COMMUNITY & SCHOOL TRAFFIC SAFETY PARTNERSHIP

 

 

Demonstration of Approval Process for Streamlined Speed Bump Projects on High-Volume Local Service Streets & Neighborhood Collector Streets

 

 

1.  Neighborhood Request

City receives written request from neighborhood resident(s) to evaluate their street as a High-Volume Streamlined Speed Bump Project and determines eligibility for a proposed project.

 

2.  Eligibility Verification

City determines eligibility for proposed project based on the following criteria:

✓  Emergency Response Route Designation – street will not be considered for speed reduction measures (speed bumps or traffic circles) if it is designated a Major Emergency Response Route.

✓  Street Classification – speed bumps are allowed on two street types, Local Service and Neighborhood Collector with at least 75% residential land use.

✓  Traffic Speeds and Volumes – this criteria is based on street classification:

❑  Local Service Streets

▪  Speed: 85th percentile speed is at least 5-mph above posted limit (85th percentile speed of 30-mph based on 25-mph limit)

▪  Volume: no limit/threshold

❑  Neighborhood Collector Streets

▪  Speed: 85th percentile speed is at least 5-mph above posted limit (85th percentile speed of 30-mph for 25-mph limit; 35-mph for 30-mph limit)

▪  Volume: limit/threshold of 10,000 vehicles-per-day (vpd)

 

3.  Preliminary Project Area

City defines preliminary Project Area (see step #5) for proposed project street, and informs neighborhood resident(s) of: eligibility status, preliminary Project Area, and neighborhood interest petition necessity (see step #4). City commits to best effort to complete this task within 30-days of receipt of initial neighborhood request (step #1).

 

4.  Neighborhood Interest Petition

City receives neighborhood interest petition from residents within Project Area demonstrating reasonable support to evaluate their street as a High-Volume Streamlined Speed Bump Project. This petition must be signed by at least 33% of the Project Area properties. (City produces the neighborhood interest petition that is to be available on line in template form, and circulated by neighborhood volunteers)

 

Property Definition: Each of the following is defined as one property: 1) single family residence (house), 2) separate units of duplexes, triplexes, quad/fourplexes (each individual unit is one property), 3) multi family / multi unit complexes, i.e. apartment buildings (these complexes are counted as one property due to access difficulties with many of these properties, as well as the inconsistency of soliciting policies among these properties; the on-site manager is typically designated the property representative for petitioning purposes)

City ends project if the neighborhood interest petition does not meet the minimum 33% support requirement.

(Neighborhood is eligible to reinitiate project process after 24-month waiting period.)

 

5.  Draft Project Summary

City works with residents in Project Area neighborhood to develop a Draft Project Summary that defines:

✓  Project Area – is defined by the project street and all other streets that can only be accessed using the project street (Project Area interested parties will review this element with the City and refine Project Area as necessary)

✓  Potentially Impacted Area – is defined by polygon(s) that include Project Area and all other potential diversion-impacted streets

✓  Project Cost – includes a proposed funding strategy summary, and a total cost estimate

✓  Project Design – includes proposed number and placement of speed bumps

✓  Project Fact Sheet – includes projected speed reduction for project street and potential traffic diversion to streets adjacent to project street

✓  Project Mitigation – City shall not be held responsible for mitigation measures due to diversion regardless of project outcome

This step is announced through all Neighborhood Associations covering Potentially Impacted Area and facilitated via 1 - 2 meetings with Project Area interested parties, and completed within 30-days of receipt of neighborhood interest petition.

 

6.  Public Meeting Announcement

City announces public meeting for review of Draft Project Summary. The meeting notices are mailed to Project Area, Potentially Impacted Area, Neighborhood Associations and District Coalition covering Potentially Impacted Area.

 

7.  Public Meeting

City facilitates public meeting to discuss proposed project where residents from the Project Area and the Potentially Impacted Area can provide feedback/input.

 

 

8.  Project Support Petition

City provides a project support petition at the public meeting to be circulated by neighborhood residents that must be signed by at least 67% of the Project Area properties (see Property Definition in step #4). The Project Support Petition language will denote the following items:

 

✓  Financial contributions to project are strictly voluntary (if a purchase project)

✓  Residents can sign support petition, but may choose to not contribute funds (again, if a purchase project)

✓  Though the City cannot be certain of impacts, potential exists for diversion of traffic to adjacent streets resulting from speed bumps on project street

✓  Regardless of project outcome, City will not be responsible for mitigation measures should project result in diverting traffic to adjacent streets

NOTE: Included with the petition that contains the above noted items, will be a project fact sheet summarizing projected speed reduction and potential diversion, and a project map depicting proposed speed bump location.

 

9.  Support Petition Deadline

Project support petition must be completed and returned to City no more than 60-days from date of public meeting. City verifies petition completeness and accuracy.

City ends project if support petition is not received by 60-day deadline, and/or petition does not meet the super-majority, 67% support requirement.

(Neighborhood is eligible to reinitiate project process after 24-month waiting period.)

 

PROCESS NOTE: Steps 1-9 represent the approval process facilitated among the Project Area residents, the Potentially Impacted Area neighborhood, and PDOT.

 

10.   Neighborhood Association Presentation

Following successful completion of the Project Support Petition step, City staff and area project sponsor(s) present project summary and petition results at the next meeting(s) of all Neighborhood Associations covering Potentially Impacted Area.

 

11.  Neighborhood Association Endorsement Letter

All Neighborhood Associations covering Potentially Impacted Area have up to 60-days to consider project and vote on endorsement. City must receive a confirmation letter from all Neighborhood Associations covering Potentially Impacted Area endorsing project within 60-days of Neighborhood Association Presentation meeting.

NOTE: District Coalitions can be substituted in lieu of Neighborhood Associations that are dormant at the time project consideration and endorsement is required.

City ends project if letter of confirmation from all Neighborhood Associations covering Potentially Impacted Area endorsing project is not received within 60-days of Neighborhood Association meeting, and/or if vote of any Neighborhood Associations covering Potentially Impacted Area fails to endorse project.

(Neighborhood is eligible to reinitiate project process after 24-month waiting period.)

 

 

12.   Administrative Approval

City administratively approves proposed project based on completion of Steps 1-11.

 

13.   City Council

Proposed project proceeds to City Council as a Resolution for consideration and final approval.

 

PROCESS NOTE: Steps 10-13 represent the approval process facilitated among all Neighborhood Associations within in the Potentially Impacted Area, the Project Area residents, City Council, and PDOT.

 

14.   Project Funding

City receives/collects funding for approved project through: 1) Residential Purchase Program (via voluntary financial contributions), 2) Urban Renewal Areas, 3) CSTSP

 

15.   Project Construction

City constructs approved speed bump project after full funding has been received.

 

16.   Final Evaluation Report

Following project construction, the City completes a Final Evaluation Report that summarizes speed reduction, and traffic diversion (if any).

 

17.   Project Mitigation

Regardless of project outcome the City will not be responsible for mitigating any diversion impacts resulting from speed bump installation.

 

18.   Project Re-initiation

Though steps #9 and #11 stipulate a 24-month waiting period to re-initiate a project if the requirements are not met as stated, should the City verify the neighborhood part of the process was not administered properly by volunteers, a shorter waiting period of 12-months could be considered given area support to do so is evident.