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08. Resolution 4993 - Stop SignsKALISPELL POLICE DEPARTMENT 312 116 r AVE E�5; P0 BOX € 997 - KALISP LL., MT 59903 TE�EPHON (406) 7:58 - 77BO - FA./ (466) 758 - 7799 E-MAIL- KP? KAL ISPE L L.COM REPORT: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Frank Garner, Chief of Police SUBJECT: Stop Sign at 5 Avenue East and I & Street East. MEETING DATE: :March 21, 2005 Through Partnerships' BACKGROUND: At the request of residents in the area of 5th Avenue East and l 0a` Street East a traffic study was conducted to determine the need for traffic control devices at that intersection_ The study indicates that a two-way stop sign is warranted on 10h Street East at 5t' Avenue. This configuration is also in general compliance with the recent "Safe Route to Schools" plan implemented at Hedges School. A copy of the engineering study is attached. RECOMMENDATIONS; The council should adapt a resolution requiring stop signs on 10t' Street East at 5"' Avenue East. FISCAL EFFECTS: None. ALTERNATIVES: As recommended by Council. Respectfully su Frank Garner '��+ames Patrick Chief of Police City Manager F R A V''K GAIR N EF2. CHIEF 0r PO C [ a F'r--'GaR KRAUS'S. AS SISTANT CHi€� � 0 F PCLIC� RESOLUTION NO.4993 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PLACEMENT OF STOP SIGNS ON 10TH STREET EAST AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH 5TH AVENUE EAST AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KALISPELL AS FOLLOWS: SECTION I. That vehicles, including motor vehicles, bicycles, or other vehicles shall be required to stop in the east and west bound lanes of 10th Street East at the intersection of 5th Avenue East. SECTION II. The Chief of Police is authorized and directed to erect stop signs at the above locations. SECTION III. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage by the City Council and approval by the Mayor. PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF KALISPELL, THIS 21ST DAY OF MARCH, 2005. Pamela B. Kennedy Mayor ATTEST: Theresa White City Clerk City ®f Kalispell Public Works Department Post Office Box 1997, Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997 - Telephone (406) 758-7720, Fax (406) 758-7831 To: Charlie Harball, City Attorney Cc: Jim Hansz, P.E., Director Public WorksXity Engineer Prank Castles, P.E., Assistant City Engineer Prank Garner, Chief of Police From: Andrew Sorensen, E.I.T., Associate Civil Engineer Date: February 22, 2005 Re: 5th Ave. East and 10th Street East Intersection. It has come to my attention that a vehicle collision recently occurred at the above -mentioned intersection. This has been an intersection of concern to a number of people in the community, and a formal letter from a citizen who lives on the corner of this intersection, was sent to the City Manager last year. In response to this and other letters dealing mainly with traffic safety around Hedges Elementary School and the East Avenues, the Public Works Department performed a number of traffic studies and surveys to establish an East Avenues Traffic Safety Plan. The plan consists of three main parts: 1) improving the safety for students in the direct vicinity of --ledges Elementary, 2) Establishing a Safe Routes to School program that would provide safe traveling corridors for students, and 3) Establishing a Traffic Calming Program that could utilize a variety of proven tools to calm traffic_ The first part of the plan to improve safety in the direct vicinity of Hedges Elementary School was completed in the fall of 2004. It was determined that this should be the first priority, as the potential for pedestrian/vehicle conflicts was the greatest in this area. In October 2004, the City Council passed Ordinance No. 1514 that addressed a number of the traffic safety issues around Hedges. Stop signs were placed at the intersections of 5th Avenue E. and 8th Street E., 5th Avenue E. and 9th Street E., 6th Avenue E. and 8th Street, and 6th Avenue and 9th Street. Crosswalks were also established and marked across 8th and 9th Streets East at the 5th Avenue Intersections. A student -loading zone was established on 8th Street East, and parking was eliminated on the north side of 9th Street East between 4th and 5th Avenues East. The second part of the plan, establishing a Safe Routes to School program, has also been partially completed. It was determined that 5th Avenue East would act as the main north -south corridor, and that 9th Street East would act as the primary east -west corridor. To this end, crosswalks were also established in Ordinance No. 1514 and marked across 2nd and 3rd Avenues along 9th Street. These crosswalks are designated as school crossings. Future actions for this plan include establishing regulated intersections along 5th Avenue East, and continuing the 9th Street E. route east to Woodland Drive. There are many unregulated intersections along 5th Avenue E., and a traffic study must be done far each intersection. The Public Works and the Police Department are currently working on establishing stop signs at all intersections along 5th Avenue on a case -by -case basis. An example of this continuing work is reflected in Resolution No. 4951, a resolution to establish stop signs at the intersection of 5th Avenue E. and 5th ,Street E. This went before the City Council on February 22, 2005 and was approved. The final part of the plan for the East Avenues, establishing a Traffic Calming Program, is also currently in progress. A draft policy that the City will use to determine the application of traffic calming devices City wide is currently being reviewed It will go before the City Council for adoption in the spring of this year. As you can see much work has already been completed on this East Avenues Traffic Safety Plan, but a lot of work remains. The Traffic Signs and Signals (TSS) division has dedicated a lot of their already over -extended time to aid in this project. As you are aware TSS only has two full- time employees, and many street signs, traffic signals and crosswalks to maintain. Provisions in our budget proposal for the next fiscal year will hopefully allow us to complete more projects iL__ ___�_W ___ AIT:aL _.__v __a— aL_ __a_L 7- _0- ___�__7_�._A �__e_�___..'___ _1 rwi_ a ______._ r� t MIS sUI1irl-le . VV lLll 1G6ptGGL LU L11G CNI, D11JI1III Old Ir_ UTALVtI 111LG1�CC:L1V11 UL JUI YAWTIUC V_ anU 1 Oth St. E., the priority order of the intersections to be done is based on a number of items including the accident history, vehicle speeds, and relationships to the Safe Routes to School program. This intersection is of high priority due to its close proximity to the school, however; there is a very low traffic accident history. The intersection is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2005. I am attaching copies of a number of memos and ordinances that have been developed as part of the Traffic Safety Plan. These show that the Public Works Department is aware of the concerns that have been raised and that we are taking action to correct them. 2 City of Kalispell Public Works Department Post Office Box 1997, Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997 - Telephone (406) 758-7720, Fax (406) 758-7831 To: Jim Hansz, P.E., Director Public Works/City Engineer Cc: Frank Castles, P.E., Assistant City Engineer Frank. Gamer, Chief of Police From: Andrew Sorensen, E.LT_, Associate Civil Engineer Date: July 14, 2004 Re: Traffic Safety Plan for East Avenues (Hedges Elementary School) Geographical Area The part of the city that is bordered by Main Street to the west, Idaho Street to the north, Woodland Avenue to the east, and l4th Street East to the south. Identification oflssues There is a perceived public notion that traffic moves too fast along the Avenues and some of the cross streets, especially along the one-way streets. Sidewalks are not present in a large portion of the area, especially in the southeast section. There are numerous unregulated intersections. The number of crosswalks is inadequate to facility pedestrian movement. Concern for children's safety around Cornelius Hedges Elementary School due to an increase in traffic. Action Items Perform detailed survey of existing conditions to include: sidewalk locations, intersection regulation, crosswalk locations, and traffic patterns. Develop traffic calming policy that includes which devices we are willing to allow (i.e. traffic circles, bulb -outs, etc.) and how those devices will be employed. Develop a "Safe Routes to School" plan that identifies the need for sidewalks, crosswalks and other traffic control and regulation for the school travel routes. Research grant programs for funding to install new sidewalks in those areas currently lacking. Work with Parks and Recreation Department on the installation of a bike path along Woodland Avenue. Work with MDT to correct the timing of traffic signals on Main Street and Idaho Street, as well as to regulation of traffic on the one-way streets. Perform traffic studies to determine regulation for all unregulated intersections. Andrew D. Sorensen ,4...nriate Civil FnainPPr Kalispell Public Works August 2, 2004 East Avenues Traffic Plan I. Safe Routes to School Plan A. Assess current conditions 1. sidewalks 2. crosswalks 3. stop signs 4. advisory signs (i.e. school zone) B. Designate route l . 5th Avenue East 2. 9th Street East C. Installation of stop signs and crosswalks I . Adjacent to the school 2. 3rd & 4th Avenues East 3. 1 Ith Street East D. Installation of sidewalks E. Installation of bike path along Woodland Drive F. Iden:tify ftuiding options l . MDT grant funds 2, livable communities grant funds II. Traffic Calming Program A. Physical methods I. traffic circles 2. curb knuckles/bulb outs 3. speed tables 4. medians B. Psychological methods I. speed wagon 2. police enforcement 3. sobriety checkpoints C. Identify locations 1. 7th Avenue East & 9th Street East 2. 5th Avenue East & I Oth Street East 3. establish procedure for other locations D. Identify funding options I. citizen assessments 2. city fiends 3. grant programs HL MDT Coordination A. Timing of lights along Main and Idaho Streets B. Participation in Traffic Calming Program City of Kalispell Public Works Department Post Office Box 1997, Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997 - Telephone (406)758-7720, Pzix (406)758-7831 East Avenues Traffic Plan Items Completed List p ,,, 9/2/04 A. Safe Routes to School Plan o Completed preliminary survey of existing conditions (sidewalks, crosswalks, stop signs) for East Avenues/Streets. o Distributed survey to parents of students at Hedges Elementary School to determine normal routes taken to school and conceived deficiencies. o Researched programs in other communities as well as grant funding possibilities. o Consulted with Mike Baker of the Parks Department on the location and construction time frame of a bike path along Woodland Drive. B. Traffic Calming Program o Drafted Traffic Calming Policy that identifies traffic calming devices to be implemented as well as procedure. • Identified preliminary locations for two traffic circles based on citizen requests. The first is at the intersection of 5th Avenue East and loth Street East. The second is located at the intersection of 7th Avenue East and 9th Street East. o Researched programs in other communities as well as funding mechanisms. C. Cornelius Hedges Elementary School o Replaced jersey rails on 5th Avenue East with removable concrete bollards. o Combined two bus -loading zones into one loading zone. a Reviewed surrounding area to insure that proper school zone signs are present. o Delivered letter of proposed changes to parking and student loading zone to principal as well as ,School District 5 Transportation and Facilities Manager. The plan was also presented to the PTO as well as the Police Department. All parties have responded positively to the proposed changes.