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Home My WebLink About070113_ca04Department of Public Works O Consent Agenda Page 1 of 2 Jefferson County Board of Commissioners Agenda Request To: Board of Commissioners Philip Morley, County Administrator From: Frank Gifford, Public Works Director ~~ Agenda Date: July 1, 2013 Subject: Resolution revising speed limits Schedule Public Hearing Statement of Issue: Attached for the Board's review is a Resolution to revise Exhibit "A" Jefferson County Speed Limits of Ordinance No. 11-1214-98 Regulating Traffic on County Roads, codified as Jefferson County Code, Chapter 10.05 Model Traffic Ordinance. Public Works requests that the Board schedule a public hearing on the Resolution for Monday July 15, 2013 at 10:15 AM. Analysis/Strategic Goals/Pro's 8 Con's: RCW 46.61.415 authorizes the Board to revise speed limits on County Roads based on engineering and traffic investigations. Public Works has conducted engineering and traffic investigations and recommends lowering the speed limit on Thomas Street from 35 MPH to 25 MPH and lowering the speed limit on S. Discovery Road from Mile Post 2.62 to Mile Post 3.62 from 40 MPH to 35 MPH. See attached Summary Report and Engineering and Traffic Investigation. Public Works also recommends setting 25 MPH speed limits on the following residential streets in the Oak Bay area that were accepted as County Roads by Resolution 72-12: Jacobsen Drive, Goldenview Drive, Graceland Way, Kingfisher Place, and Sweet Home Road. Fiscal Impact/Cost Benefit Analysis: NA Recommendation: Public Works requests that the Chair of the Board sign the attached public hearing notice. Department Contact: Rick Montgomery, 385-9361 Department of Public Works O Consent Agenda Page 2 of 2 Department Contact: Rick Montgomery, 385-9361 Reviewed By: !` 6~1~ iUip Mo l , Cou t A ~ministrator Date NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: A Resolution to Amend Exhibit "A" Jefferson County Road Speed Limits of Ordinance #11-1214-98 Codified as Jefferson County Code Chapter 10.05 Model Traffic Ordinance NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on Monday July 15, 2013 at 10:15 AM in the Commissioners' Chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA, to take testimony regarding a Resolution to amend to Exhibit "A" Jefferson County Road Speed Limits of Jefferson County Ordinance #11-1214-98. The Resolution would lower speed limits on Thomas Street and a segment of S. Discovery Road adjacent to the Discovery Bay Golf Course and would establish speed limits on five new County Roads that are residential streets in the vicinity of Oak Bay. The Resolution and supporting engineering reports are available from the Jefferson County Public Works Department, 623 Sheridan Street, 'Port Townsend WA, (360) 385-9160, email: pubworks(cr~,co,jefferson.wa.us. The Resolution and supporting engineering reports can also be viewed on the County website at www.co jefferson.wa.us. Comments on the Resolution can be made by letter to the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, PO Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368 or by email to jeffbocc cr,co jefferson.wa.us. Written comments must be received by 4:00 PM on Friday July 12, 2013. Comments can also be made at the public hearing. The meeting site is ADA accessible. Accommodations for people with disabilities can be arranged with advance notice by calling 385-9100. Signed this 1st day of July, 2013. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS John Austin, Chair STATE OF WASHINGTON County of Jefferson In the Matter of Revising ) Exhibit "A" Jefferson County Speed Limits ) Of Ordinance #11-1214-98 ) RESOLUTION NO. Regulating Traffic Speeds on County Roads, ) Codified as Jefferson County Code, Chapter 10.05 ) WHEREAS, the speed limits on County Roads are listed in Exhibit "A" Jefferson County Speed Limits of Ordinance # 11-1214-98 Regulating Traffic on County Roads, codified as Jefferson County Code, Chapter 10.05; and WHEREAS, the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 46.61.415 authorizes local authorities to decrease or increase the maximum legal speed limit on County Roads on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation finding that the appropriate maximum speed is greater or less than is currently listed in Exhibit "A"; and WHEREAS, the County Engineer has conducted engineering and traffic investigations and has determined that the appropriate maximum speed limits on certain County Roads at certain locations are less than those that are currently listed in Exhibit "A"; and WHEREAS, the County Engineer has presented the results of those engineering and traffic investigations to the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners for their consideration in a duly noticed public hearing; and WHEREAS, certain residential streets accepted as County Roads and added to the Official County Road Log by Resolution 72-12 have been added to Exhibit "A" with appropriate speed limits for residential streets; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the maximum speed limits on County Roads shall be as listed in the revised Exhibit "A" dated May 10, 2013 of Ordinance #11-1214-98 Regulating Traffic Speeds on County Roads, Codified as Jefferson County Code, Chapter 10.05 and that all previous versions of said Exhibit "A" are hereby repealed. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this day of , 2013. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS John Austin, Chair Phil Johnson, Member David W. Sullivan, Member ATTEST: A roved as to Form• ~ ~ 1~ Carolyn Avery David Alvarez Deputy Clerk of the Board Deputy Prosecuting Attorney ~coPv SUMMARY REPORT FOR REVISING EXHIBIT "A" OF THE COUNTY TRAFFIC ORDINANCE This Report discusses recommended additions and revisions to Exhibit "A" Speed Limits on County Roads of Ordinance # 11-1214-98 adopting the Washington Model Traffic Ordinance and other traffic statutes regulating traffic speeds on County Roads. Additions to Exhibit "A" The following roads were added to the County Road system by Resolution 72-12 since the last update to Exhibit "A". They are all residential streets. Most residential streets in the County have 25 MPH speed limits. These recommended additions are included in the revised Exhibit "A" ROAD NAME ROAD NUMBER FROM/TO MP RECOMMENDED SPEED Jacobsen Dr. 573509 0.000 - 0.336 25 Graceland Dr. 573609 0.000 - 0.510 25 Kingfisher Pl 573709 0.000 - 0.255 25 Goldenview Dr 573809 0.000 - 0.260 25 Sweet Home Rd 576709 0.000 - 0.140 25 Revisions to Exhibit "A" The following revisions to Exhibit "A" are recommended based on the engineering and traffic investigations described in this Summary Report. Engineering and Traffic Investigations 1) Based on the attached engineering and traffic investigation, Public Works recommends lowering the speed limit on the segment of S. Discovery Road listed below from the current 40 MPH to 35 MPH. ROAD NAME ROAD NUMBER FROM/TO MP CURRENT EXHIBIT ~°A" RECOMMENDED SPEED South Discovery Road 601508 2.620 - 3.620 40 35 2) Based on an engineering and traffic investigation, Public Works recommends lowering the speed limit on the segment of Thomas Street listed below from 35 MPH to 25 MPH. Public Works considered the roadway width, the vertical alignment, and the adjacent land use and consistency with the 25 MPH speed limits on Mill Road to the south and on the City of Port Townsend segment of Thomas Street to the north. ROAD NAME ROAD FROM/TO MP CURRENT RECOMMENDED NUMBER EXHIBIT "A" SPEED /CURRENT POSTING Thomas Street 699519 0.000 - 0.290 35 25 REPORT OF ENGINEERING and TRAFFIC INVESTIGATION and PROPOSED SPEED LIMIT CHANGE ROAD NAME and NUMBER: S. Discovery Road, County Road No. 601508 TERMINI: From Mile Post (MP) 2.620 to MP 3.620 EXISTING MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT: 40 Miles per Hour (MPH) PROPOSED MAXIMUIVI SPEED LIMIT: 35 MPH DATE OF STUDY: November - 2012 -April - 2013 The County Engineer requested the preparation of this engineering and traffic investigation to consider lowering the speed limit on S. Discovery Road because of the following factors: New Larry Scott Trail Crossing at MP 2.874: North and southbound traffic on S. Discovery Road is traveling at speeds that create a hazard for pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians crossing S. Discovery Raad. • Sharp horizontal and vertical curves at MP 3.300 are associated with an accident rate that exceeds other segments of S. Discovery Road and the average for all County Roads. RCW 46.61.400 Basic Rule and Maximum Limits states that the maximum speed limit on county roads shall be 50 MPH. It also states that the maximum speed limits may be altered as authorized in RCW 46.61.405, 46.61.410 and 46.61.415. RCW 46.61.415 When Local Authorities May Alter Maximum Limits allows local authorities to: • Decrease the limit at intersections. • Increase the limit, but not to more than 60 MPH. • Decrease the speed limit to no lower than 20 miles per hour. Local authorities in their respective jurisdictions shall determine by an engineering and traffic investigation the appropriate speed for all roadways. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) recognizes the importance of the 85~` Percentile speed of free flowing traffic when establishing speed limits. Consideration should also be given to roadway characteristics, roadside development, safe speed on curves, and reported accident history for a recent 12-month period. The following analysis has been completed for this roadway segment. ANALYSIS 85`" PERCENTILE SPEED The 85t'' percentile speed is as follows: North of Trail Crossing Before Crossing Installation 11/14/12 to 11/22/12 MP Northbound Southbound Combined Note: Southbound enters Crosswalk 2.758 47.5 MPH 48.7 MPH 48.2 MPH S. Discovery Road, County Road No. 601508 Page 1 At Trail Crossing Before Crossing Installation 11/14/12 to 11/22/12 MP Northbound Southbound Combined 2.870 49.0 MPH 50.3 MPH 49.6 MPH South of Trail Crossing Before Crossing Installation 11/14/12 to 11/22/12 MP Northbound Southbound Combined Note: Northbound enters Crosswalk 2.980 48.0 MPH 48.0 MPH 48.0 MPH At Trail Crossing After Crossing Installation 12/7/12 to 12/14/12 MP Northbound Southbound Combined 2.870 46.5 MPH 48.9 MPH 48.1 MPH ROADWAY CHARACTERISTICS The road segment starting at MP 2.62 begins with a 1,530' tangent section followed by slight horizontal and vertical curves at mile post 3.0, a 700' tangent section, sharp horizontal and vertical curves, and a 1,520' tangent section that ends at MP 3.62 at the southerly Cape George Road intersection. At this point the speed limit is 35 MPH. This segment has two intersecting private road, Douglas Way and Snagstead Way serving twenty four residents at the north end, the Larry Scott Trail Crossing, and three residential driveways. The Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) is 1,193 vehicles per day. Douglas Way has an estimated 100 ADT and Snagstead Way an estimated 180 ADT. The pavement width is 20 feet with 2' gravel shoulders. SITE DISTANCES Site distances on S. Discovery Road at the Larry Scott Trail Crossing at MP 2.870 were measured in the field and are compared with AASHTO requirements below: Stopping Site Distance AASHTO (minimum) 425' @ SOmph AASHTO (minimum) 425' @ SOmph ROADSIDE DEVELOPMENT S/B S. Discovery Road 740' (actual) N/B S. Discovery Road 940' (actual) Roadside development consists of residential development, agricultural uses, and a public golf course S. Discovery Road; County Road No. 601508 Page 2 CRASH HISTORY The five year crash history (2007 through 2012) is as follows: CRASH MP DATE CRASH TYPE SEVERITY 3.088 01129/13 DEER /LEFT ROADWAY SB /IMPACTED TREE AND MAB,BOX PDO 3.308 04/26/12 CURVE SB /HIGH RATE /LEFT ROADWAY / ROLLED OVER / 3 TIMES INJURY 3.314 ~ 10/12/12 CURVE SB /MOTORCYCLE / IEFT ROAD WAY / IMPACTED D[TCH INJURY 3.320 11/26/11 CURVE SB / OMO SHOULDER /LOST CONTROWCROSSED CLINE /IMP. TREE PDO 3.600 03/18/11 SCHOOL BUS /INATTENTION ADJ. HEATER /LEFT ROADWAY / RE-ENTERED PDO SURFACE LIGHT ALCOHOL CONDITION CONDITION TIME RELATED CITATION WET DARK 19:05 NO NO WET DAYLIGHT 12:08 NO YES DRY DAYLIGHT 06:40 YES YES DRY DARK 01:00 NO YES DRY DAYLIGHT 8:04 NO NO The history shows a cluster of crashes that indicates a some drivers have difficulty negotiating with the roadway at the horizontal and vertical curve at MP 3.30. The crash rate. for this road segment is 2.30 crashes per million miles per year compared to an average of 1.26 crashes for Jefferson County Roads and an average of 2.20 crahhes for county roads nationally. Of the five crashes listed two involved injuries. Three of the crashes (driving under the influence, high speed, and negligent driving) were located at the horizontal and vertical curve at MP 3.30. Inattention was a contributing factor in the remaining crash located at the south end of the segment. TRAVEL IMPACTS Reduction of the speed from 40 to 35 mph on this segment will increase travel times by 12 seconds. CONCLUSIONS The 85~' percentile, 48 MPH, for this road segment is above the posted speed limit, 40 MPH. Other factors that must be taken into account include the lane width, shoulder width, AADT, horizontal and vertical alignment, the number of road approaches, the addition of the Larry Scott Trail crossing, the horizontal sight distance on the inside of curves, and roadside development that affects the motorists ability to be prepared for possible conflicts. These are all factors that cumulatively affect the decision to lower the speed limit. Comparison of speed limits on other roads with similar characteristics and the speed limits of connecting road segments may also be helpful in determining a course of action. OPTIONS • Install Rumble Strips for both north and southbound traffic approaching the Larry Scott Trail crossing and eliminate the passing lanes adjacent to the Trail crossing. • Lower the speed limit from MP 2.620 to MP 3.620 from the current 40 MPH to 35 MPH and request enforcement from the Sheriff's Department for compliance with this change. • Do nothing at this time. Continue to monitor site for speed, conflicts, and accidents. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the speed limit be lowered to 35 MPH. Roadway geometry, accident history, and the addition of the Larry .Scott Trail crossing are compelling factors that support speed limit reduction. This section ties into a 35 MPH segment on the south so there would not be a speed trap. Rumble strips will be installed on both sides of the Larry Scott Trail crossing as part of the Run Off Road and Intersection Improvement project. S. Discovery Road, County Road No. 601508 Page 3