7-22-2024_PW_CDS SS Briefings - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

1. Interact with the requester to explain the process, verify the scope of the request, and set initial expectations. 2. Install traffic tubes on the roadway in an appropriate location to ensure accurate data is collected. Typically, data is collected for 7 full days and equipment is then picked up sometime on day 8. 3. Data is transferred to staff to be processed and condensed into a reasonable format. 4. Accident data from the previous 5 years is pulled to identify a safety concern, if it exists. 5. Roadway geometry is evaluated to determine if the design speed for the roadway matches the posted speed limit. 6. Data is presented to the Board of County Commissioners to determine if an engineer's report should be prepared, and a Public Hearing should be set. This process can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks from start to finish depending on staff and equipment availability, and preliminary estimates indicate the study may cost approximately $500 including labor and equipment rental. Currently, Public Works does not charge a fee to make a request, nor is the number of requests limited by applicant or road. DISCUSSION: Public Works is interested in streamlining the process to provide an improved response time to County residents. In an effort to be responsive, PW has investigated various methods used around the State to determine the need for Speed Studies. An example is Grant County which utilizes a scoring sheet with 10 categories (Exhibit 1) to help identify whether a road is likely to receive support from the BOCC. PW also considered alternatives such as speed limits based on road classification and developed areas. These alternatives were not pursued as they did not provide consistency for drivers. Public Works has prepared a draft scoring sheet (Exhibit 2) which could be utilized to help communicate the speed data criteria and filter out unlikely Speed Studies, limiting time and resources spent on Speed Studies. Criteria includes: o Road Geometry o Existing speed data o Change in land-use within the immediate vicinity o Public Works Safety Concern o Sherrifs Office Safety Concern o Community Support These topics are found to be most effective when setting speed on rural roadways. FISCAL IMPACT: Public Works estimates that by utilizing scoring criteria,the number of speed studies brought before the BOCC may be reduced by as much as 75%. This would result in a cost savings of approximately $2,600 per year.