This article is adopted pursuant to the authority
granted in § 1640(a)16 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of
the State of New York.
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Sea
Cliff hereby finds:
A. The number of successful traffic calming programs
in the United States is increasing, and reports of these successes
are generating strong interest in New York State. Traffic calming
techniques were first used and developed to stem the rise of speeds
and accidents, to improve the environment in residential settings,
and to reduce speeding problems and heavy traffic flow on residential
streets to make the neighborhood more livable. A livable neighborhood
provides residents with the ability to feel safe and secure, the opportunity
to interact with neighbors, the ability to experience a sense of home
and privacy, and a sense of community identification.
B. Increased public awareness of traffic calming is resulting
in a call to use it to resolve many traffic problems. However, traffic
calming cannot solve all traffic problems. In each situation, attention
should be given to the examination of project circumstances, establishment
of project objectives, and considering whether traffic calming should
be an alternative or an element of the design.
C. The purpose of this article is to set forth the requirements,
guidelines, process and criteria by which the installation or implementation
of traffic calming measures may be recommended to the Village Board
of Trustees and to identify the conditions under which they may be
installed on public streets.
D. The policy of the Village of Sea Cliff shall be to
consider the application of traffic calming, as appropriate, on Village
streets in accordance with the guidelines, requirements, and criteria
contained in this article.
For the purposes of this article, unless the
context or subject matter otherwise requires, the terms used herein
aware defined as follows:
ALTERING DRIVER BEHAVIOR
The self-enforcement aspect of traffic calming; the lowering
of speeds, the reduction of aggressive driving, and the increase in
respect for nonmotorized street users.
REDUCE THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF MOTOR VEHICLE USE
Changing the design and the role of the street to reduce
the negative social and environmental effects of motor vehicles on
individuals (e.g., speed, intrusion, etc.), and on society in general
(e.g., pollution, urban sprawl, etc.).
ROAD UNDULATIONS
Areas of raised pavement constructed or placed in, on and
across a roadway. Road undulations are a roadway geometric design
feature whose primary purpose is to reduce vehicular traffic speed
along a roadway. Road undulations shall consist of deflections in
the paved roadway surface for a uniformly varying height to a maximum
of 2 and 5/8 inches plus or minus 1/8 inch over a twelve-foot long
base, or as otherwise recommended and permitted by designs and specifications
approved and adopted by the New York State Department of Transportation
and/or the design guidelines and standards set forth in the "Guidelines
for the Design and Application of Speed Humps," prepared by the Institute
of Transportation Engineers.
[Amended 5-12-2008 by L.L. No. 9-2008]
TRAFFIC CALMING
The combination of policies and physical measures that help
decrease the negative impacts to local streets and neighborhoods caused
by motor vehicles, reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use,
alter driver behavior, and improve conditions for nonmotorized street
users.
Traffic calming is not applicable to every situation
or concern. To determine if traffic calming is a feasible alternative,
each situation or concern should be assessed with reference to the
following considerations and criteria. Not all considerations and
criteria are applicable to all situations or concerns. Only those
that do apply should be considered. If a majority of the considerations
and criteria are applicable, traffic calming measures should probably
be considered as an alternative.
A. Traffic calming measures have been requested by users,
residents, or other affected local citizens.
B. A local desire exists to create a more livable area
by improving the environment through motor vehicle speed and/or volume
control.
C. Continuous requests from local residents have been
received for speed limit reductions.
D. Emergency services will approve the use of the proposed
traffic calming measures.
E. A problem exists which should be addressed with a
traffic calming measure.
F. A significant number of pedestrian/bicycle traffic
generators (schools, community or recreational facilities) are located
on the street or in the vicinity.
G. The existing speed limit is generally not complied
with.
H. Excessive through traffic exists on a local street.
I. The street's relationship or importance to the general
flow of traffic in the Village.
J. The use of traffic calming will complement the intended
function of the street.
K. Concerns for speeding, pedestrian safety, or other
issues exist on streets where traffic signals or stop signs are not
warranted or appropriate and speed control, and the elimination or
discouraging of through traffic, can be achieved by physical means
in combination with appropriate warning signs.
L. Any detrimental effects on safety that the traffic
calming measures will create.
M. Accidents between autos, bicycles, and pedestrians
are prevalent in the area.
N. The effect the introduction of a proposed traffic
calming measure will have on adjoining streets.
O. Conformity of a proposed traffic calming measure with
the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines.
P. The effect of a proposed traffic calming measure on
the following:
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section,
word, part, or provision of this article shall be adjudged by any
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall
not affect, impair or invalidate any other part of this article, but
shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph,
section, word, part or provision of this article directly involved
in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.