ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with a Request to ADOPT a RESOLUTION for a NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY for the City of Peoria.
Body
BACKGROUND: With the adoption of a Complete Streets Policy in 2015 and a Bicycle Master Plan in 2016, the City has been attempting to encourage safe and efficient use of our right-of-ways for all users by encouraging better design on our roadways. However, every year many complaints concerning speeding on neighborhood roadways are received by City staff. Attempts are made to address these complaints through traffic regulations, random placement of traffic calming and enforcement, but no policy is in place for guidance. Research has shown that many cities around the country have adopted Traffic Calming Policies, which set forth a means to address citizen complaints by establishing request methods, encouraging citizen involvement, providing criteria for approval, and naming specific traffic calming measures.
Starting in 2017, City staff tasked the Transportation Commission with researching and developing a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy that would address complaints of speeding and cut-through traffic on residential neighborhood roadways. After months of discussion at the regular monthly meetings of the Transportation Commission, a Policy was drafted. At the November 21, 2017 Transportation Commission regular meeting, the Commission voted to recommend the Draft Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy, which is attached as a Resolution.
This policy, as drafted, is intended to address complaints of negative traffic behavior in neighborhoods by:
• Defining Traffic Calming
• Defining the process for submitting requests
• Establishing criteria for staff review of requests
• Establishing a procedure for prioritizing approve requests
• Listing possible traffic calming measures
• Providing application form and sample neighborhood petition
The Policy is intended for use only on residential roadways that were originally designed for low traffic volumes. Traffic calming of high volume, arterial roadways will need to be addressed as stand-alone engineering projects, and subject to best practice design.
While the Policy will set guidelines for application, approval and design, it does not have any direct financial impact. Finding a funding source may be necessary on an annual basis to implement Traffic Calming projects.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Adopting a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy has no direct financial impact, however implementing traffic calming devices on residential streets will require funding.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: This Policy will help address traffic complaints raised by Peoria neighborhoods.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The City will have an adopted Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy, which will set standards for requesting and implementing traffic calming on residential streets in the City of Peoria.
IMPACT IF DENIED: The City will not have an adopted Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy to address neighborhood traffic complaints.
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Safe Peoria
2. Grow Peoria
3. Not applicable.
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Invest in our infrastructure and transportation.
2. Reinvest in neighborhoods.
3. Support sustainability.
DEPARTMENT: Public Works