[Added on 3-27-2011 by
HO-2011-01]
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle
in the City in violation of the speed limits posted on any traffic
control device or sign.
[Added 8-1-1994 by HB
No. 8-94, amended 2-21-1995 by
HB No. 8-94, 2-21-1995 by HB No.
01-95, on 3-27-2011 by HO-2011-01, 12-5-2016 by HO-2016-02]
A. Definitions. As used in this Ordinance, all terms shall have the
definitions and meanings provided in the Maryland Code Annotated,
Transportation Article, unless otherwise indicated. The following
terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DWELLING UNIT
One or more rooms arranged for the use of one or more individuals
living together as a single housekeeping unit, with cooking, living,
sanitary and sleeping facilities as defined by the Prince George's
County Housing Code.
ELIGIBLE SIGNATURE
The signature of an individual, over the age of 18, residing
in a dwelling unit located on a street:
(1)
Upon which the installation of a traffic calming device is being
considered, or
(2)
Within one unit block of such streets upon where the installation
of a traffic calming device is being considered for only a portion
of such street, or
(3)
That is only accessible over a street for which the installation
of the traffic calming device is being considered and provides the
only means of ingress and egress, or
(4)
Or in an area which the City Clerk pursuant to the discretion
granted in subsection B(2)(b) determines should be surveyed.
Only one eligible signature per dwelling unit will be considered
for any of the purposes set forth in this Ordinance.
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TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICE
Is a physical device used to regulate, guide, slow, and/or
control traffic, for the purpose of pedestrian and traffic safety.
The term traffic calming device includes but is not limited to the
following devices:
(1)
SPEED ZONESAn identifiable area of reduced speed, indicated by signage or otherwise.
(2)
SPEED HUMPSA raised or manually installed section of asphalt or other construction material constructed on a roadway, with a dip and crown shaped as viewed in cross section, on a base ordinarily 22 feet, measured parallel to the curb of the roadway and with a height not less than three inches nor more than four inches.
(3)
RAISED INTERSECTIONSContrasting surfaces such as brick, cobblestones, concrete, or other construction material in place of street surfaces at the intersection of two streets.
(5)
RUMBLE STRIPSPhysical devices attached to or constructed in the road surface to provide contrast to the road surface in order to slow traffic.
(6)
CHOKERSA portion of the sidewalk extending out approximately six to eight feet into the street.
UNIT BLOCK
Unit block shall mean a subsection of, or a separate and
distinct, but attached portion of a street, of no specific length
or width, but which has been numerically designated and identified
a part of that street. Each street may consist of numerous unit blocks.
B. Request for traffic calming device installation: Requests for the
installation of a traffic calming device may be made by petition subject
to the following conditions:
(1) Residents of a street may request the installation of a traffic calming
device by submitting a petition to the City Administrator containing
eligible signatures from at least 60% of dwelling units located on
the street, stating that such individuals want a traffic calming device.
Such petition need not conform to the requirements in the Charter
for petitions.
(2) If the traffic calming device is being requested for only a portion
of a street, the petition containing at least 60% of eligible signatures
must be circulated to individuals residing in dwelling units located
on the unit block on which the traffic calming device will be installed
and to individuals residing in dwelling units located within one unit
block of the block containing the requested installation site.
(a)
If the street upon which the traffic calming device is to be
installed provides the only means of ingress and/or egress for other
streets, the petition containing at least 60% of eligible signatures
must be circulated to the residents of such other streets.
(b)
The City Clerk retains sole discretion to determine if residents
of additional streets will be surveyed, based upon circumstances that
could impact such residents.
(3) The City Clerk will validate petitions submitted to the City Administrator to determine that said petitions are in compliance with applicable provision of this article. The City Clerk shall inform the City Council, petitioners, the City Administrator, Director of Public Works and the Police Chief, as to whether the petition complies with this article. If the petition is in compliance, the City will jointly undertake an assessment of the location of the request and determine if a traffic calming device is in the interests of both best traffic engineering practice and public safety; and the Mayor who will schedule a public hearing in accordance with subsection
C, below.
(4) The City Clerk shall develop and distribute a standardized "request
for traffic calming device" petition form sufficient for use in accordance
with this subsection.
C. Procedures for public hearings on traffic calming device installations:
(1) Conduct of Public Hearing: the Mayor shall schedule a public hearing
after being notified by the City Clerk in accordance with subsection
B.(3) that the petition is valid.
(a)
Notice of the hearing will be given to all residents of the
street upon which the proposed traffic calming device is to be installed;
and
(b)
If the traffic calming device is being requested for only a
portion of the street, notice will be given to residents of dwelling
units located on the unit block on which the traffic calming device
will be installed and also to individuals residing in dwelling units
located within one unit block of the block containing the requested
installation site; and
(c)
If the traffic calming device is to be installed on a street
which provides the only means of ingress and/or egress for other streets,
the notice will be given to residents of such other streets, by the
following means:
[1]
Publication in the Hyattsville Reporter or in a paper having
circulation in the City.
[2]
Advertisement on the City of Hyattsville's cable television
channel.
(2) Factors considered. The following factors shall be taken into consideration
as guidance in determining whether to install a traffic calming device.
The factors listed below shall not be considered exclusive.
(a)
Whether the street where installation of a traffic calming device
is proposed has a speeding problem, which has been identified through
a combination of residents' complaints, police radar surveillance
and ticketing practices, accident statistics, electronic traffic counts
and/or a history of previous efforts to control speeding which cannot
be alleviated in any way other than a traffic calming device. The
Department of Public Works shall provide a report of the electronic
traffic count data of the proposed street to determine the traffic
and speed issues.
(b)
Whether the street carries a sufficient volume of nonresidential
traffic in addition to the general residential traffic, so that the
requested traffic calming device is appropriate.
(c)
The impact of a traffic calming device on public transportation,
police and fire apparatus.
(d)
The impact of a traffic calming device on adjacent neighborhoods.
(3) Decision. The Mayor and City Council will announce their decision
to approve, approve with modifications, or deny the requested traffic
calming device within 15 days of the close of the hearing unless,
due to extraordinary circumstances, the time limit is extended by
majority vote of the City Council.
(4) Notification of decision. The petitioners will be notified of the
decision of the Mayor and City Council by the City Clerk and the decision
will be published in the Hyattsville City Council Meeting Minutes.
D. Procedures for removing a traffic calming device installation:
(1) A request for removal of a traffic calming device, installed pursuant to subsection
C above, may be by petition containing eligible signatures from 60% of the dwelling units located on the street upon which the traffic calming device has been installed; or
(2) If the traffic calming device has been installed for only a portion
of the street, the petition requesting removal may be signed by eligible
signatures from 60% of the dwelling units located on the unit block
on which the traffic calming device was installed and dwelling units
located within one unit block of the requested removal site; or
(3) If the traffic calming device has been installed on a street that
provides the only means of ingress and/or egress for other streets,
the petition requesting removal may be signed by eligible signatures
from 60% of the dwelling units located on the street and such other
streets.
(4) No petition will be considered until six months have elapsed since
the initial installation of the traffic calming device.
E. Miscellaneous:
(1) Placement of traffic calming device near schools, parks and playgrounds:
the Mayor and Council may initiate the installation of traffic calming
device on streets adjacent to neighborhood parks, playgrounds and
schools or on commercial areas.
(2) Authority of City over traffic calming devices.
(a)
Nothing in these guidelines shall be construed as preempting the City, at its initiative, from installing, altering, maintaining or removing a traffic calming device installation. The City Administrator will notify, pursuant to the notice provisions stated in Subsection
C above, the appropriate affected residents of the proposed changes regarding a traffic calming device.
F. Installation and maintenance:
(1) In the regulation and supervision of traffic, the Public Works Director
is authorized to construct, install, place, erect, and maintain upon
the public highways of the City those traffic calming device installations
and proper signage as the Mayor and Council have or may direct at
the locations designated by the Mayor and Council.
(2) All speed humps installed pursuant with this Ordinance shall ordinarily:
(a)
Consist of one or more speed humps spaced every 200 feet to
500 feet along public street or alley;
(b)
Not be placed within 200 feet of a stop sign unless required
by special circumstances as determined by the Director of Public Works;
and
(c)
Be painted with distinctive markings which should include reflective
paint or tape.
(3) Warning signs marked "speed humps" shall be placed on the right hand
side of the street at the approach to each speed hump.
[Rewritten on 3-27-2011 by HO-2011-01, amended 3-18-2013 by HO-39-03-2013, 8-4-2014 by HO 2014-06]
A. A "speed monitoring system," as defined in Maryland law, means a
device with one or more motor vehicle sensors producing recorded images
of motor vehicles traveling at least 12 miles per hour above the posted
speed limit.
B. No more than 10 school zone speed monitoring systems as outlined
in § 21-809 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated
Code of Maryland are hereby authorized at locations, determined by
the Chief of Police or his/her designee after consultation with and
agreement of the City Administrator, in school zones within the City,
as established under § 21-803.1 of the Transportation Article
of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
C. Before activating a speed monitoring system in any school zone at
any location where such a system had not been previously moved or
placed, the City shall:
(1) Publish notice of the location(s) of the speed monitoring system(s)
on the City website and in a newspaper of general circulation within
the City; and
(2) Ensure that each sign that designates a school zone has in close
proximity to it a sign that indicates that speed monitoring systems
are in use in the school zone and that the signage is in accordance
with the manual for and that the specifications for a uniform system
of traffic control devices adopted by the State Highway Administration.
D. The City shall name a City employee as Program Administrator to oversee
the contract with the speed monitoring system contractor and shall
also name another City employee who has not been involved in monitoring
system citations, to investigate and respond to questions or concerns
about the City's speed monitoring systems as outlined in § 21-809(b)(1)(ix)
of the Transportation Article.
E. Unless otherwise provided by law, the school zone speed monitoring
system may operate Monday through Friday between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00
p.m.
F. For a period of at least 15 days after any speed monitoring system
and the signage as required by § 21-809 of the Transportation
Article are in place, a violation recorded by such speed monitoring
system in the City shall be enforced only by the issuance of a warning.
G. The school zone speed monitoring system in the City shall be conducted
in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Maryland Vehicle
Law.
H. City staff is hereby authorized to take those actions necessary to
obtain any required permission from the state of Maryland or other
government with jurisdiction to operate a speed monitoring system
within the school zones.
[Deleted 3-12-2011 by
HO-2011-01]