HomeMy WebLinkAbout(2015, 05/12) - L-26 - AmendedL-26
NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT POLICY
The City has developed Neighborhood Traffic Management Guidelines in an effort to
provide residents with traffic concerns access to traffic management measures that can
serve to alleviate their concerns. It is the intent of this policy to identify traffic calming
measures; establish speed and volume thresholds for the implementation of measures
and; define step-by-step procedures to address neighborhood traffic concerns.
GENERAL
The Goals of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program are:
A. Manage the speed of vehicles on residential streets with “demonstrated speeding
concerns” (as defined in this Policy) to levels consistent with residential speed
limits, or other posted speed limits as determined by the California Vehicle Code
or the City of Newport Beach Municipal Code.
B. Discourage the use of local residential streets by non-local (cut-through) traffic
by making the streets less attractive as commuter routes.
C. Develop and emphasize focused neighborhood educational programs that will
address residential traffic concerns. This shall be accomplished by the
preparation of a traffic calming pamphlet; holding neighborhood meetings; and
public hearings before the City Council.
D. Implementation of selective police enforcement actions in neighborhoods with
traffic related concerns.
E. Minimize impacts on emergency vehicle response times, which may potentially
be caused by implementation of neighborhood traffic calming measures.
F. Limit the potential for shifting traffic from one residential street (or
neighborhood) to another when implementing traffic calming measures.
G. Respond to complaints in a timely manner.
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TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT TOOL BOX
Traffic management measures generally fall into three (3) categories:
A. Level 1 Tools are comprised of actions and programs that are primarily
educational and enforcement based. These tools include neighborhood
meetings, police enforcement, signing, and the use of a speed radar trailer.
B. Level 2 Tools include the construction of physical improvements to address
documented speed concerns. These tools include road narrowing, chokers,
gateways, traffic circles, speed bumps, speed tables, speed cushions and
intersection channelization.
C. Level 3 Tools include the construction of physical improvements to reduce traffic
volumes on a local residential street. These tools include neckdowns, turn
restrictions, cul-de-sacs, diagonal diverters, half-closures.
The definitions for the different traffic calming tools are included in the Neighborhood
Traffic Management Guidelines document.
CRITERIA
The implementation of Level 2 Tools will be considered for those public streets meeting
all of the following criteria:
1. The street should be primarily a local, residential street with a posted (or prima
facie) speed limit of 25 mph or 30 mph.
2. The section of road shall have no more than one lane in each direction, and shall
be a maximum of 44 feet in width curb-to-curb. The street segment shall also be
at least 800 feet in length, and have no intermediate STOP signs.
3. The volume of traffic on the street shall be between 500 and 4000 vehicles per
day.
4. A speed survey must demonstrate that the 85 percentile speed is equal to or
greater than 32 mph on a posted (or prima facie) 25 mph street, or equal to or
greater than 37 mph on a posted 30 mph street. Speeds above these thresholds
indicate a “demonstrated speed concern”.
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5. The street must have a sustained longitudinal grade of 6 percent or less. The
street must have a horizontal and vertical alignment such that there is adequate
sight distance, as determined by the City Traffic Engineer.
6. Level 2 measures will not be installed if, in the opinion of the City Traffic
Engineer, they will result in excessive diversion of traffic to parallel local
residential streets.
7. Proposed Level 2 measures will be reviewed by the Police and Fire Departments
for potential impacts to public safety response times.
The implementation of Level 3 Tools will be considered for those public streets meeting
criteria 1, 2, 6, and 7 as noted above, and as required by Level 2 Tools. In addition the
following criteria must be met:
1. The volume of traffic on the street shall be greater that 4000 vehicles per day.
PROCESS
The following step-by-step procedures will be used by the City to address
neighborhood traffic concerns:
A. A resident will inform the City of a potential problem area. Any traffic calming
request is required to include a petition signed by at least five (5) residents
within the immediate vicinity of the problem area.
B. The City will review the roadway conditions and collect the appropriate traffic
speed and volume data. If it is determined that an immediate safety issue exists,
staff will initiate a project to address the situation. Otherwise, staff will initiate
the appropriate Level 1 traffic calming measures.
C. The Level 1 measures shall be in place for a minimum of three (3) months. If the
Level 1 measures do not address the residents concerns, the City will review the
traffic data that has been collected, discuss the issues with the Police and Fire
Departments, and determine if the street qualifies for Level 2 or Level 3
measures. The residents will be informed of the results of the traffic analysis.
D. If the traffic data indicates that the street(s) may qualify for Level 2 or Level 3
measures, a letter will be mailed out to the neighborhood asking residents to
identify specific concerns. After responses to the letter are received, a
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neighborhood meeting will be held. This meeting may be used to develop
recommended Level 2 or Level 3 implementation measures. A representative of
the Public Works Department and the Police Department will attend the
meeting.
E. Based upon resident input and staff analysis, a draft improvement plan shall be
prepared and submitted to the residents together with an approved petition for
signatures.
F. A neighborhood representative shall be responsible for circulation of the petition
and draft improvement plan. The petition will be prepared by City staff together
with the neighborhood representative, and shall be approved by the City Traffic
Engineer prior to circulation. The City will provide a map of the affected area
and/or a listing of all affected addresses to the designated neighborhood
representative. The petition should include only residences or businesses within
the affected area. Person(s) circulating the petition shall attempt to obtain
signatures from all affected residences or businesses that are either an owner or
tenant and at least 18 years. The petition must include the current address,
printed name, and signature for person signing the petition. The petition
requesting the neighborhood traffic management measures must be supported
by seventy (70) percent of the total number of residential units/businesses. In the
event that a traffic calming tool may increase traffic noise, one resident for each
residence immediately adjacent to a proposed location of such traffic calming
tool must sign the petition in favor of the draft improvement plan.
G. If neighborhood support is demonstrated through the petition process, the
project will be forwarded to City Council for approval. All Level 2 or Level 3
measures shall be approved by City Council prior to final design or construction.
If the petition process is unsuccessful, City staff will continue undertaking the
appropriate Level 1 actions.
PRIORITY
Requests for the installation of traffic calming measures using City funds shall be
prioritized by the City Traffic Engineer considering the following factors:
1. Date of petition submittal.
2. Volume of traffic using the street.
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3. Percentage of traffic exceeding the threshold speed limit.
4. Other factors including, but not limited to, number of houses, presence of parks
or schools, street width, and number of residential driveways.
The City shall also take into account any letters of interest from the residents (or
Homeowners Associations) to provide funding for all or part of the costs of the design
and construction of the improvements.
Adopted – September 12, 2006
Amended – May 12, 2015
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