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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 6City of Lakeville Public Works – Engineering Division Memorandum To: Mayor and City Council From: Zach Johnson, City Engineer Paul Oehme, Public Works Director Copy: Justin Miller, City Administrator Date: December 14, 2020 Subject: Draft Crosswalk Policy - Revised City Council Action Requested Staff will present a revised draft policy, seeking Council feedback and direction on next steps. Overview Staff presented a draft Crosswalk Policy to the City Council at its September 28, 2020 Work Session. The revised draft policy incorporates comments from the City Council. Changes include an updated Best Management Practices Matrix that now a) defines listed speed as “posted”, b) includes roadways with posted speeds less than 30 mph and greater than 40 mph, and c) cites its source. Additional language was also added to the policy to emphasize the purpose and authority, and to clarify that County highways were excluded from local authority. The draft Crosswalk Policy is designed to provide a clear, understandable/relatable process and demonstrate the reasoning for decisions. Not all locations are suitable for crossings, and the use of best management practices alone may not be enough to create a safe crossing. Continued focus on education and enforcement efforts, with an emphasis on changing behavior/awareness and achieving high rates of yielding compliance, is essential to creating safe crossing locations. The combination of the policy, education and enforcement support the shared responsibility between pedestrians/bicyclists and drivers, to create a safe and accessible multi-modal transportation system. Adopted by City Council on December __, 2020 PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLIST CROSSWALK POLICY Policy 5.XX 1. PURPOSE This policy establishes guidelines and a consistent, uniform approach for improving pedestrian/bicyclist safety at uncontrolled crossing locations using best management practices. A successful pedestrian/bicyclist crossing policy has a positive impact to multimodal transportation comfort and safety, and creates crossing locations accessible to all ages and abilities. This policy represents a shared understanding between the City Council, Staff and residents of a) a commitment to safe pedestrian/bicyclist crossings, b) proven safety strategies, c) factors considered, and c) implementation based on engineering review and supported through ongoing education and enforcement efforts. 2. STATE STATUTES Crosswalk. “Crosswalk” means (1) that portion of a roadway ordinarily included with the prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of sidewalks at intersections; (2) any portion of a roadway distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface. (§169.011 Subd. 20) Rights in absence of signal. (a) Where traffic-control signals are not in place or in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall stop to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or at an intersection with no marked crosswalk. The driver must remain stopped until the pedestrian has passed the lane in which the vehicle is stopped. No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield. (§169.21 Subd. 2) Crossing between intersections. (a) Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or at an intersection with no marked crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway. (§169.21 Subd. 3) 3. AUTHORITY This policy is based on administrative implementation of policy and Minnesota State Statute 169. The policy is administered under the direction of the City Engineer and applies to roadways under the City's jurisdiction. Crossings of County highways are under the County’s jurisdiction and based on principles/policies of the County’s Transportation Plan. The City will work with the County to improve the safety of crossing County highways, and to request implementation of strategies at locations supported by studies, demand and need. 4. BACKGROUND Uncontrolled crossing locations occur where sidewalks/trails intersect roadways where no traffic control (i.e. traffic signal, STOP sign or roundabout) exists. Examples include intersections (crossings may be marked or unmarked) and midblock locations (crossings must be marked). Factors such as traffic volume and the number of lanes can create challenges and impair the ability to accurately judge vehicle speed and traffic gaps. Not all intersections are suitable for crossing infrastructure. Identifying effective and prioritized crossing locations and appropriate best management practices maximizes driver/pedestrian/bicyclist compliance and improves pedestrian/bicyclist safety. 5. EVALUATION The City Engineer will be responsible for installing crosswalks and other safety measures at locations within City right-of-way and City-owned property. The Public Works Department will be responsible for the installation and maintenance of crosswalk elements. Infrastructure installation will be based on Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MN MUTCD) guidelines. Infrastructure will be maintained in a high state of visibility and meet reflectivity standards. When evaluating crosswalk requests, City Staff will utilize this policy, guidance from the Federal Highway Administration and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and other sources. The use of crossing treatments is not mandated or required, and shall be based on engineering judgement. Further analysis and monitoring may also be required. A traffic engineering study may be required. The City may require the traffic study cost be paid by the requesting party. The level of detail required for a traffic engineering study will vary by location. Crosswalks and other safety features shall be based on engineering judgement. PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK POLICY EVALUATION Requests for crossing locations shall include an evaluation of the following: • Safety Data o Crash reports o Documented public comments • Existing Field Conditions o Lighting conditions o Parking o Roadway design (travel lanes/width) o Stopping sight distance o Traffic control devices o Traffic volumes o Vehicle speeds • Destination access o Network connectivity (pedestrian facilities at each end) o Pedestrian generators o Surrounding land development • Existing and potential pedestrian/bike volumes (travel patterns) o Behaviors (travel patterns, time-of-day/day-of-week) o Crossing distance o Demographics/population • Treatment effectiveness and cost o Known safety benefits o National, state and local guidelines If, after applying engineering judgement through a traffic study, a crossing location is identified and recommended, the table below will provide guidance in applying appropriate Best Management Practices. BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES MATRIX Roadway Design Vehicle ADT < 9,000 Vehicle ADT 9,000 – 15,000 Vehicle ADT > 15,000 ≤30 mph 35 mph ≥40 mph ≤30 mph 35 mph ≥40 mph ≤30 mph 35 mph ≥40 mph 2 Lanes B-C-D-G E-F-I-J B-C-D-G E-H-I-K B-G-H-K E-I C-D B-C-D-G E-F-I B-C-D-G E-H-I-K B-G-H-K E-I C-D B-C-D-G E-F-H-I-K B-G E-H-I-K C-D B-G-H E-I C-D 3 Lanes With Median B-C-D-G A-E-F-J A-B-C-D-G E-H-K A-B-G-H-K E C-D B-G A-E-F-H-K C-D A-B-G E C-D A-B-G-H-K E C-D B-G A C-D B-G E C-D B-G E C-D 3 Lanes No Median B-C-D-G A-E-F-H-I-J-K A-B-C-D-G E-H-I-K A-B-G-H E-I C-D B-G A-E-F-H-I-K C-D A-B-G-H-K E-I C-D A-B-G-H E-I C-D A-B-G E-F-H-I-K C-D A-B-G-H E-I C-D A-B-G-H E-I C-D 4 Lanes With Median A-B-C-D-G E-H-K-L A-B-C-D-G E-H-K-L A-B-G-H E-L C-D A-B-G E-H-K-L C-D A-B-G-H-K E-L C-D A-B-G-H E-L C-D A-B-G-H-K E-L C-D A-B-G-H E-L C-D A-B-G-H E-L C-D 4 Lanes No Median A-B-C-D-G E-H-I-K-L A-B-G-I E-H-K-L C-D A-B-G-I-H E-L C-D A-B-G-I E-H-K-L C-D A-B-G-H-I-K E-L C-D A-B-G-H-I E-L C-D A-B-G-H-I-K E-L C-D A-B-G-H-I E-L C-D A-B-G-H-I E-L C-D From Uncontrolled Pedestrian Crosswalk Quick Reference Guide.© May 2020 by Minnesota Local Road Research Board (as amended). Note: Matrix references posted speed limits. A = Advance Stop Here for Pedestrians Sign and Stop Line B = Crosswalk lighting C = Crosswalk pavement markings D = Crosswalk warning signs E = Curb extension F = In-street pedestrian crossing sign G = Parking restrictions on crosswalk approach H = Pedestrian hybrid beacon I = Pedestrian refuge island J = Raised crosswalks K = Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacon L = 4 to 3 lane conversion BOLD = Always consider ITALICIZE = Also consider UNDERLINE = Use only with other crossing treatments