HomeMy WebLinkAbout4. Reference Sheet 06/13/11
REFERENCE SHEET
Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program
Questions/Commentsfrom March 9, 2010 Workshop
1.When evaluating a street adjacent to a school, should Staffuse the 20 mph school speed limit or standard 25 mph
speed limitas the speed criterion?More streets mayqualify for traffic calming if the school speed limit is used as the
basis.
Appendix B –The 20 mph school speed limit will be used as the speed criterion when evaluating a street adjacent to a
school, when applicable signs are in place, andwhen enhancing pedestrian safety is the primary goal. In cases where
reducing vehicular volume or speedis the primary goal, the standard 25 mph speed limit will be used as the speed
criterion.
2.Review voting guidelines.
Should each property be given equal vote or should it be based on frontage?
Should parents be given a vote for school related projects?
Should apartment tenants / condo owners be allowed to vote or should it be left to the property management?
Pages 9, 11 & 12 –It is true that one propertymay have a longer frontage than a neighbor and one property may have
a traffic calming device in front of their property while the neighbordoes not. It would, however, be difficult to
quantify how much more one property is truly affected compared to another. The project as a wholeaffects everyone
equally. Because of this and for simplicity reasons, voting will not be based on frontage. Voting details are described
in the program document.
During the process, parents will be given the opportunityto provide input on a school-related project even though
they may not live on the street. Their input, though, will not count as a votebut will be included in a public comment
section.
Where there is a management company, the Village will attempt to work with them directly. Otherwise, tenants will
be given the opportunity to vote as described in the program document.
3.Do we need to provide more specifics that define a serious safety hazard?
Should an extraordinary vote be required by the Village Boardin cases where Staff directs a project or residents
request a decision without sufficient support?
Pages 12 & 13 –Staff will use its discretion when determining if conditions are a serious safety hazard. When such a
condition presents itself, Staff will initiate a project rather than waiting for one to be initiated by residents. Further,
rather than sending ballots requesting votes, surveys will be sent soliciting feedback.
In the case where Staff initiates a project, a simple majority by theVillage Board will be necessary to approve a
project. In the case where there are not sufficient votes with a resident-initiated project and it is reviewed by the
Village Board, anextraordinary vote by the Village Board will be necessary to approve the project.
4.Should Staff initiate removal of traffic calming measures if traffic conditions or adjacent land development changes?
Should a traffic study be required to justify removal if residents request removal rather than simply allowing a
majority?
Pages 8 & 9 –Staff will continue to monitor traffic calming measures in the Village and will initiate removal if it is
evident that they are no longer necessary.
If traffic calming measures are being considered for removal, Staff will perform a traffic study regardless whether the
original project was initiated by residents or the Village.
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5.Should each traffic calming project be presented to the Village Boardseparately for approval?
Not necessarily. If a project or multiple projects areto beconstructedas part of the annual resurfacing program, Staff
will look to present the projects at the time of contract award for the resurfacing program. If the project will not be
constructed as part of the resurfacing program and/or another funding source will be used, it will be presented
separately to the Village Board.In any event, all traffic calming projects will be presented to the Village Board as
described on page 13 of the program document.
6.Consider increasing theminimum resident support requiredtoapprove a projectto75%.
Staff researched other traffic calming programs and found that 66% was the typical thresholdto approve a project.
Staff believes 66% is an acceptable requirementas described on page 12 of the program document. In addition, the
program document states that no response will be counted as opposition to the project. This assures that a strong
majority wantsto proceed with a project.
7.Consider givingthe Safety Commissionthe ability to send arecommendation to the Village Boardeven without
sufficient resident support.
Page 12& Appendix A–Without sufficient resident support, the Safety Commission can forward a plan onto the
Village Board for consideration. Approval will require an extraordinary vote by the Village Board.
8.The Village Attorney should review the program.
The Village Attorney has provided minor clarification comments. Overall, he is satisfied with the program. Further,
he has drafted an ordinance to be added to Chapter 2 of the Village Code. In cases wherea resident-initiated traffic
calming project does not meet the minimum required support but is still presented to the Village Board, an
extraordinary vote will be required in order to approve the project.
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