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Middle School Traffic Signals D~ ~<k~ 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 ,,' 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. 11(l,JI(1il!j~ ~ I Michael C. Van Milligen MCVM/jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Gus Psihoyos, Acting Public Works Director/City EngineerP u) D~ ~<k~ 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.