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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3.e�1 Lr�kevtIle Memorandum To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Monica Heil, Operations and Maintenance Engineer Copy: Justin Miller, City Administrator Chris Petree, Public Works Director Zach Johnson, City Engineer John Kornmann, Deputy Chief of Police Troy Grossman, Streets Superintendent Date: November 17, 2015 Subject: Updates to the City's Driver Feedback Sign Policy City of Lakeville Public Works Attached for your consideration is a proposed update to the City's Driver Feedback Sign Policy, to be re -named the Dynamic Speed Display Signs (DSDS) Policy. The City Council adopted the original Driver Feedback Sign Policy in 2011 in response to resident concerns regarding the speed of traffic along Flagstaff Avenue between CSAH 46 and Dodd Boulevard; prior to the installation of the City's first two fixed driver feedback signs along Flagstaff Avenue in 2012. The original policy was intended to address the location of permanent driver feedback signs only. Since then, the City's Public Works Department has acquired two portable driver feedback signs and the City's Police Department has continued to operate its mobile radar trailer unit. The policy has been updated to include the information on the management of all DSDS units currently operated within the City. As many significant language changes have been made to the original Driver Feedback Sign policy, a redlined version of the updated policy is not attached. Instead, a copy of the original Driver Feedback Sign Policy is attached for your reference. Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the original policy have been modified, and the contents of Section 4 from the original policy can now be found within Section 7 if the updated DSDS Policy. 100 0 Fill 02 ! 101:1 WyApld \ Policy 5.03 1) PURPOSE a) The City of Lakeville, Minnesota finds that it is in the best interest of the City to identify guidelines for the consideration and installation of Dynamic Speed Display Signs (DSDS). 2) OBJECTIVE a) DSDS is a recommended safety strategy to increase driver attention and speed awareness, and to promote speed limit compliance. This policy identifies guidelines for the consideration and installation of DSDS to avoid overuse, ensure consistency and maintain effectiveness. 3) GENERAL a) DSDS is a device that detects and displays an approaching vehicle's current speed back to the driver. If an approaching vehicle is exceeding the posted speed limit, the vehicle's speed will be displayed and begin flashing. The display of the vehicle's current speed is intended to prompt the driver to slow down. b) Speed data from the DSDS is collected and reviewed by City staff to review concerns of speeding, evaluate potential needs for additional enforcement or consider other measures for controlling vehicle speed. c) DSDS have been proven to have a speed -reducing effect in certain applications such as: i) School zones ii) Transition zones iii) Work zones iv) Other speed critical areas d) The City's DSDS program includes both temporary and permanent signs. 4) TEMPORARY DSDS MANAGEMENT a) The City's temporary DSDS equipment consists of the following: i) Mobile Radar Trailer: The City's Police Department operates mobile radar trailer units to display current vehicle speeds. This equipment is used to promote posted speed limit compliance and is not used to collect or record traffic volume or vehicle speed. The unit is placed along streets during daylight hours for a period of 1 — 2 days. Mobile radar trailer units, including location, placement and hours of operation, are managed under the supervision of the Police Chief or his/her designee. ii) Portable Driver Feedback Signs: The City's Public Works Department operates Portable Driver Feedback Signs to display current vehicle speed and collect vehicle speed data. These signs are intended to be installed on a short-term, temporary basis to increase driver attention and speed awareness, and to promote speed limit compliance in specific applications such as maintenance or work zones. Speed data is collected and reviewed by Public Works Department staff. Portable Driver Feedback Signs are managed under the supervision of the Public Works Director or his/her designee. 5) GUIDELINES FOR PORTABLE DRIVER FEEDBACK SIGN INSTALLATION a) The usage of Portable Driver Feedback Signs will be determined by the Public Works Director or his/her designee. b) Public Works Department staff will review requests for Portable Driver Feedback Signs and provide a recommendation to the Public Works Director or his/her designee. i) Portable Driver Feedback Sign locations shall have a minimum average annual daily traffic volume of 500 vehicles per day (as determined by City staff) or roadway geometrics that present additional challenges with speeding traffic. c) Recommended Portable Driver Feedback locations will be placed on a Sign Installation Schedule based on priority as determined by the Public Works Director or his/her designee to facilitate service demand and establish priorities for deployment locations. New sign installation locations may receive higher priority over previous installation sites (e.g., recurring requests for the same location). Public Works Department staff will review the Sign Installation Schedule on a quarterly basis. d) The following guidelines will be used in determining the location, placement and hours of operation of Portable Driver Feedback Signs: i) Signs will be installed for a period of approximately 21 calendar days. Signs may be removed early due to vandalism or technical difficulties. ii) The City may accommodate up to six installation sites per year during the months of May through October. The sequence of sign placement will be based on the Sign Installation Schedule as described in Section C above. iii) Specific sign locations will be determined by Public Works Department staff. Sign locations may be affected by several factors including, but not limited to, sign visibility, underground utilities, sight lines for radar tracking of vehicles, tree canopy impacting solar cells, street geometrics and other factors. iv) Signs shall be placed within public right-of-way, public easements or City -owned property. v) Sign posts shall be setback a minimum of 24 -inches from the face of curb or trail. 6) PERMANENT DSDS MANAGMENT a) The City's permanent DSDS equipment consists of the following: i) Fixed -Location Driver Feedback Signs: The City's Public Works Department operates permanent Fixed -Location Driver Feedback Signs to display current vehicle speed and collect vehicle speed data. These signs are intended to be permanently installed to increase driver attention and speed awareness, to promote speed limit compliance and to assist in addressing specific speeding concerns within the community. Speed data is collected and reviewed by Public Works Department staff. Fixed -Location Driver Feedback Signs are managed under the supervision of the Public Works Director or his/her designee. 7) GUIDELINES FOR PERMANENT DSDS INSTALLATION a) The location of Fixed -Location Driver Feedback Signs will be determined by the City Council. i) An engineering study may also be required prior to City Council approval. b) The Public Works Director or his/her designee will review requests for Fixed -Location Driver Feedback Signs and provide a recommendation to the City Council. RE gE c) The following guidelines will be used in evaluating requests for Fixed -Location Driver Feedback Signs: i) Roadway Classification: Major Collector or Arterial ii) Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT): Greater than 5,000 vpd iii) Average Speeds: Exceed Posted Speed Limit iv) Driveway Access: Greater than 10 driveways per 1,500 feet. v) Roadway History: Documented speed and safety problems SPEED DATA MANAGEMENT a) The Public Works Department is responsible for collection, management and storage of speed data collected from the Portable and Fixed -Location Driver Feedback Signs. LIMITATIONS a) While the City fully intends to meet the guidelines established in this policy, there may be times when this is not feasible. Issues including, but not limited to, budget constraints, critical equipment failure, weather or other emergencies may prevent the City from meeting the guidelines established herein. City staff must exercise both discretion and professional judgment in determining the schedule and deployment of DSDS equipment. Adopted in 2011 DRIVER FEEDBACK SIGNS Policy 5.03 1) PURPOSE a) The City of Lakeville, Minnesota finds that it is in the best interest of the City to outline the policy and procedures for the consideration and installation of Driver Feedback (DFB) signs. 2) OBJECTIVE a) In certain situations DFB signs can reduce speed and improve safety on some roadways. This policy exists to outline the warrants necessary to consider the installation of DFB signs. 3) GENERAL a) Driver feedback signs display real time speed measurements as the vehicle approaches the sign, advising the driver of their speed. If the approaching car is exceeding the speed limit, and not in compliance with the posted speed, they are warned by a flashing display of LED lights. The display prompts the driver to slow down, creating a safer environment for pedestrians, school children, cyclists, roadway workers, and the general public. b) Traffic -calming, through the installation of DFB signs, has been proven effective in: i) School zones ii) Transition zones iii) Work zones iv) Other speed critical areas c) The installation of DFB signs must be approved by the City Council. 4) WARRANT REQUIREMENTS a) While DFB signs have proven to be effective in most instances, it is important that locations be evaluated against these warrants to ensure that the devices do not lose their impact and that they are used in locations where they are cost beneficial. Therefore the following warrants must be met before consideration will be given for the installation of DFB signs. An engineering study may also be required prior to City Council approval. i) Roadway Classification: Major Collector ii) Average Daily Traffic (ADT): Greater than 5,000 iii) Average Speeds: Exceed Posted Speed Limit iv) Driveway Access: Greater than 10 Driveways per 1500 feet. v) Roadway History: Documented Speed and Safety Problems 121