SR 05:223 - Laserfiche WebLink

Calming Program as a tool available for locations where speed reduction is desired on two-lane local residential streets or two-lane residential collector streets. Additionally, staff recommends adding radar speed signs to the toolbox. The radar speed signs are used regularly by the program and have had a positive response from the residents. The radar speed signs provide the driver an additional visual reminder of the speed of their vehicle. With the exception of speed lumps, radar speed signs are the most requested calming tool. Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council: BACKGROUND In 1997 The City of Pleasanton began the demonstration Traffic Calming Project to address traffic concerns expressed by local residents. The program was adopted by the City Council in 1998 upon completion of the demonstration projects. The Traffic Calming Program (Attachment A) is a two tier, resident-driven program. Tier I provides for quick response to isolated problems by means of tools such as police enforcement, standard engineering improvements (installation of additional speed limit signs, sight distance improvements, etc.) or installation of a single traffic calming device. If residents do not observe improvement through the functions of Tier I, then Tier II of the program is introduced to the residents. Tier II is a more comprehensive, neighborhood approach. This Tier is initiated by a resident petition demonstrating that at least 51% of the residences believe a comprehensive Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program should be developed for their neighborhood. Tier II includes additional data collection by staff and neighborhood meetings. At the first meeting, a steering committee is formed to aid in the development of the comprehensive plan. Upon design completion of the plan, it is shown to the neighborhood and needs to be supported by a strong majority of the residents (2/3 by petition) before the plan is brought to the City Council for final approval. The various devices that may be used in the program are detailed in the Traffic Calming Toolbox (Attachment B). Both the Traffic Calming Program and the Toolbox were designed to be living documents that undergo changes as new methods and devices are implemented. Over the last seven years, staff has received first-hand experience on the pros and cons of many of the devices listed in the program and several that are not in the program. Staff found that most of the devices included in the program are quite expensive and/or impact parking to the extent that an installation of a device is not favorable to the residents. Staff realized that lower cost and non-parking impact alternatives are needed in the toolbox. Staff has constantly reviewed the state-of-the-art advances in traffic calming and implemented a few of these to determine their effectiveness. Staff has conducted studies on several devices that meet the SR:05:223 Page 2 of 9