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CITY OF MISSOULA PUBLIC WORKS/FACILITY MAINTENANCE 435 Ryman Street, Missoula, Montana 59802-4297 MEMORANDUM E-2010-0345 TO: John Engen, Mayor; Bruce Bender, CAO; Jim Nugent, City Attorney; Kevin Slovarp, City Engineer; Jason Weiner, Public Works Committee Chair FROM: Steve King, Public Works Director DATE: RE: July 16,2010 City Council directed unwarranted traffic control On July 14th the Public Works Committee (PWC) passed the following motions: Motion: The committee recommends the City Council approve and authorize the installation of a crosswalk at Central and Stephens Avenues and requests the Mayor to direct City Public Works to install the crosswalk. Motion: The committee recommends the City Council requests the Mayor to direct the City Public Works Department to create a policy for similar future requests. The motion was passed by PWC over concerns raised by the city engineer and myself. The city engineer's authority and responsibility for installation of traffic control devices is Missoula Municipal Code, Chapter 10.16. The relevant sections are attached below. Chapter 10.16 TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES Sections: 10.16.010 Installation authority. 10.16.020 Manual and specifications for devices. 10.16.070 No-turn signsuEstablishment authority. 10.16.080 No-turn signsu Erection and obedience. 10.16.090 Interference with official devices or railroad signs or signals. 10.16.100 Obstructing traffic at intersection or crosswalk. 10.16.120 Lane markings on street pavel11ents. 10.16.130 Vehicles to yield to urban transportation system buses utilizing a flashing yield sign on back of bus. Page 1 of3 ---PAGE BREAK--- 10.16.010 Installation authority. The city engineer shall place and maintain traffic-control signs, signals and devices when and as required under this title and other traffic ordinances of this city to make effective the provisions of such laws, and may place and maintain such additional traffic-control devices as he may deem necessary to regulate traffic under this title and other traffic ordinances of this city or under state law or to guide or warn traffic. (Prior code §20-50). 10.16.020 Manual and specifications for devices. All traffic-control signs, signals and devices shall conform to the manual and specifications approved by the state highway commission. All signs and signals required under this chapter for a particular purpose shall so far as practicable be uniform as to type and location throughout the city. All traffic-control devices so erected and not inconsistent with the provisions of state law or this chapter shall be official traffic-control devices. (Prior code §20-51). The ordinance references the state adopted Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Engineering Division staff report at PWC by the city engineer presented specific and current information from an engineering evaluation on the Central/Stephens intersection. He also presented information from the MUTCD regarding the use and application ofmarked crosswalks. Staffrecommended several positive action steps for enhancing pedestrian safety at the intersection. Those actions are contained in the PWC meeting minutes, and will be undertaken by Public Works staff as soon as resources allow. Staff did not recommend installation of a marked crosswalk for several reasons: 1. The engineer evaluation did not identify any actual warrants for a marked crosswalk. There are no reported pedestrian accidents at the intersection within the last six years. 2. The intersection characteristics are normal and common in Missoula. Pedestrian activity is typical for the area and traffic volumes and speeds are not excessive. 3. Other action steps for enhancing pedestrian safety, such as improving intersection sight distance, and posting local speed limits, are being done by Engineering Division staff. 4. The installation of a marked crosswalk at Central/Stephens is not warranted by the MUTCD, and has not been recommended through the engineering evaluation, or by the Public Works staff. The larger concern for Public Works staff is City Council directing the Mayor to direct installation ofunwarranted traffic control devices on City streets. Traffic control devices deployed without objective warrants have the potential for serious safety problems and liability exposure for the City if applied in an arbitrary and capricious manor. Also, Traffic Services materials budget and staff resources are barely adequate for maintenance of all warranted traffic control devices within City responsibilities. The redirection of very limited resources towards the installation ofunwarranted traffic control has the potential for adversely affecting ongoing maintenance operations. Page 20f3 ---PAGE BREAK--- The actual installation of a new unwarranted crosswalk at the intersection of Central/Stephens is not expected to increase or decrease the safety of intersection operations. The installation of a marked crosswalk at this location is unwarranted by the MUTCD, but is not likely to cause operational or safety degradation at this location. However, marking a crosswalk where unwarranted has the potential to dilute the effectiveness of other warranted crosswalks in the City. Traffic Services staff is ready and able to install the new crosswalk if directed by the Mayor to do so for reasons other than MUTCD warrants. RSK/jsm cc: Project/Subject File #201.03.001 Page 3 of3