The purpose of the traffic calming devices on a residential and commercial street(s) is to slow and reduce vehicular traffic in neighborhoods and in commercial areas.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.2501)
A section of a street separated by intersecting streets and containing at least one row of homes.
An area located within the city that includes retail, commercial, industrial (light and heavy), manufacturing and/or otherwise not residential districts as set forth in the comprehensive zoning act.
An area within the city that includes an area within one-quarter (1/4) mile from the block where the traffic calming device is proposed to be located.
A person serving as the coordinator between the survey area and the city for the installation of traffic calming devices.
The area defined in which homes are to be surveyed in order to determine the degree of resident support.
A document provided by the city that provides information on a request and is used to collect signatures and preferences of representatives of the homes in the defined survey area.
A raised area, approach, or departure, milled or rolled rivletts, traffic buttons, raised profile markings, jiggle bars as pavement markers or groove strips of pavement placed on the roadway surface to slow or impede the speed of vehicles.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.2502)
(a)
Residential areas.
The citizens residing within the surveyed residential area may make application and be considered for traffic calming device installation based on the following criteria:
(1)
The street must be paved and on a dedicated right-of-way of the city.
(2)
That portion of the street subject to this article shall be within a residentially zoned district as provided in the development code.
(3)
There must be no more than one moving lane of traffic in each direction.
(4)
Traffic volume must be more than 500 vehicles per day but less than 5,000 vehicles per day.
(5)
The street must have a legal speed limit of not greater than 30 miles per hour.
(6)
The street must not be primary route for emergency vehicles. As determined by the police and/or fire department, the city manager or his designee(s) shall have the authority to determine said primary routes and upon such determination remove any such street from traffic calming device installation that is considered critical for emergency response. Emergency response routes are subject to change, and previously installed traffic calming devices may be removed by the city manager or his designee for emergency response reasons.
(7)
The city manager or his designee shall determine whether or not to install based on sound engineering and traffic principles and shall determine the appropriate traffic calming device at a particular location.
(b)
Commercial areas.
The city manager or his designee may impose traffic calming devices based on the following criteria:
(1)
The street must be paved and on a dedicated right-of-way of the city.
(2)
There must be no more than one moving lane of traffic in each direction.
(3)
Traffic volume must be more than 500 vehicles per day but less than 5,000 vehicles per day.
(4)
The street must have a legal speed limit designating maximum speed.
(5)
The street must not be primary route for emergency vehicles. As determined by the police and/or fire department, the city manager or his designee(s) shall have the authority to determine said primary routes and upon such determination remove any such street from traffic calming device installation that is considered critical for emergency response. Emergency response routes are subject to change, and previously installed traffic calming devices may be removed by the city manager or his designee for emergency response reasons.
(6)
The city manager or his designee shall determine installation based on sound engineering and traffic principles [and shall determine] the appropriate traffic calming device at a particular location.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.2503)
A traffic calming device must be located according to the following requirements:
(1)
Adequate sight distance must exist to accommodate traffic operations after its installation;
(2)
Property adjacent to where a traffic calming device is located must be elevated above the street to minimize the potential of flooding. There must be no adjacent property owners to the traffic calming device who are opposed to its installation.
(3)
The traffic calming device location must not have curves or grades that prevent the safe placement of said device.
(4)
The distance a traffic calming device must be included from utility features is at least 30 feet from a manhole or valve cover, 50 feet upstream or 5 feet downstream from a storm sewer inlet, and 50 feet from a fire hydrant.
(5)
The distance a traffic calming device must be to adjacent intersections and traffic-control devices must be at least 250 feet from an intersection, 250 feet from an adjacent traffic calming device, and 600 feet from an existing or currently approved traffic signal.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.2504)
The city manager and his designee to the public works department shall prepare and maintain design standards for traffic calming devices in accordance with the requirements set forth herein and shall select the appropriate traffic calming device to be placed in any residential or commercial area.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.2505)
(a)
The fee for the installation, removal or repair of traffic calming devices shall be an estimate of the actual cost of the work to be performed as determined by the director of public works.
(b)
The cost will be shared equally by the residents in the neighborhood and the city.
(c)
One or more residents could pay the costs of the traffic calming device for the neighborhood or even a private source. Engineering costs and maintenance of the traffic calming device will be paid for by the city.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.2506)
(a)
The fee for the installation, removal or repair of traffic calming devices shall be an estimate of the actual cost of the work to be performed, as determined by the director of public works.
(b)
One or more residents could pay the costs of the traffic calming device for the neighborhood or even a private source. Engineering costs and maintenance of the traffic calming device will be paid for by the city.
(c)
If the city manager or his designee in their sole discretion determines that the public safety requires placement within a commercial area, the city shall bear the costs of the traffic calming devices. If requested by the commercial enterprises which abut or are adjacent to the public roadway, then costs may be shared with such enterprises as provided in subsection (b) hereof.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.2507)
A resident who desires to have a traffic calming device on their street must initiate the installation process, which is as follows:
(1)
A request for a traffic calming device must be delivered in writing to the public works department. Upon receipt of the request, the public works department will review the request in a timely manner and contact the individual who requested the traffic calming device. If there are a number of individuals requesting the traffic calming device, a representative will be designated as the contact person for the city.
(2)
The public works department will supply the representative with a survey form, survey area, and proposed traffic calming device location. The survey form shall be provided by the city and contain the following minimum information: (i) description of the request, (ii) traffic considerations, and (iii) instructions to the residents. The resident must include the following information in their response: address, printed name, signature and whether they support, oppose or have no preference to the traffic calming device being installed. The survey area shall consist of the entire length of all blocks within 500 feet on both sides of the proposed traffic calming device location.
(3)
When the survey is complete, it must be returned to the public works department for review. At least 80% of the residents must approve of the proposed traffic calming device in order for consideration. The public works department will review the survey and other information on the proposed traffic calming device and contact the representative in a timely manner with a decision. If the traffic calming device is approved, the representative will be given an invoice prior to construction for payment of the neighborhood's share of the traffic calming device.
(4)
The public works department will notify by mail all the homes in the survey area advising. The letter will also notify the residents of the costs for the traffic calming device and give them contact information for the collection of payments. If more than 20% of the survey area contact the city in writing objecting to the traffic calming device installation, the city shall not install such speed hump.
(5)
Once payment has been received for installation of an approved traffic calming device from the representative, the funds will be escrowed by the city and the project is placed on a priority list. Work will begin on the traffic calming device as funds are approved by the city council for their construction. If the traffic calming device is not constructed within three years of approval, the funds will be returned. However, the neighborhood may at its option fund the remaining cost of the traffic calming device and the same constructed by the city upon remittance of the balance of funds, or the neighborhood will have their payment refunded. After refund or withdrawal by the neighborhood of an application, the process must be renewed as provided herein.
(6)
If payment has not been received for the traffic calming device within a year after the invoice is sent, a new application will be required.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.2508)
The city manager or his/her appointee may consider a request for a traffic calming device that was denied by the public works department. The appeals process is as follows:
(1)
Appeals should be submitted to the public works department in writing. The public works department will forward the appeal and other information on the request to the city manager or his/her appointee.
(2)
The city manager or his/her appointee will consider the information and make a decision on the appeal. The city manager's decision is final.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.2509)