Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Traffic Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City proposes updates to Neighborhood Traffic Management Policy and traffic-calming toolbox
Summary
Transportation staff reviewed proposed updates to the Neighborhood Traffic Management Policy, presented a menu of traffic-calming devices (from radar signs and chokers to roundabouts and bulb-outs), and sought council input on petition thresholds, HOA/plat procedures and emergency-response implications.
Transportation staff presented proposed updates to the Neighborhood Traffic Management Policy (NTMP), explained typical study and funding processes, and reviewed horizontal and vertical traffic-calming options for residential streets.
Staff said the current process allows a single resident to request a study and that the proposed update would instead encourage organized neighborhood engagement (HOA or a platted subdivision representative) to act as an applicant and gather signatures of support. Staff described a menu of calming tools: vertical devices (speed humps and speed tables), speed cushions, neighborhood roundabouts and traffic circles, chokers and curb extensions, islands and bulb-outs, chicanes, pavement markings, and radar speed signs. Staff noted tradeoffs: vertical devices can reduce speeds by 15202020to 20 mph but may divert up to 20% of traffic to nearby streets and can create small delays for emergency vehicles (estimated 3202020to 10 seconds per device depending on vehicle type), while horizontal measures typically reduce speeds by smaller margins without the same diversion.
Council questions focused on petition thresholds for starting a study (staff proposed working with neighborhood organizations and a revised signature process), HOA vs. platted-subdivision handling, maintenance responsibilities for bulb-outs and landscaped islands, and whether developers should be required to install calming measures in new subdivisions. Staff said sidewalks remain required under the UDC and that developers should incorporate calming where appropriate in new construction. Several council members asked that designs require fire and emergency sign-off and wanted clearer rules about the petition percentage needed to start and approve installations; staff noted the current policy requires two-thirds for implementation and 100% when any affected property owner objects, and said they would refine thresholds and procedures.
Ending: Staff sought council input and will continue drafting NTMP revisions, including clearer definitions of petition thresholds, maintenance expectations for installed features, and procedures for neighborhoods without an HOA.
