[Ord. No. 557, 8/10/2021]
The purpose of this Part is to establish guidelines for the
installation of traffic calming systems on Borough-owned roadways.
Such systems are specifically designed to reduce the speed, but not
necessarily the volume, of motor vehicle traffic in residential areas,
nor is their purpose to move traffic to adjoining roadways. Traffic
calming measures shall also consist of enforcement and education activities
by the Police Department.
[Ord. No. 557, 8/10/2021]
For the purpose of this Part, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
SPEED HUMP
Shall be synonymous with "traffic calming system" or "traffic
calming measure." A speed hump is a raised hump in the pavement extending
across the width of the roadway at a right angle to the direction
of the flow of traffic.
SPEED TABLE
A speed table is similar to a speed hump but includes a flat
"table" 10 feet long in the middle and are most appropriate for on
residential streets with a less than 8% grade with no severe bends
or curves. The table is intended to slow traffic, but not significantly
impede emergency vehicles or risk vehicle damage.
[Ord. No. 557, 8/10/2021]
It is the policy of the Borough to install speed humps or speed tables on streets in accordance with the procedures and criteria listed in §§
16-104 and
16-105 herein.
[Ord. No. 557, 8/10/2021]
1. Residents may submit an application to request that a study be conducted
to construct speed humps or speed tables in a particular neighborhood.
Requests shall be submitted in writing, along with a petition described
below, to the Borough Secretary for consideration at a Borough Council
scheduled meeting. Notwithstanding whether or not a petition has been
submitted under this section, nothing herein shall limit the Borough's
right to unilaterally consider and install any traffic calming measures
whatsoever, including but not limited to speed humps, speed tables,
bulb outs, chicanes, raised crosswalks, etc., as it may deem necessary
to protect the health, safety, and welfare of a specific neighborhood
or the public in general.
2. Petition:
A. All households on the affected street must be contacted by the applicant(s)
and advised that speed humps are being considered for their street.
B. A signed petition must be submitted reflecting the support of at
least 80% of the households (determined by street address) on the
affected street.
C. Support is also required from 60% of the residents of households
located on streets or culs-de-sac whose only access is via the affected
street.
D. Only one adult signature per household, apartment or business will
be considered on the petition.
E. The petition form to be used can be obtained from the Borough Secretary.
[Ord. No. 557, 8/10/2021]
1. Speed humps and/or speed tables will not be installed on state roadways.
2. The legally posted speed limit on the street shall not exceed 25
miles per hour (mph).
3. The minimum length of the street, or portion thereof, measured from
the nearest intersecting street, shall be at least 1,000 feet or such
distance as deemed safe and appropriate in the professional opinion
of the Borough Engineer.
4. The average daily traffic (ADT) shall exceed either 1,000 vehicles
per day or the peak hour volume of at least 100 vehicles, which shall
be determined by a seven-day automated traffic count conducted under
the supervision of the Borough Engineer.
5. The average speed (based upon the 85th percentile of the speeds recorded
during the traffic count) shall not be less than five mph over the
legally posted speed limit, which shall be determined by a seven-day
automated traffic count.
6. The Borough Engineer, in cooperation with the Borough Chief of Police,
will perform or otherwise obtain an analysis of the number of accidents
on the affected roadway over the most recent three-year period to
ascertain the extent to which excessive or unsafe speeds were a major
contributing factor.
7. The distance between speed humps or speed tables shall not be less
than 250 or greater than 600 feet apart; provided, however, that,
should an intersection controlled by a stop sign or yield sign be
located on the affected roadway, the distance between humps may exceed
600 feet. The existing stop sign or yield sign may be reevaluated
to see if it continues to meet the applicable requirements of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania after the installation of humps. These
distance requirements may be modified based on the professional opinion
of the Borough Engineer that such modification would be safe and appropriate.
8. Speed humps and/or speed tables shall not be less than 150 feet from
an intersecting roadway or within 250 feet of a signalized intersection.
9. Speed humps and/or speed tables shall not be installed on hills or
curves that could affect the safe control of vehicles.
10. Speed humps and/or speed tables shall traverse the entire roadway,
allowing one foot on each side for the flow of stormwater.
11. Speed humps and/or speed tables shall be no less than 12 feet in
width.
12. Signs indicating "HUMP" or providing such other warning as may be
recommended by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation shall
be erected in each direction at the location of the hump/table and
a sufficient distance before the hump/table to warn approaching motorists.
For increased visibility, reflective stripes shall be painted on the
humps/tables. Advance warning markings for a speed hump and/or speed
table shall otherwise comply with the details and requirements for
same set forth in the latest edition of the Pennsylvania Department
of Transportation's Pennsylvania's Traffic Calming Handbook
(Pub. 383).
13. Speed humps and/or speed tables shall be set back a minimum distance
of five feet from a driveway to permit accessibility to the drive.
14. Other Traffic Calming Measures:
A. Notwithstanding whether or not a petition has been submitted under §
16-104, nothing herein shall limit the Borough's right to unilaterally consider and install, after consultation with its Borough Engineer and after receipt of a report or recommendation from the Borough Engineer of its appropriateness, any traffic calming measures whatsoever, including but not limited to speed humps, tables, bulb outs, chicanes, raised crosswalks, etc., as it may deem necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of a specific neighborhood or the public in general.
B. This section shall apply to any street within the Borough, especially
streets where the Borough determines there is a high concentration
of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, such as those near schools, parks
and recreation areas, churches, and business districts.
C. The Borough shall notify the residents and business on any street
for which such traffic calming measures are being considered to permit
their input before such measures are approved and installed.
[Ord. No. 557, 8/10/2021]
1. All decisions regarding whether or not to recommend the installation
of traffic calming devices, including, but not limited to, speed humps
and speed tables shall be made to the Borough Council by the Borough
Engineer in accordance with the criteria contained herein.
2. All recommendations to install traffic calming devices, including,
but not limited to, speed humps or speed tables shall be subject to
final approval of the Borough Council.
[Ord. No. 557, 8/10/2021]
Pursuant to this Part, the following traffic calming devices
are hereby authorized by the Borough to be installed and maintained:
LOCATION
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DEVICE
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Rankin Boulevard
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Two speed tables to be installed as directed by the Borough
Engineer, with one to be installed midway between Kenmawr Avenue and
Hawkins Avenue and one midway between Hawkins Avenue and the bend
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