PRESENTER: Presenter
Carly Farmer, Graduate Engineer
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SUBJECT: Title
Discuss and consider a recommendation to City Council to install speed humps on Old Marion Road/S Mesquite Avenue between Camellia Lane and Rolling Valley Drive.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Capital Improvements
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 6
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Residents submitted a request for the installation of speed humps on Old Marion Road/S Mesquite Avenue between Camellia Lane and Rolling Valley Drive. Old Marion Road and S Mesquite Avenue are residential streets with a posted speed limit of 30 mph and classified as minor collectors on the 2012 City of New Braunfels Thoroughfare Plan. The request was evaluated based on petition, operational and geometric requirements established in the City of New Braunfels Speed Hump Policy approved in 1999.
9 signatures were required to meet the two-thirds requirement, and 10 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, May 11, 2022 showed the 85th percentile speed of 34 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 3604 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. The proposed speed hump placement has already been approved by all adjacent property owners.
Crash data was pulled and shows 1 crash occurred in the last 3 years. However, the residents claim crashes are more frequent than reported. Photos of crash damage to property from the residents are provided in the attachment to this report. The crash damage suggest vehicles are operating at higher speeds than what is safe on a curve and lose control.
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.
ISSUE:
Residents near the intersection of Old Marion Road and S Mesquite Avenue have requested speed humps be installed on the approaches to this intersection due to speeding, safety, and property damage concerns.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City has specific funding for the installation of traffic calming. This is the first speed hump request submitted for the 2022 fiscal year. Speed hump installation cost including speed cushions, signing and pavement markings at two locations cost approximately $30,000, depending on location.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff does not recommend approval of speed humps on Old Marion Road/S Mesquite Avenue between Camellia Lane and Rolling Valley Drive as it does not meet the speed criteria established in the Speed Hump Policy.