices available. It was our intent to solicit public comment and consensus on the type of traffic calming device desired and the general location of the device. Below is a summary of the meeting results. The attached diagram provides additional detail. WESTPARK NEIGI~BOI~IOOD The Westpark neighborhood street under consideration includes Baer Boulevard between Russell Road and Shorewood Drive along with Gaylan Boulevard, bounded on both ends by Baer Boulevard. Public Works staff attended several monthly Resident Council community meelirtgs to discuss with the residents the project. The results and consensus of these meetings was unanimous support for the installation of speed humps along the two named streets, with the possibility of a reworked or narrowing of the Baer Boulevard/Russell Road intersection, after an evaluation of the effectiveness of the speed humps. City 1997 Traffic Calming Program 1 OLYMPIC/BLOOMINGTON/RAINIER AVENUES (ANDERSON COVE) A meeting with the residents here resulted in unanimous support and eager anticipation for speed humps along the three avenues, bounded by 15th and 19th Streets. The area of interest along Park Avenue is the area included between 1 lth street and 17th street. Public comment on this issue was initially mixed and emotional, with varying points of views. After a meeting and lengthy discussion, consensus favoring the installation of two or three speed humps was developed. Park Avenue is also the location of the first traffic circle in the city, located at thc interscction of 14th Street and Park Avenue. The feedback on this traffic calming device has been generally favorable. Speeds have reduced in the vicinity of the traffic circle, as vehicles are forced around and through the circle. The addition of the speed humps is expected to compliment the existing traffic circle and further reduce speeds and the bypass traffic. There is some discussion, in the neighborhood, to stop bypass traffic in this area by closing 17th Street at Elizabeth Avenue. Staff recommends first installing the traffic calming devices to address the neighborhood concerns, and continue the evaluation to determine if a street closure is appropriate. LEBO BOULEVARD Tlfis was the only neighborhood where strong and unanimous opposition to the program was voiced, in spite of the fact of a past fatality. Af~er two neighborhood meetings, pubhc opinion remained steadfast against use of any of the traffic calming devices available on Lebo. However, the community voiced a strong desire for the installation of a four way stop and/or signal at the intersection of Lebo and Hef'ner Avenue. This request will not be included under the traffic calming program, and will be evaluated as a separate issue by the public works staff. SPEED HUMP OVERVIEW All neighborhoods supported conslruction of speed humps as the preferred traffic calming device. The City street department recently completed a test speed hump along Highland Avenue between 6th and 9th streets in order to expose the public to this type of calming device. It had 2 humps, spaced 24 feet apart. Public reaction to the humps have been generally favorable with many citizens requesting them in their neighborhoods. The current hump proposed, based upon public and City staff comment, is for a 12-foot wide hump with a 3.5-inch high crown at the center. A single rather than a double hump is preferred. Spacing between the humps should generally be increased to between 200 to 350 feet apart. The double hump should be used in extreme problem areas and should have a spacing of 46 feet to 60 feet. Field conditions within each of the neighborhoods would dictate the location and layom of the speed humps. A minimum of two speed City 1997 Traffic Calming Program 2 humps shall generally be installed on any given street location, as a single hump is less effective in speed control. Kitsap Transit along with the City of Bremerton Police and Fire Departments were invited to drive their vehicles over these humps at different speeds in order to evaluate the effects the humps have on vehicles. The results of the testing from the two agencies involved included a slowing of the vehicles to about 10 miles per hour for the average passenger car, and to a speed considerably less than that for the larger fire and transit vehicles. Kitsap Transit reaction was one of general acceptance of the speed humps, with the request to extend the hump spacing to at least equal to the wheel base length of a full size bus or 45 feet. City Fire Department opposed the humps, as in their opinion they are an obstacle in the roadway that will slow their response time. The Fire Department is willing to hve with this initial limited program, however it is felt that further deployment will add time to emergency responses; jeopardizing patients with spine or neck injuries and reduce service life of medic fire units. Traftie circles were the preferred method over speed humps. City construction and related signage and striping costs for the double speed hump mounted to approximately $1,500. This mount can be reduced to approximately $1,000 for the single hump. It is anticipated that tiffs cost may additionally decrease over time, as the crew becomes more accustomed and productive to constructing them over time. hMMEDIATE ACTION PLAN Pending City Council approval, the next step in this prOgram is to proceed with the construction of speed humps within the particular neighborhoods as shown on the attached diagram. Construction will be carded out by the City Street Department under the oversight and assistance of the engineering staff. Once approved, construction can begin in a timely manner and continue throughout the summer months. City staff will monitor traffic speeds and volumes "before" and "after" installation of the speed humps at certain loeatious to determine their effectiveness. FUTURE ACTION PLAN Construction costs for these devices will be closely accounted for and monitored. Should any funds remain, the funds may be used to provide additional traffic calming in the identified areas or other areas within the City meeting the guidelines of the grants. An amendment to the grant will probably be required. Once identified, the process of public comment and consensus, followed by City Council notification would be repeated. Construction would then occur until the remaining grant money is exhausted. Civy t997 Traffic Calming Program 3 CONCLUDING REMARKS It is anticipated that the installation of these speed humps within the three areas of the City will reduce significantly the problems of speeding traffic along the targeted residential streets. Consequently, child and pedestrian welfare and the probability of accidents within these areas can be reduced. Once the grant money for these areas have been exhausted, other areas, based upon public requests can be evaluated for the traffic calming devices. Staff will pursue additional funding opportunities to continue thc program. City 1997 Traffic Calming P~ogr~m 4 , ;AOD NO~gQNY 'NHVdL~3~ NOI~IAIG BNI~N~ NOIt33S SSO~D L33~1S iou s~ }es auo S0 'JaaJis ua~ o uo pe3old aq I1~ sdmnq paads o~ a~uama~Auogu~ pud paads jJojtuo~sip aql ~o as.ooaq sd~nq pa~s mijoJl Xl~Op abo~O~0 puo paads almqa~ o6oJa~, a~o Joln~ldod ~ j~ aOlj ~,HoJI aqi ~ sl=o~ 13aJ!p' .-pe~uoque s~ Xjejos mlqnd 'sa~nlO~ puo speeds alO~qa* eql 6u~npeJ a~om puo slaeJis esaql uo slaejls io~luep~seJ ~ 3~N~AV ~HVd 3AOO NOSH~ONV