PRESENTER: Presenter
Garry Ford, Transportation and Capital Improvements Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Discuss and consider approval of the installation of speed humps on E Zink Street.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Capital Improvements
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 5
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Residents submitted a request for the installation of speed humps on E Zink Street from N Seguin Avenue to the eastern intersection with N Market Avenue. E Zink Street is a local street in a residential and commercial area with an assumed speed limit of 30 mph and is not classified on the 2012 City of New Braunfels Thoroughfare Plan. Both sides of E Zink Street are within Parking by Permit Area H which is in effect year-round from 8 AM to 8 PM daily. 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 9 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 in Summer 2023 showed the 85th percentile speed of 24 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 1,384 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 have no objections to the installation of speed humps on the requested street.
Traffic crash data was found through TxDOT’s Crash Records Information System and shows zero crashes reported in the last three years.
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 have requested speed humps be installed on E Zink Street due to speeding and safety concerns.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City has specific funding for the installation of traffic calming. This is the second speed hump request submitted for the 2024 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:
Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board
The Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board unanimously (4-0) recommended staff investigate alternatives to speed humps on E Zink Street at their October 19, 2023, meeting.
Staff
Staff does not recommend approval of speed humps on E Zink Street as it does not meet the speed criteria established in the Speed Hump Policy.