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ORD 2011-14 - Amend CH 44 - Traffic - Stop Signs - Sycamore and 16th 01-04-2011 P20 ORDINANCE NO. 2011-14 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 44, TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLES, OF ITS CODE OF ORDINANCES BY PLACING STOP SIGNS ON SYCAMORE AVENUE AT 16TH STREET; AND MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED THERETO; AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE,TEXAS,THAT: Section 1: The following described stop intersection shall be PLACED by the amendments shown below: Intersection On At Sycamore Avenue 16'"Street Section 2: The City Manager is authorized and directed to cause the placement of proper signs along the above described streets. Section 3: It shall be unlawful for driver of a vehicle to disobey the instruction of the signs placed in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance unless at the time otherwise directed by a Police Officer. Section 4: Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this ordinance or failing to comply with any requirement of the ordinance will be guilty of a misdemeanor as provided by Article I, Section 44-4 of Chapter 44 of the Huntsville Code of Ordinances being punishable by a fine of not less than $1.00 nor more than two hundred ($200.00) dollars; except that minors who have passed their 14`h birthday but have not reached their 17`h birthday shall be punished by a fine of not more than$100.00. Section 5: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and such holding shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this ordinance. Section 6: All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed; provided, however, that such repeal shall be only to the extent of such inconsistency and in all other respects this ordinance shall be cumulative of other ordinances regulating and governing the subject matter covered by this ordinance. Section 7: This ordinance shall take effect ten (10) days after its passage by the City Council. The City Secretary shall publish the caption of this ordinance in the official City newspaper at least twice within ten (10)days of its passage. 1"reading: December 14,2010 PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 4TH DAY OF JANUARY 2011. THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE J u er,Mayor AT ST: APPROVED: + J Le oodward, Se Leonard Schneider, City Attorney i P19 MOTION: r SECOND: (� VOTE: F PRESENTED r APPROVED r DECLINED ACTION Iu TABLED i I� OTHER i I i I I i j P21 TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS ti Villas on Sycamore i• Untsville, Texas t 1 July 14, 2010 Prepared for American Campus Communities r � M.MOORS g�80 �W4 �+ M®® own riALFF' MN 1201 North Bowser Road Richardson, Texas 75081 AVO 27481 Firm Registration No.312 P22 American Campus Communities— Villas on Sycamore July 14, 2010 Sycamore Avenue/16'''Street AYD 27481 Huntsville, Texas Executive Summary Halff Associates, Inc. (Halff) conducted a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) for the proposed Villas on Sycamore apartment complex, to be located on the southeast comer of the Sycamore Avenue/ 16`h Street intersection in Huntsville,Texas. The complex is planned to have 170 units, and to be fully built out by the end of 2011. The TIA was conducted on behalf of the project developer, � American Campus Communities, for submittal to the Cit of Huntsville. The TIA addressed the ■j impacts to the Sycamore Avenue intersections with 16 Street and Bearkat Boulevard, and to Sycamore Avenue and 16th Street adjacent to the development site. The TIA also addressed .+ sight distance along Sycamore Avenue in the study area. Halff collected AM and PM peak period turning movement traffic counts at the Sycamore Avenue intersections with 16Th Street and Bearkat Boulevard on Tuesday, June 8, 2010. The City of Huntsville collected 24-hour directional traffic counts along Sycamore Avenue, 16`' Street, and Bearkat Boulevard fro} Tuesday, June 8, 2010, through Monday, June 14, 2010. (� Halff developed study,year 2011 background volumes at the study intersections by increasing the �1 existing (2010) volumes conducted in June 2010 to account for additional traffic generated by Sam Houston State University during the fall and spring semesters, for several nearby .j developments planned for completion by the fall of 2011, and for general traffic growth in the study area. The development information was provided by the City of Huntsville. Halff then generated trips for the proposed development, assuming full build out by the end of 2011, and distributed the development trips at the study intersections and site driveways. Halff added the development trips to the study year 2011 background volumes in order to estimate the j study year 2011 total volumes at the intersections and drives. Halff conducted weekday AM and j PM peak hour analyses at the study intersections and site driveways for the year 2011 build out scenario. Halff evaluated the results of the peak hour analyses, checked and addressed sight distance along Sycamore Avenue, and identified improvements in order to accommodate the projected traffic related to the proposed development. The results of the AM and PM peak hour intersection, driveway, and link volume analyses indicate that the proposed apartment complex will have a relatively minor impact on the adjacent roadway network. The following is a summary of the LOS changes caused by the addition of development traffic to the roadway system: i • At the Sycamore Avenue/Beaerkat Boulevard intersection, the LOS is not projected to decrease for any of the movements, except for the eastbound through / right turn lane,which is projected to drop from LOS B to C. • On 16`h Street east of Sycamore Avenue, the LOS is projected to decrease from A to B on westbound 16`h Street in the AM peak hour with the apartment complex fully built out. - i- ; ; HALFF P23 American Campus Communities—Villas on Sycamore July 14, 2010 Sycamore Avenue/16'''Street AVO 27481 Huntsville, Texas All other movements and roadway links are projected to maintain the same LOS in the study year 2011 total volume scepario (with the apartment complex fully built out) as in the study year 2011 background volume scenario(without apartment complex traffic on the roadway system). Halff addressed sight distance along Sycamore Avenue in the study area,since the road has some horizontal and vertical curvature between 16`h Street and Bearkat Boulevard that limit the sight distance at 16`h Street and could limit the sight distance at the proposed apartment main driveway. Halff conducted sight distance measurements along Sycamore Avenue at 16`h Street and at the location of the proposed apartment main driveway. The measurements indicate that based on the 85th percentile speed along Sycamore Avenue (approximately 40 miles per hour, based on data collected by the City of Huntsville), there are sight distance deficiencies looking to the left (south) along Sycamore Avenue from 16th Street and from the location of the proposed apartment main driveway. The deficiencies are approximately 195 feet at 16th Street (for left turns from westbound 10" Street to southbound Sycamore Avenue) and approximately 165 feet at the proposed apartment main drive%6y (for left turns from the drive to southbound Sycamore Avenue). However,Halff estimates that an additional 70 —80 feet of sight distance could be gained south of the proposed apartment main drive by trimming the vegetation on the east side of Sycamore Avenue. The sight distance deficiency looking to the left (south) from 16'h Street is due to the vertical curvature of Sycamore Avenue, and could not be easily increased without reconstructing the road. In addition to trimming the vegetation along the east side of Sycamore Avenue, sight distance at the proposed apartment main drive could be increased by striping Sycamore Avenue with a centerline and a six-foot outside shoulder on the east side (for northbound traffic). This would force northbound traffic closer to the middle of Sycamore Avenue, where they could be seen sooner as they proceed around the curve by vehicles stopped at the proposed apartment main drive waiting to turn onto Sycamore Avenue. Halff also recommends that the developer work with the adjacent property owner(s) to provide a sight easement south of the proposed site that would ensure 445 feet of sight distance from the proposed apartment drive to the south. This would meet the sight distance requirement for 40 mph speeds. At 16t' Street, an all-way stop at Sycamore Avenue/ 16th Street could be considered. Halff did not conduct detailed field measurements for sight distance along 16`11 Street at the location of the proposed apartment exit only drive. Based on field observations, there is sufficient sight distance in both directions (left / west, right / east) along 16`h Street at this location. Sight distance along 16th Street is good between Sycamore Avenue and Avenue B. The proposed apartment exit-only drive falls roughly halfway between Sycamore Avenue and Avenue B, in a low point along the road. Visibility is good in both directions. Halff reviewed the site plan in order to address concerns that access should be provided to Avenue B and Boettcher Mill Road, either in addition to or in lieu of access to Sycamore Avenue. Sycamore Avenue is a 40-foot wide collector/minor arterial-type road that is designed to collect and distribute traffic from smaller streets and from large developments such as apartment complexes or shopping centers. It is intended to accommodate higher traffic volumes than residential/neighborhood-type streets. ii- n ; HALFF P24 American Campus Communities— Villas on Sycamore July 14,2010 Sycamore Avenue/16a'Street AVO 27481 Huntsville, Texas Avenue B and Boettcher Mill Road are both narrower,residential-type streets with single-family homes fronting along the-streets. They are designed to facilitate access to the residences and are not intended to carry significant traffic volumes. Providing a major access point to the proposed apartment complex on one of these roads could increase the traffic along the roads to a level that would impact the residents that live on these roads. The travel demand for this apartment complex will be towards the southwest and the SHSU campus, since the complex will be primarily marketed towards students. Providing the major access point to the site along Sycamore Avenue will minimize the impacts to Avenue B and Boettcher Mill Road. There will be some development traffic along 16th Street between the proposed exit-only drive and Sycamore Avenue; however, based on the parking layout of the site, it is estimated that only 20-25 percent of the traffic exiting the site would regularly use this access point. This equates to approximately 16 vehicles in the AM peak hour and 9 vehicles in the PM peak hour,based on the number of trips generated by the site. I From a civil design standpoint, the topography of the site would make it difficult to provide access to Avenue B or to Boettcher Mill Road. The developer is planning to construct retaining walls to make up the grade differences between the site and these roads. Furthermore, frontage along Avenue B is limited to the curve area where Avenue B and Boettcher Mill Road intersect, which is not a desirable location for a driveway. Halff evaluated the feasibility of changing the traffic controls at the Sycamore Avenue th _ - intersections with 16 Street and Bearkat Boulevard from two-way stop control (TWSC)to all- way stop-control (AWSC). The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) 2009 Edition provides guidance on multi-way stop applications, which include certain traffic volume and accident history criteria. In the case of the 161h Street intersection,the traffic volumes on the minor street approaches (eastbound and westbound 16th Street) do not meet the suggested volume criteria, and there have not been enough reported accidents succeptible to correction by a multi-way stop installation to meet the suggested accident criteria(accident data was provided by the City of Huntsville). The MUTCD does provide optional criteria to be considered, one of which states, "Locations where a road user, after stopping, cannot see conflicting traffic and is not able to negotiate the intersection unless conflicting cross traffic is also required to stop." The measured sight distance looking to the left (south) along Sycamore Avenue from the westbound 10H Street approach is less than the recommended intersection sight distance published in the AASHTO Green Book, due to the vertical curvature of Sycamore Avenue, and road. An all-way stop at this could not be Basil corrected without recomstructin the y p oul y g intersection would force traffic on Sycamore Avenue to stop at 16th Street, giving the traffic on 16th Street an opportunity to turn onto or cross Sycamore Avenue without having to wait for an acceptable gap in the Sycamore Avenue traffic flow. Althoun all-way stops are not intended to control speeds, an all-way stop at the Sycamore Avenue/ 16t Street intersection would have the secondary effect of slowing traffic on southbound Sycamore Avenue, which could help provide more deisrable gaps for vehicles exiting the proposed apartment main driveway south of 16th Street. - iii- N ; HALFF. American Campus Communities—Villas on Sycamore July 14, 2010 P25 Sycamore Avenue/16`x'Street AVO 27481 Huntsville, Texas If an all-way stop is considered at the Sycamore Avenue / 16`' Street intersection, residents and �1 businesses in the immediate area should be notified of the proposal and allowed to express their +� support/opposition to the proposal. Also,if an all-way stop is installed at the intersection,Halff recommends that"Stop Ahead" Advance Traffic Control signs (W3-1 or WM a) be installed for northbound and southbound Sycamore Avenue approaching the intersection. These signs could be supplemented with warning beacons and/or an advance street name plaque if so desired. In the case of the Bearkat Boulevard intersection, the traffic volumes on the minor street approaches (eastbound and westbound Bearkat Boulevard) do not meet the suggested volume criteria, and there have not been enough reported accidents succeptible to correction by a multi- way stop installation to meet the suggested accident criteria (accident data was provided by the City of Huntsville). Also, sight distance is good on all four legs of the intersection. Halff recommends that the City continue to monitor traffic volumes and accident history at this intersection; as development continues in the area, is is possible that traffic volumes will increase on Bearkat Bouelvard to a level that meets the volume criteria published in the MUTCD for justifying the installation of an all-way stop. Based on the results of the intersection, driveway, and link analyses, a review of the site layout and access plan, and an evaluation of sight distance along Sycamore Avenue, Halff recommends the following improvements to accommodate the projected development traffic along the study roads, at the study intersections, and at the site access points: • To help improve sight distance looking south along Sycamore Avenue from the proposed apartment main driveway, stripe a centerline along Sycamore Avenue between Bearkat Boulevard and 10 Street and stripe a shoulder on the east side of Sycamore south of the proposed apartment drive. The shoulder could be 6 feet wide, leaving a 14-foot wide travel lane in the northbound direction, and could begin by tapering out from the east curb just north of Bearkat Boulevard. The shoulder could then be stopped on the south side of the apartment drive. This would move northbound vehicles on Sycamore Avenue closer to the center of the road, which would allow vehicles exiting the apartment main drive to see them sooner as the northbound vehicles travel around the horizontal curve between Bearkat Boulevard and the apartment drive. • To also help improve sight distance along Sycamore Avenue at the proposed apartment main driveway,trim the vegetation along the east side of Sycamore north and south of the apartment drive (refer to Pictures 3 and 4). Trimming this vegetation could increase the sight distance looking to the south along Sycamore Avenue by an estimated 70—80 feet. • Work with the owner(s) of the property to the south of the site in order to provide a sight easement that would ensure a clear line of sight 445 feet from the proposed apartment drive to the south. - iv- ; HALFF* P26 American Campus Communities—Villas on Sycamore July 14,2010 Sycamore Avenue/16°i Street AVO 27481 Himisville, Texas • To improve sight distance looking to the north from the Sycamore Avenue / 16`h Street intersection,trim the vegetation along the east side of Sycamore north of 16'h Street(refer to Picture 1). • An all-way stop should be considered at the Sycamore Avenue/ 16`h Street intersection, due to the shit distance limitations looking to the left (south) along Sycamore from westbound 16 Street. If an all-way stop is installed at the Sycamore Avenue/ 16th Street intersection, Halff recommends that residents and businesses in the immediate area be notified of the proposal and allowed to express their support/ opposition to the proposal. Also, if an all-way stop is installed at the intersection, Halff recommends that "Stop Ahead" Advance Traffic Control signs (W3-1 or W3-1a) be installed for northbound and southbound Sycamore Avenue approaching the intersection. These signs could be supplemented with warning beacons and/or an advance street name plaque. • If an all-way stop-is not instdlled at the Sycamore Avenue / 10h Street intersection, a cross road intersection warning sign (W2-1) should be considered for northbound traffic on Sycamore Avenue approaching 16th Street. This warning sign could be supplemented with a warning plaque indicating the distance(in feet)from the sign to the intersection. • The City should continue to monitor traffic volumes and accident history at the Sycamore Avenue / Bearkat Boulevard intersection to determine if/ when traffic volumes meet the volume criteria published in the MUTCD for justifying the installation of an all-way stop. MEN - v- ;m; HALFF