AGENDA DATE: 11/4/2015
TITLE:
Title
Radar Speed Signs
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Proposal to install radar speed signs on Carrsbrook Drive, Huntington Road, Northfield Road and Old Brooke Road.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Foley, Walker, Davis, Graham, Benish and Gatobu
PRESENTER (S): Gerald Gatobu
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Thomas C. Foley
BACKGROUND: The Board directed staff to evaluate use of radar speed signs as a traffic calming measure in neighborhoods experiencing excessive speeding on local residential streets. A radar speed sign is a changeable message sign that displays to approaching drivers the speed at which they are traveling, and may be installed in conjunction with a Speed Limit sign.
STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal 2. Critical Infrastructure. Prioritize, plan and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs
DISCUSSION: Research indicates that radar speed signs often achieve their objective of a reduction in speeds. Depending on the application and problem being addressed, reductions in speeds ranged from small to significantly large. The long-term impact of such signage varied; in some cases it was reported to have a positive impact over time (e.g., many months), while in other cases radar speed signs were reported to lose effectiveness within weeks of their deployment.
Reasons, or warrants, for the placement of radar speed signs are related to mean speeds, 85th percentile speeds, Average Daily Traffic (ADT), speed limit compliance issues, accident history, pedestrian presence, and posted speed limits. A second level of warrants is related to location-specific applications of radar speed signage, which includes school and park zones, locations where street conditions such as transition areas, curves, etc., are a concern, and work zones. This can include local neighborhood streets. Speed limit co...
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