Chapter 12.52
NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC
CONTROL PROGRAM

Sections

12.52.010    Title.

12.52.020    Purpose.

12.52.030    Responsible department.

12.52.040    Coordination of actions.

12.52.050    Program guidelines.

12.52.060    Traffic complaint initiation – Procedures.

12.52.070    Traffic operation improvements.

12.52.080    Neighborhood improvement projects.

12.52.090    Neighborhood corridor projects.

12.52.010 Title.

This chapter may be referred to as the City of Des Moines Neighborhood Traffic Control Program (“the program”). [Ord. 1151 § 1, 1995.]

12.52.020 Purpose.

The purpose of the program is to address neighborhood concerns with regard to traffic safety issues. These issues include, but are not limited to, reducing the problems of accidents, nonlocal traffic, spillover parking, and vehicles speeding on residential streets. The procedures established by this chapter enable citizens and/or community groups to participate in the problem identification, planning, design, implementation, and evaluation stages of projects meant to remedy traffic safety problems. [Ord. 1151 § 2, 1995.]

12.52.030 Responsible department.

The primary responsibility for implementing the goals and policies stated in this chapter is with the public works department. The public works department shall publish administrative rules consistent with the provisions of this chapter. [Ord. 1151 § 3, 1995.]

12.52.040 Coordination of actions.

The program is coordinated by the public works department with other departments and agencies, including:

(1) The community development department to ensure better planning and operation of the entire city transportation system through:

(a) The incorporation of preventative measures into plans and design standards; and

(b) Planning for larger scale, area-wide improvements that would reduce through traffic in neighborhoods.

(2) The police department to ensure overall traffic safety and the best use of resources for target enforcement of traffic speeds in neighborhoods by the city police.

(3) Fire and emergency services to ensure minimal impact on emergency access routes and response times.

(4) School districts and METRO transit to coordinate safe walking routes for students, to identify and correct specific safety problems around schools, and to minimize impacts on school and public bus operation.

(5) Other jurisdictions to ensure consistency in traffic control devices and procedures on the streets that cross through multiple jurisdictions. [Ord. 1151 § 4, 1995.]

12.52.050 Program guidelines.

The administrative rules published by the public works department shall contain provisions to implement the following guidelines:

(1) Locations for proposed installation of traffic control devices are prioritized to ensure that funds are spent on the most serious locations first.

(2) Neighborhood residents are responsible for the initiation and follow through of individual traffic control projects. Placing the burden for project initiation on the public shall:

(a) Discourage frivolous requests;

(b) Minimize staff time spent in evaluating problem locations; and

(c) Build a neighborhood consensus before city funds are spent.

(3) Except for unusual situations, such as injury accidents, traffic speed enforcement through the city police or a speed watch program should usually be the initial response to a petition requesting neighborhood traffic control.

(4) Use the least restrictive traffic control strategy/device that will solve the specific problem. Passive techniques should be explored before deciding to install physical devices. If physical devices are necessary, the least intrusive or restrictive types of devices should be evaluated first.

(5) Manage traffic in place rather than diverting it to another location. In some cases, through traffic should be on nearby arterials and physical devices would be appropriate to try to divert such traffic back to the arterial system. However, traffic should not be relocated from one neighborhood street to another.

(6) Use the most cost-effective traffic control devices to solve identified problems to stretch city resources to cover as many locations as possible. [Ord. 1151 § 5, 1995.]

12.52.060 Traffic complaint initiation – Procedures.

(1) When a citizen or neighborhood traffic safety complaint is received by the city, a descriptive summary of the program is sent to the requestor. The summary shall state that it is the policy of the city to try the least restrictive measures before using physical traffic control devices. A “Traffic Complaint” form, that shall allow for the identification of the type of traffic problem occurring, its location, and the type of solution the requestor feels would best address the problem, is also sent to the requestor.

(2) A citizen or neighborhood group may submit a completed “Traffic Complaint” form to the public works department. Within eight weeks of receipt, the public works department shall respond to the requestor with a proposed traffic operation improvement solution. Only after a traffic operation improvement solution is determined to be ineffective shall neighborhood improvement or neighborhood corridor projects be initiated. [Ord. 1151 § 6, 1995.]

12.52.070 Traffic operation improvements.

Traffic operation improvements focus attention on passive forms of traffic control to address neighborhood traffic problems. The range of possible solutions include brush trimming, improving sight distances, and posting appropriate traffic control signs. The public works department in conjunction with the appropriate city department shall publish administrative rules to implement the following programs:

(1) “Speed watch program” is a public awareness program involving the recording of vehicle speeds on neighborhood streets by local residents. It should be followed by notification to registered owners of vehicles being driven at speeds in excess of the posted speed limit. This program shall afford concerned citizens an active role in helping to solve traffic speeding problems in their neighborhood.

Citizens or neighborhood groups that qualify to participate in a speed watch program are trained by city staff in the use of a radar gun and data recording forms. Residents are responsible for setting up a speed watch program. Once the information is recorded, city staff shall process the license plate number through the Washington State Department of Motor Vehicles to obtain the registered owner’s name and mailing address. City staff shall send a letter to the registered owner of the vehicle expressing the neighborhood’s concern and asking for cooperation in obeying the speed limit. Such letters shall not constitute a violation, be recorded with the Washington State Department of Motor Vehicles, or impose a fine. A copy of said letter shall be kept on file in the city for not less than three years.

(2) “Traffic enforcement” is a request to the city police to target a particular location for radar enforcement of traffic speeds and to increase patrols in problem areas to enhance driver awareness and observance of local speed limits.

(3) “Vegetation trimming” is a request to trim brush or other vegetation by city crews or homeowners to improve sight distance and visibility for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

(4) “Improved signage” is the posting of appropriate traffic control signs to improve traffic operations such as speed limit, parking, “Dead End,” “No Outlet,” “City Right-of-Way,” etc.

(5) “Traffic safety campaigns” involve the distribution of brochures and other information to neighborhood residents about neighborhood traffic safety, asking residents to be more observant of speed limits, and generally to drive more carefully. Campaigns may include joint programs with schools and/or neighborhood groups to teach children as well as adults improved traffic safety habits. [Ord. 1151 § 7, 1995.]

12.52.080 Neighborhood improvement projects.

(1) Neighborhood improvement projects should meet all of the following minimum criteria:

(a) Average daily traffic (“ADT”) volumes should be greater than 500 ADTs but less than 4,000 ADTs.

(b) Traffic speed studies with a sample of at least 50 cars in each direction at a given location should show at least 20 percent of the vehicles exceeding the posted speed limit by at least five miles per hour.

(c) The street under consideration for an improvement project is not classified as an arterial.

(2) The public works department in conjunction with the appropriate city department shall publish administrative rules to implement the following programs:

(a) “Speed humps” are pavement features designed to allow traffic to travel the posted speed limit without hindrance.

Speed humps are approximately 12 feet long and a maximum of nine inches high at their centers.

(b) “Traffic circles” are raised islands placed in the center of an intersection to improve traffic safety at the intersections and to control intersection and mid-block speeds. Traffic circles are landscaped to provide a visual impression that the street they are located on is not a through street.

(c) “Chicanes” are barriers placed in the roadway generally extending from the shoulder to or past the centerline. They are placed on opposing sides of the street and force drivers to follow a serpentine route through the area of installation. They essentially narrow the roadway to one lane of travel.

(d) “Traffic diverters” are physical devices that result in the full closure of the street to through traffic. These devices shall be used only in extreme circumstances.

(e) “Turn prohibitors” are physical barriers placed on the centerline of one street to prevent left turning vehicles from entering or leaving the local access street.

(f) “Curb extension/chokers” narrow a street either at an intersection or at mid-block in order to reduce the width of the traveled roadway. They may be used in conjunction with “Do Not Enter” signs to prevent traffic from entering neighborhoods.

(3) Local improvement districts may be used to fund neighborhood improvement projects. The amount of public participation in such local improvement districts is in direct proportion to benefit of the neighborhood improvement project to the entire city. [Ord. 1151 § 8, 1995.]

12.52.090 Neighborhood corridor projects.

Neighborhood corridor projects focus attention on larger-scale neighborhood projects to address nonlocal traffic and pedestrian safety. Projects of this type are considered when the neighborhood traffic safety problem is determined to be caused by a lack of adequate arterial facilities and sidewalks in the problem area.

The types of projects include: installing sidewalks, curbs, and gutters, and improving the capacity of the street by doing channelization and/or signalization improvements. Projects of this nature are prioritized under the six-year transportation plan. [Ord. 1151 § 9, 1995.]