Presenter/Contact
Presenter
Garry Ford, Assistant Public Works Director/City Engineer
Contact Info
(830) 221-4020 - gford@nbtexas.org
Subject Header
SUBJECT:
Title
Discuss and consider approval of the installation of speed humps on River Acres Drive between 1255 River Acres Drive and Fair Lane.
Body
BACKGROUND / RATIONALE:
Council District: 4
Residents submitted a request for the installation of speed humps on River Acres Drive between 1255 River Acres Drive and Fair Lane. River Acres Drive is a residential street with a posted speed limit of 30 mph. The request was evaluated based on petition, operational and geometric requirements established in the City of New Braunfels Speed Hump Policy approved in 1999.
Twelve signatures were required to meet the two-thirds requirement, and twelve signatures were received. An operational requirement in the policy is that the 85th percentile speed must be at least 5 miles per hour over the regulatory speed limit of 30 mph. Traffic data collected over 24 hours on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 showed the 85th percentile speed of 33 miles per hour which does not meet the speed criteria in the Speed Hump Policy. Additionally, the volume requirement in the approved speed hump policy is a daily traffic volume of at least 800 vehicles per day. The traffic data collected measured only 347 vehicles per day. These requirements are listed in the attachment to this report.
The Speed Hump Policy also requires proposed speed humps on a street to be approved by the emergency services departments. The New Braunfels Fire Department and the New Braunfels Police Department approve of the installation of speed humps on the requested street.
If the request is approved, the street will be placed on the list of streets eligible for speed hump installation for up to three years. Speed hump projects will be prioritized according to the criteria established in the Speed Hump Policy.
The Speed Hump Policy also states that the alteration or removal of speed humps requires the same petition process as the installation request, with at least two-thirds of all adjacent households and businesses in favor of speed hump removal. The city will not provide any funding for the removal of speed humps if it is requested.
ADDRESSES A NEED/ISSUE IN A CITY PLAN OR COUNCIL PRIORITY:
Envision New Braunfels Strategy 7: Connect All: Action 7.16: Develop a program and process for consideration of citizen requests for neighborhood traffic calming.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City has specific funding for the installation of traffic calming. This is the second speed hump request submitted for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Speed hump installation cost including speed cushions, signing and pavement markings at two locations cost approximately $14,000 to $18,000, depending on location.
Recommendation
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
This item was considered and discussed by the Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board at their meeting on March 11, 2021. The Board unanimously passed a motion in favor of the installation of speed humps on River Acres Drive between 1255 River Acres Drive and Fair Lane.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff does not recommend approval of speed humps on River Acres Drive between 1255 River Acres Drive and Fair Lane as it does not meet the speed or volume criteria established in the Speed Hump Policy.