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R2004-139 08-23-04RESOLUTION NO. R2004-139 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, ADOPTING TRAFFIC CALMING OPTIONS FOR THE SHADYCREST SUBDIVISION AND DIRECTING STAFF TO OBTAIN A PROPOSAL FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS: Section 1. That the City Council hereby selects option 8 of the Shadycrest Traffic Calming Report Addendum attached hereto as Exhibit "A", and directs staff to obtain a proposal for engineering services. PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this the 23rd day of Auqust , A.D.,2004. TOM REID MAYOR ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: DARRIN M. COKER CITY ATTORNEY TurnerCollie _O'Braden Inc. Engineers o Planners · Project Managers . EXHIBIT ! I Houston, Texas 77219-0089 5757 Woodway 77057-1599 Tel: (713) 780-4100 Fax: (713) 780-0838 June 17, 2004 Mr. Alan Mueller City of Pearland 3519 Liberty Drive Pearland, TX 77581 Re: Shadycrest Traffic Calming - Report Addendum Dear Mr.'X'Mueller: Several various traffic-calming devices were studied bas6d on input from area residents and their concerns along the affected streets. The devices considered include: Center Median Islands - A center median island is an'island placed in the middle of the roadway to encourage vehicular traffic to slow down and go around the device. The islands are 12-feet in width and 20-feet long. Sidewalks can be placed next to each device to provide a safe travel way for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. A neighborhood monument can be added to the center median island to better define a street as a residential area. Traffic Circles - A traffic circle is a raised island that is placed in the middle of an intersection. The purpose of this device is similar to that of the center median island. The traffic circl~for~s vehicUlar traffic to slow down and maneuver around the device. Street Closure - A street closure is a barrier that is placed across the street to completely close the street to through traffic. As part of the closure, a 9-1-1 gate is included to allow emergency vehicle access. These electronic gates can be controlled by the sound from the siren, which will automatically open the gate for an emergency vehicle and then close once the vehicle passes through the gate. Speed Humps - Speed humps are rounded raised areas of pavement typically 12 to 14 feet in length and 3-inches high. Speed humps are often placed in succession to effectively control vehicular speed along a residential roadway. Speed Tables - A speed table is a long speed hump with a flat section in the middle. They are typically 22-feet in length and 3-inches in height. Five options were introduced and discussed in several meetings with the City of Pearland Police Department, City of Pearland Fire Department, EMS and the residents of Shadycrest, East Circle Established in 1946 Engineering Excellence for Over AN A E C O M Co~4P~ One-Half Century Turner Collie Braden inc.. Mr. Alan Mueller June 2, 2004 Page 2 and West Circle. Comments were gathered from each group and modifications were applied to each option and device to address the comments. Option 1 (Figure 1) · Street Closure on Shadycrest Drive · Two traffic circles on Shadybend · Three median islands on East Circle · Three median islands on West Circle Probable Cost of Construction of Option 1 is $319,200. Option 2 (Figure 2) · Three median islands on Shadycrest Drive Two median islands on Longherridge Drive · Three median islands on East Circle · Three median islands on West Circle · Two Traffic Circles on Shadybend · Probable Cost of Construction = $439,200. Option 3 (Figure 3) · One median island with residential monument at the entrance to the neighborhood along Shadycrest Drive, East Circle, West Circle and Shadybend Drive. · Two standard median islands on Shadybend Drive · Two standard median islands on Longherridge Drive · Two standard median islands on East Circle · Two standard median islands on West Circle · Probable Cost of Construction =$480,000 Option 4 (Figure 4) Three speed humps on Longherfidge Drive · Four speed humps on Shadycrest Drive · Four speed humps on East Circle · Four speed humps on West Circle · Four speed humps on Shadybend · Probable Cost of Construction = $45,600 Option 5 (Figure 5) · Three speed tables on Longherridge Drive · Four speed tables on Shadycrest Drive · Four speed tables on East Circle · Four speed tables on West Circle · Four speed tables on Shadybend · Probable Cost of Construction = $68,400 Turner Collie 'Braden Inc. Mr. Alan Mueller June 2, 2004 Page 3 The Pearland Fire Department and EMS preferred Option 3, which has four median islands with residential monuments, and eight median islands. The traffic circles were removed from consideration due to the concern that maneuverability for a turning fire track at an intersection equipped with a traffic circle could be problematic. The Pearland Police Department also selected Option 3. The closing of Shadycrest Drive was the most preferred option for the residents along Shadycrest Drive. However it was explained that the closing option only moves traffic from one location to an adjacent roadway and the 911 gate can cause a long delay in response times. Option 3 was also a preferred option by the residents of Shadycrest Drive, as well as East and West Circle, though some residents did express that they preferred speed humps or speed tables to address the speed and cut through traffic issues. The majority of residents, Fire and Police departments prefer center median islands as compared to speed humps or speed tables. Center median islands can be an effective form of traffic calming in that: They can be effective in slowing vehicular traffic Any emergency vehicles can adequately navigate the island without causing excessive delay. They are aesthetically pleasing if landscaped and maintained The downside to center median islands is they require the existing area drainage to be adjusted by placing a culvert within the ditch in the vicinity of the island. This, in turn, makes the median islands an expensive option. Option 5 provides effective traffic calming and provides a significantly lower construction cost than Option 3 and has the following positives: Speed tables do not interfere with the existi~g open ditch drainage system. Speed tables are known to reduce the jarring of the fire track equipment that is often experienced with speed humps. Speed tables have been accepted by the fire departments in Austin, Texas as well as several other fire departments throughout the country. Option 3 is an effective, but costly option. Option 5 with speed tables is more economical than option 3 and most importantly has been proven in previous studies by the Institute of Transportation Engineers to provide the best traffic calming of all the devices considered. Turner Collie 'Braden Inc. Mr. AlanMueller June 2,2004 Page 4 For this reason, Turner Collie & Braden recommends that the City of Pearland install Option 5, which calls for the construction of nineteen speed tables along Shadycrest Drive, East Circle, West Circle and Longherddge Drive. Following the City Council Meeting on March 22, 2004, Option 6 and Option 7 were developed as possible options for traffic calming. They are as follows: Option 6 (Figure 6) · One median island with residential monument at the entrance to the neighborhood along Shadycrest Drive, East Circle, West Circle and Shadybend. · Probable Cost of Construction = $192,000 Option 7 (Figure 7) · One median island with residential monument at the entrance to the neighborhood along Shadycrest Drive, East Circle, West Circle and Shadybend. · Two speed tables on Longherridge Drive · Two speed tables on Shadycrest Drive * Two speed tables on East Circle · Two speed tables on West Circle · Two speed tables on Shadybend · Probable Cost of Construction = $228,000 Following the Traffic Calming Meeting on June 16, 2004, Option 8 was developed as the preferred option by over 90% of the residents present at the meeting. Option 8 is as follows: Option 8 (Figure 8) · One median island with residential monument at the entrance to the neighborhood along Shadycrest Drive, · Two speed tables on Longherridge Drive · Two speed tables on Shadycrest Drive · Four speed tables on East Circle · Four speed tables on West Circle · Two speed tables on Shadybend · Probable Cost of Construction = $98,400 Threshold for Future Action The Shadycrest, East Circle, and West Circle subdivisions should be evaluated 6 months after Scarsdale ties into Yost Boulevard. In this evaluation, the following criteria will be studied. · If the 85th percentile speed for an average weekday 24-hour period exceeds 35 miles per hour (mph), then additional speed control measures and/or improved enforcement should be evaluated. Turner Collie Braden Inc. Mr. Alan Mueller June 2, 2004 Page 5 In order to gauge the traffic impacts to the overall subdivision as a result of area improvements, 24-hour Average Daily Traffic (ADT) approach counts must be obtained at the following 5 points (Figure 1): Figure 1: Traffic Count Locations The year 2004 total 24-hour traffic volume for these 5 points is approximately 6275 vehicles per day. If the total entering/exiting traffic volume exceeds 20% of the existing traffic volume from 2004, then additional traffic calming measures should be evaluated. Cordially, Project Manager 445 ES-E-CJ I GUR PEARLAND MOBILITY AND DRAINAGE BOND PROGRAM CITY OF PEARLAND Turner Collie (ara.den Inc. ENG E RS • PLANNERS • PROJECT Y NA ERS 0 wW ON SHADYCREST DRIVE TRAFFIC CALMING EXHIBIT OPTION 8 t:\13\T1256010-vost\exhibots\sctcexhO8.aon