AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Consider approval of Ordinance 2023-68, on the second of two readings, authorizing the installation of speed cushions in both directions in the 200 through 400 blocks of Horace Howard Drive (from approximately 670 feet west of Old Bastrop Highway to Dachsund Drive); including procedural provisions; and providing an effective date.
Body
Meeting date: September 5, 2023 - 1st Reading
September 19, 2023 - 2nd Reading
Department: Department of Public Works - Sabas Avila, Director
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: $8,000
Account Number: 10006147.53091
Funds Available: 16,723.08
Account Name: Traffic-Pavement Marking
Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: Council approved Ordinance 2023-70, on first reading at their September 5 meeting.
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Background Information:
Pursuant with Sec. 82.066, all regulatory traffic control where the authority to install is not specifically delegated to the traffic engineer, requires approval from City Council by ordinance.
Horace Howard Drive is a two-lane collector street characterized by single-family residence developments. The City annexed a portion of Horace Howard Drive (from approximately 670 feet west of Old Bastrop Highway to Dachsund Drive) in 2022. The Annexation Ordinance number is Ordinance 2022-18.
The remaining portions of Horace Howard Drive are within Hays County and county maintained. The Hays County portions of Horace Howard Rd include four speed humps.
Local residents submitted a request for the installation of speed humps on the City portion of Horace Howard Drive. In response to the request, the Public Works Department conducted a traffic study on Horace Howard Drive from June 20th to 23rd, 2023. The traffic study indicated average daily traffic of 148 vehicles and the 85th percentile traffic speed of 39.5 mph on Horace Howard Drive between Old Bastrop Highway and Dachsund Drive.
Additionally, city staff conducted a neighborhood survey for speed humps along the study area. Of the 19 homes in the study area, the City received 6 responses in support of speed humps.
The low traffic volumes of 148 vehicles per day would not normally warrant speed humps. However, due to the excessive speeding and the installation of existing speed humps on the County portion, city staff recommends approval of the speed cushions on the city-owned portion of Horace Howard Drive (from approximately 670 feet west of Old Bastrop Highway to Dachsund Drive).
Speed cushions are a variation of the standard speed humps. A speed hump is a continuous raised pavement across the width of the street. A speed cushion is a variation of the standard speed hump with two gaps in the middle of the hump to allow emergency vehicles to straddle the humps so as to not adversely affect response times. The approximate cost of the installation is $8,000.
Pursuant with 82.067- The traffic engineer shall develop and maintain a traffic register containing a record of every location in the city where any traffic control device or special regulation is made applicable, whether by ordinance or by the traffic engineer's authority established under this chapter.
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Recommendation:
City staff recommends approval of the speed cushions on 200-400 blocks of Horace Howard Drive (from approximately 670 feet west of Old Bastrop Highway to Dachsund Drive)