Memorandum
City of Lawrence
Public Works
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TO: |
Mike Wildgen |
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FROM: |
Chuck Soules |
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CC: |
Dave Corliss, Debbie Van Saun |
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Date: |
March 1, 2006 |
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RE: |
Agenda Item for March 7, 2006 Traffic Safety Commission - February 6, 2006 Meeting Agenda Item No. 2 Traffic Calming on 13th Street Between Connecticut Street and Haskell Avenue |
At their February 6, 2006 meeting the Traffic Safety Commission reviewed a request from a resident to consider traffic calming along 13th Street between Connecticut Street and Haskell Avenue. Staff studied the area and found that the traffic volume and speeds warranted the installation of traffic calming devices as per City policy (TSC Agenda Item No. 2). Several residents supported the request (TSC Minutes Item No. 2). The Traffic Safety Commission recommended (9-0) that traffic calming devices be constructed on 13th Street between Connecticut Street and Haskell Avenue.
A plan for the area has not been developed. City policy requires concurrence of traffic calming devices from adjacent property owners (within 300’). The process has been that after a project has been approved, staff has worked with the neighbors/neighborhood to put together the appropriate installation of traffic calming devices to reduce traffic speeds. However, with the backlog of traffic calming projects I think it is necessary for the City Commission to know what might be anticipated and the potential budget impacts. We have maintained a listing of approved projects by date of approval, description of traffic calming devices needed to be installed per project and estimated costs (attached). The school beacons on Peterson and 27th Street are included, school crossings have been given priority for installation. The crosswalks on New Hampshire between 6th and 7th and 8th and 9th are also on this list and will be completed this summer when the street is milled and overlaid. Also attached is the projects listed by priority established by the City’s policy. The 13th Street project would rank higher in priority than some of the previously approved projects (attached).
Stop signs have specific warrants (MUTCD Section 2B.05) per the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and should not to be used for speed control.
Staff has estimated that this area may require a couple traffic circles and speed humps for budgeting purposes only. Meeting with residents when ready to proceed with the project may result in other devices. The intersections in this area are not in good condition, and installation of traffic circles would require the entire intersections to be rebuilt. (When traffic circles are installed vehicle paths in the intersection change and additional deterioration around the circle occurs. The intersections in this area will not hold up under these conditions, and will become a maintenance issue Reconstruction of the intersections has substantial impact on the cost of the improvements. At this time the estimated cost for traffic calming for 13th Street between Connecticut Street and Haskell Avenue is approximately $150,000.
Please let me know if additional information is needed.
Action Requested: Provide recommendation on Traffic Safety Commission’s recommendation to construct traffic calming devices on 13th Street between Connecticut Street and Haskell Avenue.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles F. Soules, P.E.
Director of Public Works