10-02-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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TRAFFIC CALMING The primary goal of the traffic calming program is to have guidelines and set procedures to address neighborhood concerns related to traffic safety and speeds on city streets. The traffic calming program requires strong community support and participation by affected residents and property owners. It involves a review of the streets crash history, speed data, and traffic volumes. Installation of the traffic calming devices requires specific design criteria and analysis outcomes be satisfied. The traffic calming program provides a structured planning process and is flexible enough to adjust to the challenges of each unique project. Traffic Calming Objectives: • Improve safety by reducing vehicle speeds on two-lane city streets. • Enhance safety for residents, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. • Maintain / enhance neighborhood livability. Traffic Calming Guidelines: • A combination of education, enforcement, and engineering methods will be used in the City’s traffic calming program. • Traffic calming devices will be planned, designed, and used in keeping with sound engineering and planning practices. City staff will recommend the installation of traffic calming devices such as striping, signing, center islands, roundabouts, and other approved traffic calming devices to accomplish the traffic calming program objectives. Installation of traffic calming devices may require the approval of the City Council. • The installation of traffic calming devices will require strong community support by residents living on the affected street segment. An analysis for the installation of traffic calming devices will be conducted based on accident data, speed data, traffic volumes and standard design criteria. • Traffic calming measures on city streets will be installed to reduce traffic speeds. Non- neighborhood or bypass traffic will be encouraged to use major arterial streets. Some diversion from a traffic managed street to an adjacent street will be unavoidable. • Installation of traffic calming devices will only be considered on two-lane city streets with a posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour or less. • Emergency vehicle access will be accommodated in all residential traffic calming plans. Traffic calming devices will be installed only with the consent of the Fire and Police departments. • Reasonable automobile, pedestrian, and bicycle access should be maintained on city streets with traffic calming devices. • Traffic calming devices will not inhibit or significantly impact transit, waste disposal trucks, and other service vehicles. • Removal of some on-street parking spaces may be necessary to install certain types of traffic calming devices. The parking needs of residents will be balanced with the neighborhood’s desire for the installation of traffic calming devices.