Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 02 20 Special Item 200 COMMISSION AGENDA February 20, 2006 Meeting PUBLIC HEARING X MGR/DEPT Authorization ITEM 200 REQUEST: Public Works requesting the City Commission hold a Public Hearing for the proposed construction of sidewalks and traffic calming on Dyson Drive. PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to present the updated Dyson Drive sidewalk and traffic calming to the City Commission and the surrounding City residents. PRESENTATION AGENDA: Mr. William V. Anderson, P.E., Vice President, Metric Engineering and Mr. Brian Fields, P.E., City Engineer, will provide a PowerPoint presentation covering the following topics: . Project summary and limits . Map of homeowners given notice of this Public Meeting . Existing sidewalk network map . Existing conditions on Dyson Drive . Examples of similar sidewalk installations . Traffic calming overview and examples . Modified sidewalk location summary . Drainage considerations . Tree impacts . Traffic circle and median island design summary PROJECT SUMMARY: Seminole County has proposed the construction of five foot sidewalks along Dyson Drive. The County's proposal is based on the recommendations of the Seminole County School Safety Advisory Committee, which performed a sidewalk needs assessment of all arterial and collector roadways within two miles of all County schools. The proposed sidewalk improvements would be funded through the County at a cost savings to the City of approximately $850,000. The County has also indicated that funding is available for traffic calming along Dyson Drive. The enclosed drawings show the updated sidewalk design and the proposed traffic calming along Dyson Drive. The proposed sidewalks along the south side of Northern 022006 ]ublic Hearing_ 200 _Dyson Drive Sidewalks and Traffic Calming and Traffic Calming Public Hearing Agenda Item 200 February 20,2006 Page 2 Way and west side of Shetland Avenue are not part of this agenda item and will be brought back to the Commission at a later date. PROJECT STATUS: At the June 27, 2005 City Commission meeting, the Commission directed staff to proceed with the recommended design modifications and authorized an appropriation of $25,000 to have the design updated by Metric Engineering. The modifications consist of adjustments to the sidewalk alignment to improve pedestrian safety and minimize tree impacts. The design also incorporates traffic calming on Dyson Drive. DESIGN MODIFICATION SUMMARY: ~ The Dyson Drive sidewalks have generally been moved away from the road closer to the edge of the right-of-way. This location is best for pedestrian safety, aesthetics, and traffic calming, and it is consistent with existing sidewalks throughout similar residential streets in Tuskawilla, such as Northern Way, Tuscora Drive, Vistawilla Drive, Seneca Boulevard, and Howell Creek Drive. When the sidewalks are located away from the street, it increases pedestrian comfort and creates better conditions for having a ''tree canopy," which has aesthetic appeal and provides traffic calming. ~ Many residents have expressed concerns about the potential tree impacts due to the sidewalks. The revised Dyson Drive sidewalks now meander in some areas to avoid impacts to trees and other existing facilities. As a result of the modifications, only four (4) trees along Dyson Drive will need to be removed, the largest of which is 8-inches in diameter. No trees will be removed along Northern Way or Shetland A venue. Some tree branch trimming will be required along all segments to provide the necessary pedestrian clearance over the sidewalk. ~ Many residents also expressed concerns about speeding along the subject streets. The Dyson Drive segment now includes traffic calming. The proposed traffic calming was designed by Metric Engineering, based on recommendations by the County's traffic consultant (PBS&J) and the City's traffic consultant (Ian Lockwood from Glatting Jackson). All three of these firms are nationally recognized as highly reputable transportation engineering firms. The traffic calming consists of mini-traffic circles at the intersections of Dyson Drive with Morgan Street and Pinto Court, and the installation of median islands at various locations along Dyson Drive. ~ The mini-traffic circles are 16-foot diameter curbed circles located in the center of the intersection (see drawings for details). The circles will be landscaped and will have appropriate signage and striping to ensure safe operation for motorists and pedestrians. The mini-traffic circles have been designed in accordance with the Seattle Guidelines, which are nationally recognized as the industry standard for traffic circles. Over 600 similar traffic circles have been installed in the City of Seattle as a part of their Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program. Traffic circles provide the following benefits: o Reduced vehicle speeds o Reduced accident rates 022006 ]ublic Hearing_ 200 _Dyson Drive Sidewalks and Traffic Calming and Traffic Calming Public Hearing Agenda Item 200 February 20, 2006 Page 3 o Popular with residents o Make neighborhoods a safer and better place to live ~ Metric Engineering, along with City Staff, conducted field testing for the proposed traffic circles to verify that the circles would safely operate as intended for large trucks. The testing consisted of using cones to represent the traffic circles and then driving around each circle counterclockwise in a large single-unit truck. The field testing showed that the circles could safely accommodate large single-unit trucks. As with most traffic circles, tractor-trailers have to use caution when making left turns, as they will likely need to make immediate left turns rather than proceeding counterclockwise around the circle as all other vehicles would. ~ The proposed median islands consist of 6-foot wide curbed medians with lengths up to 40-feet located in the center of the road. The medians will be landscaped with ground cover and relatively short vegetation. Approximately eight (8) medians are proposed at various locations along Dyson Drive. The medians do not block access to any driveways or intersections, and they will be striped and reflectorized to clearly identify them to motorists. The medians help calm the traffic in two ways. First, the medians reduce unobstructed roadway sight lines that contribute to speeding. Second, the medians reduce lane widths (in this case from 12-feet to 9-feet), which also helps to slow vehicles down. The medians work in tandem with the traffic circles and are the best means of calming the traffic on Dyson Drive given the constraints of the existing roadway. ~ Several residents have asked for stop signs to be installed at the Dyson Drive intersections. This is not recommended, as stop signs are not considered to be effective traffic calming devices. Stop signs only slow vehicles down in the immediate vicinity of intersections, whereas traffic circles are part of a series of devices along the entire corridor that collectively create an environment less favorable to speeding. Also, the installation of unwarranted stop signs along collector streets like Dyson Drive creates additional public safety concerns, as drivers along the major street (in this case Dyson) tend to run or roll through stop signs when traffic volumes on the minor streets are very low. ~ Several residents have expressed concerns about the potential impact of the sidewalks on drainage. The proposed sidewalks will not have any impact on the existing drainage patterns. Dyson Drive, generally has a swale drainage system. The swales are located adjacent to the road and are designed to collect runoff from the roads and the adjacent properties. The proposed sidewalks are located on the property side of the swales, several feet above the swale bottom in most cases, and the at-grade sidewalks will not prevent runoff from reaching the swales. Staffhas observed in this area that heavy storms leave standing water in the swales and in driveways in several locations where the driveways follow the swale grades. This standing water is expected and is normal for a swale drainage system, at least for up to 72 hours after major storms. It is the only means of stormwater retention in this area and this is an important part of the stormwater management system. After major storm events, some areas have more standing water than others, and this is understandably a nuisance to the affected residents. 022006 ]ublic Hearing_ 200_ Dyson Drive Sidewalks and Traffic Calming and Traffic Calming Public Hearing Agenda Item 200 February 20, 2006 Page 4 RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that a straw ballot be mailed to the surrounding homeowners with the results to be reported back to the City Commission. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE: Seminole County has programmed funding for the project and is waiting on a commitment from the City before proceeding. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Copies of the Public Hearing Meeting Notice and list of Frequently Asked Questions that were mailed to the residents (Attachment #1). Note: Additional copies of the design drawings will be available at the Public Hearing. COMMISSION ACTION: 022006 ]ublic Hearing_ 200 _Dyson Drive Sidewalks and Traffic Calming and Traffic Calming NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING CONSTRUCTION OF SIDEWALKS AND TRAFFIC CALMING ON DYSON DRIVE February 20, 2006 6:30 PM Winter Springs City Hall You are invited to a Public Hearing held by the Winter Springs City Commission regarding proposed sidewalk safety improvements and traffic calming on Dyson Drive. The meeting will be held on February 20th at 6:30 PM in the Winter Springs City Hall City Commission chambers. The purpose of the hearing is to present the updated design and to obtain input from the residents. Representatives from the design consultants and staff will be available from 5:30 to 6:30 PM to individually discuss the proposed improvements. PROJECT SUMMARY: Seminole County has proposed the construction of sidewalks and traffic calming along Dyson Drive. Five- foot sidewalks are proposed on both sides of Dyson Drive in the City between the Howell Creek Bridge and Shetland Avenue. The County also plans to construct five-foot sidewalks along the County portion of Dyson Drive from Tuskawilla Road to the Howell Creek Bridge, including a new pedestrian bridge over Howell Creek. The County's proposal is based on the recommendations of the Seminole County School Safety Advisory Committee, which performed a sidewalk needs assessment of all arterial and collector roadways within two miles of all County schools. The proposed improvements would be funded through Seminole County. At the direction of the City Commission, the design drawings have been modified to address the concerns expressed by the residents. These modifications are discussed in detail below. DESIGN MODIFICATION SUMMARY: 1) Better Sidewalk Location The Dyson Drive sidewalks have generally been moved away from the road closer to the edge of the right-of- way. This location is best for pedestrian safety, aesthetics, and traffic calming, and it is consistent with existing sidewalks throughout similar residential streets in Tuskawilla, such as Northern Way, Tuscora Drive, Vistawilla Drive, Seneca Boulevard, and Howell Creek Drive. When the sidewalks are located away from the street, it increases pedestrian safety and comfort, and it creates better conditions for creating and/or maintaining a tree canopy, which has aesthetic appeal and provides traffic calming. 2) Minimize Tree Impacts Many residents have expressed concerns about the potential tree impacts due to the sidewalks. The revised Dyson Drive sidewalks now meander in some areas to avoid impacts to trees and other existing facilities. As a result of the modifications, a total of only four (4) trees along Dyson Drive will need to be removed, the largest of which is a-inches in diameter. Some tree branch trimming will be required along all segments to provide the necessary 10-foot minimum vertical clearance over the sidewalk. All tree trimming will be supervised by the City Arborist. 3) Incorporate Traffic Calming to Reduce Speeding Many residents also expressed concerns about speeding along Dyson Drive. In response to these concerns, the Dyson Drive segment now includes traffic calming. The proposed traffic calming was designed by Metric Engineering, based on recommendations by the County's traffic engineering consultant (PBS&J) and the City's traffic engineering consultant (Ian Lockwood from Glatting Jackson). All three of these firms are nationally recognized as highly reputable transportation engineering firms. The traffic calming consists of mini-traffic circles at the intersections of Dyson Drive with Morgan Street and Pinto Court, and the installation of median islands at various locations along Dyson Drive. TRAFFIC CALMING SUMMARY: 1) Mini-Traffic Circles at Morgan Street and Pinto Court The proposed mini-traffic circles are 16-foot diameter curbed circles located in the center of the intersection. The circles will be landscaped and will have appropriate signage and striping to ensure safe operation for motorists and pedestrians. The mini-traffic circles have been designed in accordance with the Seattle Guidelines, which are nationally recognized as the industry standard for traffic circles. Traffic circles reduce vehicle speeds, accident rates, injuries, and traffic volumes. Metric Engineering, along with City Staff, recently conducted field testing for the proposed traffic circles to verify that the circles would safely operate as intended for large single-unit trucks. As with most traffic circles, tractor-trailers have to use caution when making left turns, as they will likely need to make immediate left turns rather than proceeding counterclockwise around the circle as all other vehicles would. 2) Median Islands The proposed median islands consist of 6-foot wide curbed medians with lengths up to 40-feet located in the center of the road. The medians will be landscaped with ground cover and relatively short vegetation. A total of nine (9) medians are proposed at various locations along Dyson Drive. The medians do not block access to any driveways or intersections, and they will be striped and reflectorized to clearly identify them to motorists. The medians help calm the traffic in two ways. First, they reduce unobstructed roadway sight lines that contribute to speeding. Second, the medians reduce lane widths (in this case from 12-feet to 9- feet), which also helps to slow vehicles down. The medians work in tandem with the traffic circles and are the best means of calming the traffic on Dyson Drive given the constraints of the existing roadway. 3) Stop Signs are not Traffic Calming Devices Several residents have asked for stop signs to be installed on Dyson Drive at the intersections. This is not recommended by traffic engineers, as stop signs are not considered to be effective traffic calming devices. Stop signs only slow vehicles down in the immediate vicinity of intersections, whereas traffic circles are part of a series of devices along the entire corridor that collectively create an environment less favorable to speeding. Also, the installation of unwarranted stop signs along collector streets like Dyson Drive creates additional public safety concerns, as drivers along the major street tend to run or roll through stop signs when traffic volumes on the minor streets are very low. Stop signs will remain on all side streets intersecting Dyson Drive. At the traffic circles, yield signs will be installed on the Dyson Drive approaches. DRAINAGE IMPACTS: Several residents have expressed concerns about the potential impact of the sidewalks on drainage. The proposed sidewalks will not have any impact on the existing drainage patterns. As most residents know, Dyson Drive generally has a swale drainage system. The swales are located adjacent to the road and are designed to collect runoff from the roads and the adjacent properties. The proposed sidewalks are generally located on the property side of the swales, several feet above the swale bottom in most cases, and the at- grade sidewalks will not prevent runoff from reaching the swales. Staff has observed in the Dyson Drive area that heavy storms leave standing water in the swales and in driveways in several locations where the driveways follow the swale grades. This standing water is expected and is normal for a swale drainage system, at least for up to 72 hours after major storms. The swales provide the only means of stormwater retention in this area and this is an important part of the stormwater management system. Stormwater retention systems like the Dyson Drive swales improve the water quality of the creeks and Lake Jesup. The swales also recharge the aquifer, which is the primary drinking water supply for the City and the source of irrigation supply to the shallow irrigation wells utilized by most residents in this area. HOW YOU CAN PROVIDE INPUT: All residents are encouraged to attend the February 20 meeting and provide their input. If you are unable to attend the meeting but would still like to provide input, please contact Brian Fields, P.E., City Engineer, (407- 327-7597 or bfields@winterspringsfl.org). Additionally, the design drawings are now complete and all residents are welcome to stop by City Hall to review the drawings in advance of the Public Hearing. Please contact Brian Fields if you would like to make an appointment to review the updated drawings. Brian Fields, P.E. City Engineer Cc: Mayor/City Commission City Manager Utility / Public Works Director Tuscawilla HOA DYSON DRIVE SIDEWALKS AND TRAFFIC CALMING Frequently Asked Questions Reminder: The Public Hearing for the proposed Dyson Drive sidewalks and traffic calming is February 20, 2006 at 6:30 PM at Winter Springs City Hall The following are some of the most common questions and concerns expressed by the residents: 1) Why Sidewalks? The proposed Dyson Drive sidewalks were originally initiated by the Seminole County School Safety Advisory Committee based on the needs of the nearby elementary school and approved by the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners. Since the majority of the proposed sidewalks are in the City of Winter Springs, the County has requested the City's support for the project. 2) Why Traffic Calming? Over the course of several mailings and public meetings, many residents have expressed concerns about speeding on Dyson Drive. Seminole County conducted a traffic calming and speed study on Dyson Drive, which determined that the average speed was 31.6 mph westbound and 28.9 mph eastbound, and the 85th percentile speeds were 33.8 mph westbound and 38.0 mph eastbound. An 85th percentile speed of 38.0 mph means that 15% of the drivers in the eastbound direction were recorded at speeds greater than 38.0 mph. The posted speed limit on Dyson Drive is 25 mph. The proposed traffic calming plan on Dyson Drive is consistent with the County's recommendations based on their traffic calming study. 3) Very few pedestrians and schoolchildren currently walk down Dyson Drive - why do we need sidewalks? The current conditions along Dyson Drive consist of no sidewalks, a narrow roadway shoulder, and vehicle speeds that regularly exceed the speed limit. These conditions are highly unsafe for pedestrians, and it is not surprising that few people choose to walk down Dyson Drive. The proposed sidewalks would provide an opportunity for pedestrians to safely walk down Dyson Drive that does not exist today. 4) Can we have the traffic calming without the sidewalks? I Can we have the sidewalks without the traffic calming? The County will not fund the traffic calming without the sidewalks. The traffic calming and sidewalks work in tandem to create an environment less favorable to speeding and more favorable to safe pedestrian travel. It is possible that the sidewalks could be built without the traffic calming. 5) How many trees will be need to be removed? The current plans show a total of four trees being removed, the largest of which is 8-inches in diameter. By moving the sidewalks generally to the outside of the swale limits and meandering the sidewalks in many locations, the tree impacts have been minimized. Please be aware that the current plans are substantially different from previous versions of this project, which would have had more tree impacts. The City has performed a tree survey for the project, and the sidewalk construction will be closely monitored by the City's Engineering and Arbor Staff to ensure that the actual tree impacts, including all tree trimming, match those shown on the plans. City staff would be glad to meet with individual property owners to walk the proposed sidewalk route along their property frontage to review any possible tree conflicts, and we have done this already with several residents. In addition, the traffic circles and median islands will be landscaped, which will add greenery to enhance what is now a continuous asphalt corridor. 6) Who is paying for this project? Seminole County has allocated funding for all aspects of the project. Current construction cost estimates are within the funding limits set by the County. 7) Won't the increased paved area from the sidewalks create a drainage problem? For a typical property with 200-feet of frontage along Dyson Drive, the total paved area of the sidewalks is 0.023 acres. While increased paved area does indeed create higher stormwater runoff, in this case the area is so small that the measurable impact from the sidewalks is insignificant. All of the sidewalks will drain towards the swales, consistent with the existing drainage patterns. Sidewalks are currently installed along many similar collector streets throughout Winter Springs, and the sidewalks have not created drainage problems. 8) Why do the sidewalks have to be so far away from the road and into my yard? The proposed sidewalks would be installed entirely within the City right-of-way, which is 80-feet wide along the Dyson Drive corridor. When sidewalks are located immediately adjacent to the road, it decreases pedestrian comfort and creates a wider strip of pavement (sidewalk + road) that is visually unappealing, encourages speeding, and would require many more existing trees to be removed along Dyson Drive. Having the sidewalks away from the road and closer to the right-of-way limits is best for pedestrian safety, aesthetics, and traffic calming. Most sidewalks throughout Tuscawilla are installed a safe distance away from the road, with the exception of the existing sidewalks on Shetland Avenue and along portions of Northern Way, which are sub-standard installations. Having the sidewalks a safe distance away from the road is especially important on a road like Dyson Drive which does not have a curb and gutter to provide a safety barrier. 9) What will happen if the sidewalk construction damages my landscape and irrigation systems? Anything damaged during construction will be repaired or replaced at the County's expense, including underground irrigation piping and sprinkler heads, per the County's policy. 10) Why do the sidewalks have to be on both sides of the road? Having sidewalks along both sides of collector roads is the safest for pedestrians as it minimizes street crossings. The County's Sidewalk Program has a policy to locate sidewalks on both sides of the road, especially in residential areas where walkability is a prime concern. 11) Won't drivers crash into the traffic circles and median islands? Both the traffic circles and median islands will be signed, striped, and reflectorized to make them highly visible to all motorists. The median islands will be similar in nature to the existing landscaped median in Winter Springs Boulevard, with an outer curb and inner landscaped area consisting mainly of trees and shrubs. The median islands do not restrict access to any driveways. The traffic circles will be signed and striped to facilitate counterclockwise movement within the circle, and they will also have an outer mountable curb that can withstand vehicle loads if driven over. HOW YOU CAN PROVIDE INPUT: All residents are encouraged to attend the February 20 meeting and provide their input. If you are unable to attend the meeting but would still like to provide input, please contact Brian Fields, P.E., City Engineer, (407-327-7597 or bfields@winterspringsfl.org). Additionally, the design drawings are now available for review at City Hall. Please contact Brian Fields if you would like to make an appointment to review the updated drawings. Brian Fields, P.E. City Engineer Cc: Mayor/City Commission City Manager Utility / Public Works Director Tuscawilla HOA