HomeMy WebLinkAbout5635 RESOLUTION NO. 5635
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
AUBURN, WASHINGTON, APPROVING AN UPDATE TO
ITS NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the City of Auburn adopted a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program
(Program) in 2005 via Resolution 3946, and updated the Program in 2006 via Resolution
4094;
WHEREAS, the Program's purposes are to maximize efforts to discourage
excessive vehicular speeds and cut-through traffic in residential neighborhoods, to
promote safer streets for residents in residential neighborhoods, and to encourage drivers
to use streets as designed. To achieve these purposes, it is important to periodically
evaluate and revise the Program and its approaches to traffic calming;
WHEREAS, the City's Public Works Department has recently updated the Program
to incorporate equity in the Program's planning approach, and to refine the Program's
traffic calming approaches for different types of neighborhoods with varied traffic impacts.
The recent update to the Program is attached as Exhibit A to this Resolution.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN,
WASHINGTON, RESOLVES as follows:
Section 1. The Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program, as identified in Exhibit
A attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, is approved in substantial
conformity therewith.
Section 2. The Mayor is authorized to implement those administrative
procedures necessary to carry out the directives of this legislation.
Resolution No. 5635
December 20, 2021
Page 1 of 2 Rev. 2018
Section 3. The Mayor is authorized to approve periodic updates to the
Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program without legislative action.
Section 4. This Resolution will take effect and be in full force on passage and
signatures.
Dated and Signed this 20th day of December, 2021.
CITY OF AUBURN
ANCY CKUS, MAYOR
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CLICROMA
Shawn Campbell, MMC, City Clerk Kendra Comeau, City Attorney
Resolution No. 5635
December 20, 2021
Page 2 of 2 Rev.2018
Resolution 5635
AUBURN Exhibit A
December 2021
Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program
Overview & Purpose:
The City of Auburn is dedicated to improving the quality and livability of Auburn's residential
neighborhoods.
City Council adopted a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program to assist residents and the City in
developing solutions to speeding and other traffic safety concerns on residential streets. This program
was implemented from 2007 through March 2020,when it was put on hold because of budget
reductions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.This updated program will be implemented starting in
January 2022.
This program is intended for residential neighborhoods, with implementation on streets classified as
"local residential"and "residential collector". It is not intended for commercial/industrial areas or
streets classified as"arterials", "non-residential collectors", "rural collectors", or"highways". It is also
not intended for alleys.
"Traffic Calming reduces automobile speeds or volumes as a means of improving the quality of life in
residential areas, increasing walking safety and making bicycling more comfortable."
(ITE definition,Traffic Engineering Handbook, 2016)
The objectives of the neighborhood traffic calming program are to:
• Reduce speeds in neighborhoods so that most cars regularly drive below or at the posted speed
limit.
• Reduce speeds at locations such as intersections and roadway curves,to promote safety for
vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
• Discourage cut-through vehicle traffic between arterials,to encourage drivers to use arterials,
which are designed for higher traffic volumes, instead of using local streets,which are intended
for local access.
• Improve safety for all road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists.
• Educate residents through traffic safety awareness and outreach, which may include events to
demonstrate perceived vs. actual speeds.
• Meet Auburn's equity goals with a proactive approach to ensure all neighborhoods are
evaluated, regardless of whether complaints were received or not.
• Encourage residents to participate in the process through community outreach.
Tools to meet the program's objectives:
• Education:
o Informational letters, including options for alternative language(s)
o Neighborhood outreach and meeting(s)to discuss concerns and potential traffic calming
approaches,when applicable
o Temporary awareness signs as a localized safety campaign
o Placement of the Police Speed Trailer, which indicates the vehicles speed and the
posted speed limit
o Temporary installation of Radar Speed Feedback Signs, which indicate the vehicles
speed and posted speed limit(for classified streets only)
o Social media outreach
o Magazine articles
• Enforcement:
o Police Emphasis Patrols-Speed study results are shared with the Police Traffic Unit to
assist in guiding their enforcement activities
• Engineering:
o Evaluation of best traffic calming treatment options for the neighborhood,to be
implemented with available funding
o Project design and cost estimate, including neighborhood feedback
o Implementation as an annual capital project
• Evaluation:
o Evaluation of results (community survey and/or data collection) post implementation.
Proactive and Areawide Approach
This program is intended to proactively identify and address traffic calming issues throughout complete
neighborhood areas rather than waiting for issues to be reported at a spot location within a
neighborhood.The intent is not to address each specific location where a complaint is received, but
instead evaluate defined geographic neighborhood areas, one neighborhood area at a time,to ensure
that traffic calming treatment measure(s)will not negatively affect neighboring streets.The intent is to
ensure that roadways are used as intended, with arterials carrying most of the traffic, and local
residential streets used primarily for local residential access, and residential collector streets used to
connect local residential streets to arterials.
Individual complaints received will continue to be documented and will help inform the City of potential
speeding issues. However,to implement a proactive approach, complaints will not be the only factor
considered when determining which neighborhood area to further study and possibly implement traffic
calming measures.This may mean longer delays in some complaints being evaluated and addressed.
Prioritization of neighborhoods to address will be based on many factors and how much can be
accomplished annually, based on staff availability and budget allocations, but the long-term result is
expected to be a more successful program.
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While a reactive (complaints driven)spot treatment approach may have limited success, a proactive,
areawide approach tends to have more success in meeting the goals of a traffic calming program long
term, based on nationwide studies and findings.
Localized Neighborhood Speeding Issues
Complaints are sometimes received regarding speeding in neighborhoods where nearly all of the traffic
on the streets is residents or guests of the neighborhood itself. Examples of this scenario would be
traffic on short cul-de-sac or dead-end roadways and in smaller neighborhoods with only a single
connection from the local roadways to a collector or arterial roadway. Sometimes complaints are also
received that specific residents within a neighborhood are speeding.These situations do not fall within
the program goals to be both proactive and area wide. Program funds for engineering and construction
of physical improvements will not be prioritized for these locations. The extents to which the program
evaluates and takes action to address specific complaints for localized speeding issues will be based on
the availability of program resources that are not already allocated towards non-localized traffic calming
efforts. When resources are available, the program will address these situations on a case-by-case basis
with the following:
1. Neighborhood education and outreach about traffic safety, including demonstration of
perceived speed versus actual speed
2. Placement of temporary educational items such as temporary signs or speed trailer
3. Police outreach—officers can meet with a specific driver and talk about the importance of
respecting travel speeds
If the localized neighborhood concerns persist after these efforts,the neighborhood could pursue
physical traffic calming measures at its own cost, subject to City approval. In this case,the neighborhood
would be responsible for all costs associated with the improvements and would need to hire a licensed
engineer to design the improvements and prepare the project plans and a contractor licensed, insured,
and bonded per City standards to construct them.The neighborhood or its contractor would be required
to secure a construction permit from the City and provide affidavits from at least 51%of the
neighborhood property owners that the improvements were desired and acknowledging that the City
may remove and not re-construct the improvements at any time without compensation or
reimbursement to the neighborhood.This scenario may be applicable if a neighborhood installs traffic
calming measures and the City subsequently removes them with a street reconstruction project.The
traffic calming measures would be subject to City standards and to City review and approval or denial
through the construction permit process.
Funding
2022-24 Annual Budget (REET)for this program: $50,000
2022-24 ARPA funds: $200,000 per year
ARPA funds can only be used for projects or improvements within Qualified Census Tracts (QCT)
as defined by HUD.
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Non-Localized Traffic Calming Process
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Demographic Data Define Area Boundaries
Study
Street Information Traffic Generators/Destinations
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Share Data Collect Input
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Community Survey
Area selection:
From 2022 to 2024, two (2)types of areas will be considered:
1. Qualified Census Tracts(QCT) using ARPA funds ($200k/year)
2. Non-QCT($50k/year)
Staff will define study area boundaries based on street networks, school boundaries, and other
characteristics that define a neighborhood area from a street network perspective. Equity Lens: Staff
will review data such as Census demographic data,American Community Survey (ACS) demographic
data, and school enrollment data to create a profile for the area with income, demographics, primary
languages, and other information that can be helpful with community outreach and prioritization. Staff
will also review existing data such as speed study results, complaints, and crashes to identify which
areas to study first, as this data will indicate where we have documented issues and help us prioritize
these locations.
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Study:
Once an area has been defined the following data will be compiled and evaluated:
• Street Information within the Neighborhood:
- Speed data (based on the 85th percentile)
- Count data (Average Daily Trip (ADT)
- Continuous sidewalks (one side, both sides, none?)
- Lane width
- On-street parking
- Other elements such as vegetation, streetlights, street grade, etc.
• Traffic Generators/Destinations Within and Adjacent to the Neighborhood:
- Public Schools
- City Parks
- Community Centers
- Local retail destination (convenience store)
- Health services
Outreach:
Once all the data is compiled and staff has a completed an "existing conditions" report, staff will engage
with the residents to gather input,feedback, concerns, and issues that residents identify in their area.
The first round of engagement will be focused on sharing the results of the data collection effort and
collect input from the community to understand their specific concerns.
After this first round of engagement, staff will work internally on compiling a list of projects that could
provide improvement, if any deficiencies or needs were identified.The project list will include a range of
possible options to address the needs of the area, based on options from the traffic calming toolbox, but
not limited to it. This list will be presented to the community via a second round of engagement, where
community members can indicate which project(s)they think would be best in their area. Based on
community feedback, budget, and feasibility,the City will choose a final project list.
Design and Construction
Once the list of locations and improvements are selected, a project will be established and administered
through the City's Engineering Capital Project team.The design and construction documents will be
developed and then go through a public bid process to select a contractor who will build the
improvements.
Page 5 of 9
Schedule for 2022-2024:
2022 2023 2024
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
•
Project 1 Area Study& Design& Construction
Selection Outreach Outreach
Project 2 Area Study& Design& Construction
Selection Outreach Outreach
Project 3 Area Study& Design& Construction*
Selection Outreach Outreach
*ARPA funded improvements must be under contract by 12/31/2024
Post-Implementation Evaluation
Within 1 year after traffic calming improvements are constructed, staff will survey neighborhood
residents to evaluate if the residents felt that the project addressed the speeding concerns and if they
did not, what concerns may persist. Based on this feedback, the City will determine if additional data
should be collected and if modifications or additional traffic calming efforts should be prioritized and
pursued.
Equity
To ensure affected populations are invited to learn about and help decide on the final projects, and to
meet Title VI requirements, staff will research population data to ensure that outreach and education
material is provided in the languages most spoken in the selected area, and research how to best
engage with the residents. Material will also be made available in other languages as requested by
residents.
Page 6 of 9
Traffic Calming Toolbox
There are several types of traffic calming treatments available, each with a specific intent and impact to
be considered before being selected. Some of these tools can be combined with others, based on
community needs.The illustrations are concepts for reference only.There are many configurations
possible for each tool. Other approaches may be considered.This list is not comprehensive.
Vertical Measures
Speed Cushions are raised installations that do not cross the whole roadway width but are
approximately 1 to 2 ft apart and about 6 feet wide and 10 feet long,with a flat top (about 4 feet by 4
feet).They are designed to be most comfortable at a 25 to 30 MPH travel speed,and allow emergency
vehicles to straddle them,to not slow them down in an emergency.
Raised Intersections are raised installations built within a whole intersection area,slowing traffic as it
approaches the intersection, allowing more time to stop for pedestrians.
Other approaches can include raised crosswalks, which are raised crossing areas for pedestrians, and
textured pavement,which is an installation of bricks, concrete pavers, stamped asphalt, or other
material that provide a change in the roadway with a texture that potentially slow vehicles down.
Speed Cushions Raised Intersection Raised Crosswalk
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Detail from City of Auburn Illustrations from Traffic Calming:
Construction Standards 2021 State of the Practice ITE-FHWA,August 1999
Page 7 of 9
Horizontal Measures
Traffic Circles or traffic calming circles are raised islands located in the center of an intersection,forcing
drivers to slow down to drive around it. Depending on the area and design needs,some are built with
mountable curb to allow large vehicles such as emergency vehicles, garbage collection trucks, school
buses, and large delivery trucks to drive over a portion of it. The center of the traffic circle can be
landscaped or not.These are not to be confused with roundabouts which are typically larger in size and
installed at larger and higher volume intersections in place of a traffic signal.
Chicanes are curb extensions placed on each side of the street at an interval to form a S-shaped curve.
This directs traffic to swerve and slow down to maneuver through the curves. Chicane design can
include a protective bikeway, so that cyclists can continue along a straight path,away from motorists,
while motorists must follow the curves.
Traffic Circle Chicanes
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Illustrations from Traffic Calming:State of the Practice ITE-FHWA,August 1999
Narrowing means shortening the width of the street,to constrict the space. It can be constructed with
crosswalks at intersections(with bulb-outs) or mid-block.
Bulb-outs Mid-block narrowing
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Page 8 of 9
Medians are raised islands located in the center of the street, which narrows the width of the street at
that location. Some medians include a crosswalk and provide a pedestrian refuge area between the
two travel lanes.
Median
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Data Sources and References:
FHWA Traffic Calming ePrimer:
https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/speedmgt/traffic calm.cfm
ITE/FHWA Traffic Calming: State of the Practice,August 1999:
https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferiournevl/library/pdf/toolsintro.pdf
EPA Environmental Justice Mapping Tool:
https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)for demographic data from student
enrollment, and special programs.
https://washingtonstatereportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/
United States Census Bureau:
https://www.census.gov/
American Community Survey:
https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
Temporary awareness signs as a localized safety campaign example:
Seattle Yard Signs:
https://www.seattle.gov/visionzero/resources/yard-signs
Intercity Transit(Olympia)Yard Signs:
https://www.intercitytransit.comArard-signs
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