To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Transportation and Public Works
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz 707-565-2231
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): All
Title:
Title
Speed Hump Installation Policy
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Approve a Speed Hump Installation Policy allowing community members to request installation of speed humps on County roads in residential areas, as well as authorize the Director of Transportation and Public Works to modify the Speed Hump Policy as necessary.
B) Approve the design of County approved speed humps and authorize the Director of Transportation and Public Works or designee to approve modifications to the designs.
C) Authorize the Director of Transportation and Public Works to receive funding from speed hump applicants to cover the Department’s costs associated with speed hump installation.
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Executive Summary:
Members of the public have expressed interest in installing speed humps on County roads in residential areas in order to reduce traffic speeds and improve public safety. In order to respond to these requests in a transparent and consistent manner, Transportation and Public Works (TPW) seeks approval of a Speed Hump Installation Policy. The Policy will establish criteria for the installation of speed humps on County residential roads, standardize speed hump designs, and authorize TPW to receive funding from applicants to cover costs associated with the installation of speed humps, markings, signage and lighting. The proposed Board Item will also delegate authority to the Director of TPW to modify County speed hump design and policy as necessary.
Discussion:
Speed humps are typically used on public local roads in residential areas to reduce traffic speeds. Speed humps are generally 12 feet in length and 3 to 4 inches high. Their parabolic shape is designed to permit vehicles to traverse them at reasonable speeds without significant discomfort to the passengers.
A speed hump creates a gentle rocking sensation in a car passing over it at the posted speed limit. If a car is driving at speed above the posted limit, the hump will jar the vehicle and its contents, causing discomfort to the occupants and disruption to cargo. Speed humps are not a good choice for arterial roads, emergency routes, or on any road where it is easy for a car to evade the hump by driving on a shoulder.
The proposed Speed Hump Installation Policy limits the use of speed humps to lower volume, lower speed roads which are generally referred to as residential roads. The roads are functionally classified as Local Roads, which have a minimum of 1,200 feet of uninterrupted length between stop signs and/or traffic signals. The County currently has no policy or process in place for members of the community to request and fund the installation of speed humps on these roads. The proposed policy offers criteria regarding road eligibility and provides a process for citizens to request and pursue installing speed humps on their roads.
The basic overview of the speed hump installation process is as follow:
1. Informal meeting with TPW staff.
2. Obtain emergency response agency approval.
3. Petition adjacent parcels for temporary speed hump installation. Must be approved by 2/3 majority of parcels within a designated target area.
4. TPW staff review.
5. Director of TPW approval.
6. Invoicing and collection of installation fees.
7. TPW installation of temporary speed hump(s).
8. Petition adjacent parcels for permanent speed hump installation. Must be approved by 2/3 majority of parcels within the designated target area.
9. TPW construction of permanent speed hump(s).
Per the policy, the installation costs are the responsibility of the applicants. The estimated costs for temporary speed hump installation and removal (including all associated signage and striping) is $15,000 and the estimated costs for permanent speed hump installation (including all associated signage and striping) is $15,000. Lighting (if applicable) is estimated to cost an additional $5,000.
The proposed Speed Hump Installation Policy and the designs of the temporary and permanent speed humps are attached. The approval of the designs and delegation of authority to the Director of TPW to modify the designs provides for design immunity under Government Code Section 830.6.
Prior Board Actions:
None
Fiscal Summary
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FY 20-21 Adopted |
FY21-22 Projected |
FY 22-23 Projected |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Speed humps shall be paid for by the applicants.
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
1. Sonoma County Speed Hump Installation Policy
2. Permanent Speed Hump Detail
3. Temporary Speed Hump Detail
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None