BLUETT TRAFFIC CALMING ON-SITE MEETING #2 DISCUSSION SUMMARY Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2018 Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Location: Clague Middle School parking lot Attendees: Public Present: 42 Council Member Present: 1; Councilmember Kirk Westphal Ann Arbor Public School Present (AAPS): Liz Margolis City Staff Present: 3; Kayla Coleman (Systems Planning), Luke Liu (Engineering), and Andrea Wright (Engineering). Meeting Notes The following is not a direct transcript of the meeting discussion. This summary has been developed from notes taken during the meeting; comments are paraphrased. Questions and comments from residents are marked with a Q, answers/ responses from Staff are marked with an A. Where clarifications or responses have been added after the meeting, these are denoted as post-meeting notes. Traffic Calming Process A brief overview of the Traffic Calming process was provided. Refer to the Traffic Calming Guidebook available at a2gov.org/trafficcalming for additional information on the Traffic Calming process. We are currently at step #9, Second Survey, in the process. Refinements to the concept plan were made from feedback received from residents during On-Site meeting #1 and On-Site meeting #2. A Final Concept Plan was determined based on feedback from the on-site meetings. The second survey to determine support for the Final Concept Plan will be mailed to addresses in the project area. If the second survey responses indicate sufficient support for all or part of the final plan then council resolution will determine whether to move forward with construction of the proposed devices. Q: Have there been any accidents on Bluett between Nixon and Bunker Hill, in front of Clague Middle School? A: Post Meeting Note: There were two reported crashes on Bluett between Nixon and Bunker Hill within the past five years. One crash involved one vehicle on westbound Bluett, passing another vehicle in the same direction. The second crash was a rear-end crash involving three vehicles. Q: If every device is installed what is the estimated cost of the entire project? A: Project cost for Bluett traffic calming has not yet been estimated. Once a preferred project plan is determined from neighborhood feedback, a project cost will be estimated. Generally each traffic calming device costs a few thousand dollars. If sufficient neighborhood support is achieved to move forward with traffic calming installation in the Bluett project area, we anticipate that construction will need to span over multiple fiscal years due to the number of devices being considered for this project area. Q: Where is the data supporting the need for School Safety improvements at the intersection of Antietam and Bluett? Why did we go around the public regarding this intersection? Page 1 of 11
A. Unfortunately we cannot discuss the potential school safety improvements at this meeting tonight. We need to stay focused on discussion of the items included in the Bluett Traffic Calming project so that we can get the neighborhood feedback required to move this project to the next step. The Traffic Calming Program is based largely on resident feedback received we heard neighborhood response at the February 28 Orientation Meeting that there was not support for a traffic calming device at Antietam, therefore it was not included in future plans for the potential Traffic Calming project on Bluett. City staff also realized that this earlier request should not be mixed into the Traffic Calming Program. Requests centering around school safety are typically routed through Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS). Staff may pursue installation of a curb bump out at Antietam as a school safety improvement. Further public engagement will be undertaken before any changes are made to this intersection. Q: How does Step 9 of the Traffic Calming program work? Further explanation regarding how the 60% of 60% work? A: Addresses within the project area include parcels referred to as homeowner occupied i.e. the same person owns and lives in the property. Rental properties are also included in the project area, this includes renters and landlords. All addresses in the project area (homeowner occupied, renters and landlords) receive a final survey card in Step 9. Response rate is evaluated first: 60% of homeowner occupied parcels in the project area must send back their survey card, regardless of whether they are for or against the project. This helps ensure that neighbors are engaged in the discussion and aware of the decision being made. Next, of all of the survey cards that are returned (including those from homeowner occupied, renters and landlords) at least 60% of the returned survey cards must support all or part of the project. Q: What are the dimensions of a speed table? What are the dimensions of a raised crosswalk? What are the dimensions of a speed hump? A: Speed tables are constructed to a maximum height of approximately 3 inches. Total width is typically 22 feet, generally including a 10 foot wide center platform and slopes tapering down on each side. The center platform width is variable and can be customized to the location. A raised crosswalk also has a maximum height of 3 inches, a total width 18 feet including a 6 foot wide center platform, marked with crosswalk striping, and slopes tapering down on each side. Speed humps are 3 inches high and 12 feet in total width. Speed humps have a parabolic shape and do not include a flat center platform at the top. Due to the emergency response access that this street serves, and the potential impact to emergency response vehicles, speed humps are not recommended along Bluett. Traffic calming device dimensions are based on the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) guidance; they are designed in a way that it should be comfortable for vehicles traveling at 25mph, and that those driving at speeds that exceed 25mph will feel discomfort. Some vehicles will need to travel even slower than 25 mph to pass over devices such as speed humps, speed tables and raised crosswalks with comfort. Q: Speed limit signs are not placed on Bluett, they need to be installed first. A. Speed limit signs have been found to rarely affect the 85th percentile speeds. It is understood that the general public knows that residential areas have a speed limit of 25 mph. Those who choose to ignore this and exceed the legal speed limit are generally not going to be motivated to change behavior based on the presence of a speed limit sign. Page 2 of 11
Q: How many tickets have been issued on Bluett? A. We do not have that information readily available. Device #1 Two options proposed: Option 1A: between Nixon and Renfrew Option 1B: between Renfrew and Prairie, closer to Renfrew then Prairie Q: How does the school plan impact device #1 location? A: AAPS plans to reconfigure the Clague Middle School parking lot and change the location of their driveway. The previous location of device #1 (as discussed at the March 14 meeting) would be in conflict with the driveway location. The City of Ann Arbor would like to work in coordination with AAPS, and does not want to install a traffic calming device at a location that would need to be removed within a short timeframe. Q: Is the speed table level on top? A: Yes, speed tables generally include a 10 foot wide center platform. Q: Is there a speed table located on King George? A: The traffic calming device on King George Blvd at the intersection with Esch Ave is not a speed table. It is a raised intersection. Q: Where in the city is a speed table located? A: The City of Ann Arbor or neighboring public agencies have not installed any speed tables. Q: Is there a way for the public to have the plan proposed by OHM s reconfiguring the parking lot? Can the public have the data collected during the development of this plan? A: AAPS Response The public schools have just received the OHM plan and would like to have some time to review it internally before it is shared publically. The plan will be made publically available in the future, and can be distributed to the Bluett Traffic Calming project email distribution list at that time. Q: There are 25 mph signs near Nixon. A: Speed limit signs at this location were installed when concern about speed was raised by residents during the 2017 construction season when this neighborhood was impacted. Q: Will the city be deciding which device option is chosen? Which device would the city choose? A: Either option is acceptable to the City. We are seeking neighborhood feedback to make the decision. Q: Why is option 1A location better? Why is option 1B location better? A: The advantage to option 1A is that it is spaced further from the area where the school is evaluating driveway changes. The additional spacing will help ensure there aren t any conflicts with the plan implemented by AAPS. Page 3 of 11
Q: Would like to abstain from voting because of the uncertainty behind the schools possible site changes. Q: Would like Option 1A placed as close as possible to Nixon on Bluett. Q: With regard to the final survey, do all neighbors who live here get to vote? Who votes? A: The final survey is provided to all addresses within the project area. The Traffic Calming Program defines project area as all addresses with frontage on the street and addresses 100 feet back on interior cross streets. The limits of the project area (in this case, Nixon to Yellowstone) are defined by the resident submitted petition. Device #2 Raised Crosswalk - due to potential conflict with the schools proposed site changes this device will not be included on the Bluett Traffic Calming Final Concept Plan Q: If we vote in favor of this device, can it be placed at a later date? Can the device be installed as part of the schools site plan development? A: Staff would like to poll the meeting participants about the potential device at location #2 so that the community feedback can be used in future discussions with AAPS about a device in this general area. The device location will be dependent on the final plan from AAPS, and where the crosswalk is ultimately placed. Q: Why is there no devices just past Clague going east? A: There is a proposed raised crosswalk going east, that is device location #3, which will be discussed next. Q: Can we table Bluett because of school plan? A: Staff is proposing to avoid making any decisions that would conflict with the school s plan. That is why we are suggesting to gather feedback about device location #2, for consideration in a future decision about this location. We are suggesting that device location #2 not be included in the Bluett Concept Plan because decisions about this location will need to be made in coordination with the school driveway plan. Q: Could the school put the raised crosswalk in? A: The raised crosswalk in the area of location #2 would need to be coordinated with the school. It is not yet determined whether that installation would be completed by the City of Ann Arbor or Ann Arbor Public Schools. Q: Will there be drainage issues with raised crosswalks? A: Raised crosswalks are tapered at the curb to maintain existing drainage. Drainage has been accounted for on other raised crosswalk installations in the City of Ann Arbor, and would be accounted for in any future installations. Neighbors should not expect any change in drainage pattern due to traffic calming device installation. Q: Could the ramp be relocated west of the utility pole instead of its current location of device #3? A: Moving to the west of the utility pole would require both receiving ramps to be adjusted. Staff are hoping to minimize construction costs by moving only one of the crosswalk receiving ramps. Page 4 of 11
Q: This device is located on top of a hill. Will drainage be a problem? A: Neighbors should not expect any change in drainage pattern due to traffic calming device installation. Being on top of a hill should actually help drainage. Q: What is the height of a curb? A: Standard curb height is 6 inches at the face of curb. Q: Since device #4 is located at an all-way stop, why is the bump out needed? A: The bumpout can provide pedestrian crossing improvements (shorter crossing distance) in addition to bringing the stop sign closer to the field of vision. Q: The bump out takes away space for turning at this intersection. Q: It is already tight at this intersection, this is not needed. Q: Concerned at this intersection relating to ice in winter. Q: Is there a way to suspend an all-way stop hanging over intersection? A: Post meeting note: Federal guidelines require that a STOP sign be installed on the right side of the approach to which it applies. Placing a suspended all-way STOP sign would be inconsistent with engineering best practices for the intersection of two local streets without reported crash history related to intersection control in the last 5 years. Q: The way the device #4 is proposed did not maximize the use of the bump out placement. A: Thank you for pointing this out, there is actually an error in the way the device was drawn on the street. It should have been extended further west incorporating the cross walk ramp on the west side of Bunker Hill going across Bluett. Q: This intersection is too narrow and device #4 makes it worse. Q: Fire chief does not like the bump outs according to resident. A: Post meeting note: staff contacted the Fire Marshal for clarification. Feedback received from the Fire Marshal state the following: In regards to the citizen s understanding of my feedback, I did not state that I was opposed to curb bump outs. I do not recall being asked specifically about them, but I did respond to questions about the speed bumps My position was and still is, that curb bump outs may not be in an area around the hydrant (which requires 26 minimum road width clearance for 20, split 10 to either side). Also, that the road width must accommodate the turning radius for the largest fire truck for the City of Ann Arbor Fire Department. Q: Where is the data regarding the effectiveness of bump outs? A: Post meeting note: Previous study results have been compiled by the Federal Highway Administration as the Traffic Calming eprimer (https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/speedmgt/traffic_calm.cfm). This document shows wide ranges of speed results for each device. As site conditions vary, it is not feasible to predict the effectiveness of devices at a particular site. A general trend observed in the Federal summary is that speed humps may be more effective than raised crosswalks, and raised crosswalks may be more effective than speed tables in controlling travel speeds. In terms of reducing cut through Page 5 of 11
traffic, a series of vertical devices is typically associated with a 20% reduction, while bump outs have little effect on traffic volumes. Q: Most people do not stop here. Q: Can a stop ahead sign before Bunker Hill going west? A: When visibility to the STOP sign is restricted, a Stop Ahead sign shall be installed in advance of the STOP sign. Staff will evaluate if sight distance to the STOP sign and look into the need for Stop Ahead sign. Q: Can video enforcement be used? A: No, the State of Michigan currently prohibits the use of video enforcement. Q: Bump outs are obnoxious and a distraction to drivers. Q: Bump outs are in the way. They should not be allowed. Q: What are the dimensions of the speed table for device #6? A: Speed tables are constructed to a maximum height of approximately 3 inches. The total width of the speed table at this location is 18 feet, including a 6 foot wide center platform and slopes tapering down on each side. This modified speed table is suggested in order to move the device as close to the curve as possible, while avoiding driveway conflicts and adhering to safety and engineering best practices. Q: Is this the closest we can get to the curve? A: Yes. Q: Similar dimensions to raised crosswalk? A: Yes, but without the crosswalk marking on top. Q: Where did the accidents happen near proposed device #7? A: Neighbors shared their experiences with accidents in this location. Q: How many accidents happened here? A: Neighbors cited multiple incidents that they have observed in this area. Q: Were the accidents in the winter? A: Neighbors cited that accidents have generally occurred in the winter, but they have seen many very close calls at all times of the year. Q: How do you make the curb for device #7 pedestrian island visual to drivers? Will this be visual in the winter? A: The curb at device #7 would have the same visibility as all curb edges along the street. Staff are exploring the potential to plant a tree(s) in the space between the curb and the sidewalk which could also improve visibility. Q: Can plants, trees or vegetation be placed in the pedestrian crossing? Similar to Georgetown and Bluett intersection pedestrian islands? Page 6 of 11
A: Staff are exploring the opportunity for this. Post meeting note: Staff believe vegetation planting in the space between the curb and the sidewalk to be feasible, and are pursuing options. Q: Is device #7 the proposed pedestrian island safe? A: The pedestrian island is intended to improve safety by providing a refuge space for pedestrians choosing to use the existing crosswalk. Q: What is the legal distance for parking near crosswalk? A: Parking is prohibited within 20 feet of a crosswalk. Parking is prohibited within 15 feet of the intersection of property lines at an intersection of streets or highways. Q: Can a centerline be placed? A: Painting a centerline on the Bluett curve is considered a long line pavement marking. Long line pavement markings are outside the scope of the Traffic Calming Program which emphasizes engineering retrofits to create physical obstructions to slow traffic. Long line pavement markings are not typically used on local streets. Staff are unclear whether the requested pavement marking would achieve the desired benefit for the neighborhood; if roadway users are not adhering to the posted advisory speed at the curve location, they are also unlikely to observe a pavement marking. Q: Will the curb follow the road? A: Yes, the curb edge would follow the curve of the road. Q: What is the estimated cost for device #7? A: A cost estimate has not yet been prepared. Q: Concerned device #7 would create more accidents. Q: Will there be sewage back-up if device # 7 is installed and the structure is raised? A: The installation of device #7 would not have any effect on the potential for a sewage back-up. Q: Is it illegal to park along a curve? A: It is not illegal to park along a curve as long as other traffic laws are not violated. Q: What will the curb look like for device #7? Rolled or hard? A: This design detail is still being evaluated. Q: For device #7 Pedestrian Island refuge, is the plan to take out the existing asphalt to create the proposed device or will the island be created on the existing asphalt? How would this effect vegetation if it was able to be incorporated? Can this be determined before final survey? A: If it is determined that trees can be placed in the space between the sidewalk and the curb could be planted and accommodation will be made to ensure adequate growing conditions. Q: Safety should come first. Q: Why can t the proposed raised crosswalk for device #8 be as large as a speed table? Page 7 of 11
A: The width of this device can t be increased because it would create a conflict with the intersection on the north side and would encroach beyond a safe distance from the curve on the south side. Q: Does the raised crosswalk for device #9 help calm traffic on Bluett? A: Yes, the raised crosswalk would impact vehicles traveling along Bluett and also those turning off of Burbank on to Bluett. Q: Most people turn on Burbank. Q: Assume people will turn out in front at the intersection of Bluett and Burbank. Q: Requesting traffic circle to be considered at device #10 location. Q: The bump out would make this turn more difficult. Q: Would the bump outs proposed at device #10A impact fire? A: The bump out concept at this location has been designed taking fire access needs into consideration. The design for the devices would take into consideration the turning radius and needs of the Fire Department, Solid Waste, Snow plow, moving trucks, etc. Q: Will device #11 conflict with the driveway at home 3382 since it was approved by the city for expansion? A: This would not be in conflict. Device #12 Option 12A Raised Crosswalk along Bluett at Yellowstone Option 12B Traffic Circle at the intersection of Bluett and Yellowstone Q: Why doesn t the circle impact Yellowstone? A: The traffic circle would impact vehicles moving straight along Yellowstone, but would also provide a benefit to slow vehicles turning onto Bluett. Q: Traffic circle is dangerous. A: This device is within the toolbox that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) supports to slow traffic and improve safety. Q: Can Yellowstone be added to the project area? A: Yellowstone would need to submit a petition. This is a resident initiated process. Q: How does traffic circle work? A: Traffic circles are raised circular islands located most commonly at four-legged intersections. The traffic circle slows traffic using the intersection and can also provide an attractive gateway to a neighborhood. Stop or Yield signage can be applied in combination with traffic circle. Left turning traffic may go around the traffic circle, or if needed for vehicles with larger turning radius, complete turning movement from the left side of a traffic circle. Q: How high is a traffic circle? Page 8 of 11
A: For the intersection of Bluett and Yellowstone, the intent was to design the traffic circle to be mountable to service all turning movements. The height would be around 3 inches. Q: Why is a raised crosswalk being proposed at a stop sign? A: Vertical devices are not preferred treatments for multi-way stop controlled intersections. At these locations it is expected that all vehicles are stopping. However at this location it is not a multi-way stop. Vehicles turning onto Bluett off of Yellowstone are not stopping before making their turn. The raised crosswalk could help to slow cars turning onto Bluett. Q: Will the manhole be raised for the traffic circle? A: Yes, the manhole would need to be raised for the traffic circle. Q: What is the schedule for refreshing pavement markings? How does it work? A: There is a routine schedule for refreshing pavement marking throughout the City. Post meeting note: Staff has requested that this location be added to list. The actual refresh of pavement marking may take a while, as this year s pavement marking program has not started and field crew will likely optimize groups of locations for increased efficiency. Q: Was Ann Arbor Public Schools, Ann Arbor Fire Department, Ann Arbor Police Department and Public Works consulted before the traffic circle was proposed? A: This idea was recently developed in response to the resident feedback received at previous public meetings for the project area. Staff have been discussions with some of the impacted parties, but further discussion would be needed if there is community support for a traffic circle at this location. Q: When can an evaluation be done about a three-way stop here at Yellowstone and Bluett? A: Engineering staff will schedule traffic counts and conduct evaluation of All-Way STOP control at Bluett and Yellowstone. Q: Could this be a three-way stop? A: There are warrants that must be met to install a stop-sign. Refer to page 4 of the traffic calming guidebook for additional information about why stop signs are not used at traffic calming devices. Device polling Meeting attendees were asked to participate in an informal polling (raise of hands) to determine support for devices at each location. Staff emphasized that final decisions about device installation are not being made through the on-site meeting. The polling during this meeting was used to finalize the concept plan for the second survey to determine which devices to continue discussing at on-site meeting #2, and which need to be changed or removed. Meeting attendees were asked to raise their hand for the option that most closely represented their views: 1. Are you in favor of keeping this device at this location for the final concept plan and Survey? 2. Are you opposed to this device at this location and do not want it shown on the final concept plan and survey card? 3. Are you abstaining from the poll because you because you do not have enough information to make a decision or otherwise choose note to participate in the poll? Page 9 of 11
Device #1: Speed Table (Two options 1A and 1B were presented to residents in the field) 1. Option 1A (between Nixon and Renfrew) Yes: 23 2. Option 1B (between Renfrew and Prairie, closer to Renfrew then Prairie) Yes: 15 3. No Device: 7 4. Abstained: 5 Device #2: Raised Crosswalk (As explained at the onsite meeting, this device will not be included in the Traffic Calming Plan because there are potential conflicts with the AAPS proposed site changes. Decisions about a device at this location will be dependent on the AAPS final site plan. Community feedback received at the April 11 meeting will help inform future discussion with AAPS) 1. Yes: 19 2. No: 6 3. Abstained: 4 Device #3: Raised Crosswalk 1. Yes: 25 2. No: 1 3. Abstained: 3 Device #4: Bump out (This device will not be shown on the final survey due to lack of support by residents at the meeting) 1. Yes: 6 2. No: 18 3. Abstained: 2 Device #5: Speed Table 1. Yes: 16 2. No: 7 3. Abstained: 3 Device #6: Speed Table 1. Yes: 19 2. No: 2 3. Abstained: 4 Device #7: Pedestrian Refuge Island 1. Yes: 19 2. No: 11 3. Abstained: 1 Device #8: Raised Crosswalk 1. Yes: 21 2. No: 3 3. Abstained: 3 Device #9: Raised Crosswalk Page 10 of 11
1. Yes: 19 2. No: 9 3. Abstained: 0 Device #10: Bump out and Pedestrian Refuge Island (Three options 10A, 10B and 10C (resident proposed at April 11 meeting) were presented in the field to residents) 1. Option 10A (Bump out and larger Pedestrian Refuge Island) Yes: 0 2. Option 10B (Only pedestrian Island aligning with the existing curb edge, no bump out) Yes: 28 3. Option 10C (Traffic Circle) Yes: 1 4. No Device: 0 5. Abstained: 0 Device #11: Raised Crosswalk 1. Yes: 12 2. No Device: 2 3. Abstained: 2 Device #12: Raised Crosswalk or Traffic Circle (Two options 1A Raised Crosswalk or 1B Traffic Circle were presented to residents in the field) 1. Option 12A (Raised Crosswalk along Bluett) Yes: 11 2. Option 12B (Traffic Circle at the intersection of Bluett and Yellowstone) Yes: 0 3. No Device: 6 4. Abstained: 0 Page 11 of 11
Appendix A: Sign-In Sheet