Title
Discussion: The Newly Formed Traffic Safety Committee
Executive Summary: The City of Hudson Administration would like to review the newly formed Traffic Safety Committee with City Council and provide an overview of the tasks and duties of the Committee.
Body
Legislative History
None
Purpose & Explanation
The City Administration would like to discuss with the City Council the newly formed Traffic Safety Committee (Committee), along with the duties and tasks of the Committee.
In the past, almost all of the local roadway traffic safety requests were sent to a private consultant for data collection, review and a study, since the City did not have the available personnel or the equipment to perform the necessary studies. Approximately half of the previous studies did not warrant any changes to the particular roadway segment. The City Engineering Department annually budgeted approximately $20,000 for these safety petition studies for the consultant's cost for these studies.
The recently purchased traffic data collecting Jamar unit has allowed the City to perform traffic volume counts inconspicuously (24/7), and collect speed data along a specific roadway segment with minimal setup time & personnel time. These advancements in technology have allowed us to reconsider performing these requests internally with our own staff at little to no cost to the City.
The new Committee has a cross-department function between the City Administration, Police, Public Works and the Engineering Departments. The Committee met in October and December of 2014 to discuss the Committee's basic functions and which departments should be involved on a regular basis. Beginning in February 2015, the Committee will meet regularly every other month to review all traffic safety requests & petitions brought to the Committee in the previous months. We ask that the City safety petition be filled-out prior to our review and investigation of a particular issue, this is so we have a formal record of the safety request.
Typical neighborhood safety petitions requests include, but are not limited to:
-Speed studies.
-Crosswalk studies.
-Stop sign warrants.
-New sign and striping improvements.
On larger projects, or depending on staff availability, the City Administration may choose to utilize private consultants. Additionally, along our Federal routes within the City, the City Administration will review all safety requests with the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study Agency (AMATS), since these projects are normally monitored by the agency for increases in traffic related issues and they provide funding for these types of improvements.
The City Administration proposes to continue the Traffic Safety Committee for the local petitions stated above.
Timing Considerations
The Committee is currently formed and will meet on a regular bi-monthly basis.
Fiscal Impact
Currently Budgeted
Supplemental Appropriation Required
X Appropriation Not Required.
Recommendation
Suggested Action
City Administration will review any comments or input City Council has on this topic and improve the program as needed.
Submitted by,
Jane Howington, City Manager
Thomas J. Sheridan, PE, PS, City Engineer
Frank Comeriato, Public Works Director
David Robbins, Police Chief