Title
Resolution to Adopt an Updated Traffic Calming Program
Memorandum
The City of Ann Arbor Traffic Calming Program began in December 1999 and has been updated over the past twenty years. Traffic calming is intended to reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behavior, and improve conditions for non-motorized street users. The City’s resident request-based Traffic Calming Program allows City staff to partner with the community to design safe streets for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.
The updated Traffic Calming Program (the “Program”) outlined in the attached resolution will replace the existing Traffic Calming Program. The intent of the Program update is to incorporate feedback from residents, City Council, the Transportation Commission and staff to bring it in line with contemporary best practices in traffic calming and public engagement.
The updated Program includes four focus areas: an updated process overview (Attachment A); updated public engagement process (Attachment B); updated qualification criteria (Attachment C); and updated toolbox of treatments (Attachment D).
The updated Program was developed after careful consideration of several factors: industry best practices, staff observations, past project area feedback, and peer community review all went into the draft update. Additionally, consideration was given to the 2016 Report to City Council on Traffic Calming as well as the 2018 Speed Reduction Committee Recommendations. Community Input was also sought online through an the A2 Open City Hall survey (<https://www.a2gov.org/services/Pages/opencityhall.aspx>) as well as an open house held on June 20, 2018.
The public comments from the open house and A2 Open City Hall topic are included in the Traffic Calming Program Update Public Engagement Summary available on the Traffic Calming website (https://www.a2gov.org/trafficcalming).
Lastly, staff worked closely with the Transportation Commission’s Traffic Calming Task Force over four meetings in July and August to finalize the Traffic Calming Program revisions and work through details and next steps (Attachment E). The final draft of the updated Program was presented to the Transportation Commission on August 15, 2018 and they unanimously recommended approval to City Council.
Staff
Prepared by: Kayla Coleman, Community Engagement Specialist
Raymond Hess, Transportation Manager
Nicholas Hutchinson, P.E., City Engineer
Reviewed by: Craig Hupy, Public Service Area Administrator
Approved by: Howard S. Lazarus, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City’s Traffic Calming Program began in 1999, but has not been substantially updated since 2006;
Whereas, 46 project areas have never qualified for traffic calming under the City’s Traffic Calming Program;
Whereas, There is a desire for greater flexibility in the qualification criteria for the City’s Traffic Calming Program;
Whereas, The Transportation Commission formed a Traffic Calming Task Force, which worked with staff to update the Traffic Calming Program
Whereas, The updated Traffic Calming Program has been developed based on industry best practices, staff observations, past project area feedback, peer community review, the 2016 Traffic Calming Report to City Council, the 2018 Speed Reduction Committee Recommendations, and additional community input; and
Whereas, The Transportation Commission recommended approval of the updated Traffic Calming Program at its August 15, 2018 meeting;
RESOLVED, That City Council approves the updated Traffic Calming Program, as described in Attachments A-D;
RESOLVED, That as the updated Traffic Calming Program supersedes and replaces any prior Traffic Calming Program, City Council rescinds all previous resolutions and voids all administrative actions giving rise to the superseded and replaced Traffic Calming Program; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take the necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution.