Middle School Traffic Signals
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MEMORANDUM
July 27,2004
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Dubuque Middle School, Radford Road
Traffic Signalization
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City Engineering has reviewed the traffic data submitted by IIW Engineers &
Surveyors for the new Dubuque Community middle school facility at 2001
Radford Road. IIW Engineers believes that warrants for installation of traffic
signals have been met.
Acting Public Works Director/City Engineer Gus Psihoyos does not believe the
traffic signalization at Radford Court/Radford Road intersection is warranted, but
believes it could be in the future. Gus Psihoyos is recommending that when the
traffic signal is installed, the City should do the design and inspection of the traffic
signals, saving the School District $12,000. This is similar to the partnership that
was formed for the Hempstead High School traffic signal.
According to Dubuque Community School Superintendent John Burgart, at times
of student arrival and departure from school, this intersection will be staffed by
crossing guards. The traffic signals will facilitate the safety of the 1,100 students
as well as provide for the future growth needs of this area. I respectfully
recommend Mayor and City Council approval of the traffic signalization
installation at Radford Court/Radford Road intersection prior to the opening of the
school. This signal would be traffic or pedestrian activated. The City will enter
into a partnership with the School District for the design and inspection of the
traffic signal installation.
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I Michael C. Van Milligen
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Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, Acting Public Works Director/City EngineerP
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MEMORANDUM
July 27,2004
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, Acting Public Works Director j1D
TO:
SUBJECT: Dubuque Middle School, Radford Road
Traffic Signalization
INTRODUCTION
As a result of the June 7,2004 City Council meeting, City Engineering was asked
to analyze the traffic data submitted by IIW Engineers & Surveyors for the new
Dubuque Community middle school facility at 2001 Radford Road.
BACKGROUND
The Dubuque Middle School at 2001 Radford Road will house approximately
1,100 students and its BOO-seat auditorium and athletic fields will host school and
non-school events. The proposed main entrance is on the west side of Radford
Road, at the existing Radford Court intersection with Radford Road. In the
future, a second school entrance onto Radford Road is anticipated to service not
only the middle school, but a future 400-student elementary school. It has been
suggested that the existing/future plans will necessitate traffic signalization at the
Radford Road/Radford Court intersection for pedestrian safety.
The Dubuque Community School District contracted with IIW Engineers &
Surveyors, PC to provide a site impact study to determine if a traffic signal is
justified at the proposed intersection. After the draft report was reviewed by
Engineering staff, it was decided to seek the opinion of a second independent
consulting firm, WHKS & Co., to review the IIW report.
Based on the available Site Impact Study, WHKS & Co. and the City agree:
- The Four-Hour Volume Traffic Sional Warrant is not applicable to this project.
There is not significant traffic on the middle school entrance for more than two
hours versus the required four hours out of the day.
The Peak Hour Traffic SiQnal Warrant criteria were not met. If right-turn
volumes are discounted for traffic leaving the 'School property and for
southbound traffic on Radford Road turning right and entering the property,
the Peak Hour Warrant is not met.
The School CrossinQ Traffic SiQnal Warrant. The Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices (MUTCD) states, "The need for a traffic control signal shall
be considered when an engineering study of the frequency and adequacy of
gaps in the vehicular traffic stream as related to the number and size of
groups of school children at an established school crossing across the major
street shows that the number of adequate gaps in the traffic stream during the
period when the children are using the crossing is less than the number of
minutes in the same period.. .and there are a minimum of 20 students during
the highest crossing hour." However, even before a decision is made to
install a traffic control signal, consideration shall be given to the
implementation of other remedial measures.
The MUTCD further states, "When properly used, traffic control signals are
valuable devices for the control of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. They
assign the right-of-way to the various traffic movements and thereby
profoundly influence traffic flow. Traffic control signals are often considered a
panacea for all traffic problems at intersections. This belief has led to traffic
control signals being installed at many locations where they are not needed,
adversely affecting the safety and efficiency of vehicular, bicycle, and
pedestrian traffic. Engineering studies of operating traffic control signals
should be made to determine whether the type of installation and the timing
program meet the current requirements of traffic."
Additionally, the MUTCD states, "Since vehicular delay and the frequency of
some types of crashes are sometimes greater under traffic signal control than
under STOP sign control, consideration should be given to providing
alternatives to traffic control signals even if one or more of the signal warrants
has been satisfied."
The traffic signal warrant analysis has not supported the installation of traffic
signals at this time, or determined that signals will improve the overall safety
and/or operation of the intersection. However, such future factors as
projected school enrollments, on-/off-site development in this area, and
annual traffic growth on Radford Road may impact the intersection safety and
capacity to such a degree as to warrant traffic signalization.
RECOMMENDATION
Lacking sufficient justification for traffic signals, Engineering would not
recommend installation at this time. Future growth may dictate the installation of
traffic signals and the Dubuque Community Schools has indicated a desire to
design the intersection with signalization in mind. To address this, Engineering
would suggest the School District install conduit under any new pavement areas
so that these areas would not have to be disturbed if the intersection is
signalized. The rest of the conduit and other appurtenances (foundations,
controller cabinets, vehicle detectors, etc.) could be installed at a later date.
Based on the findings of Engineering and WHKS & Co., it is recommended that
the City Council approves a partnership with the Dubuque Community School
District in which the design and inspection of the potential traffic signalization
would be the responsibility of the City; and all other costs, including equipment
and installation, be the responsibility of the School District.
Engineering would proceed with the design of the signals and contract the
necessary underground work that is necessary for the future signal activation at
this site when signal warrants are met.
An implementation plan would be developed which if traffic conditions warrant,
the signals could be operational within 60 days.
BUDGET IMPACT
The total construction of the intersection, traffic signals, and site access is
estimated to be $145,000. The traffic signal installation component is $73,000 of
that cost (exclusive of engineering services during design or construction).
Based on the proposed partnership, the cost to the City will be approximately
$12,000.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
The City Council is requested to approve the partnership with the Dubuque
Community School District whereby: the design and inspection of the traffic
signals would be the responsibility of the City; and the School District would be
responsible for all other costs related to the intersection improvement along with
the traffic signalization.
cc:
Dubuque Community School District
IIW Engineers & Surveyors, PC
WHKS & Co.