STAFF REPORT

Operations Committee, August 2, 2006

Highcroft Drive Traffic Calming (EN07-015)
Consideration of a traffic calming plan from the Highcroft community
Speaker:  Steve Brown
 

From:  Tim Bailey, P.E. Director of Engineering
Prepared by:  C. Richard Moore, Traffic Engineering Manager
Approved by:  William B. Coleman, Jr., Town Manager
Approved by:  Benjamin T. Shivar, Assistant Town Manager

A meeting with Highcroft residents was conducted on March 30, 2006. At that meeting, the community submitted their community plan for traffic calming along Highcroft Drive.  We have reviewed this request for decorative speed humps, crosswalks and neck-downs and provided information to the community.

This is our first request for decorative speed humps within the Town of Cary, and we do not have a standard in place at this time for the more expensive decorative speed humps.  A field inspection of the proposed traffic calming plan revealed that, in both areas where neck-downs are proposed, there are existing drainage inlets within 2 to 6 feet of the wheel chair ramps.  The installation of neck-downs at these locations would involve an extensive drainage study to determine how to resolve drainage issues.  In addition, the proposed crosswalk at the north entrance may not work due to the driveway of the home at 5406 Highcroft Drive. It may also be appropriate to see where the driveway cuts of the homes adjacent to the last four proposed speed humps in the section of Highcroft Drive would be before approving the speed hump locations.

Highcroft will hold a HOA meeting this fall and would very much like to have the plan complete and ready to present so that we can launch the petition at that meeting.

This proposal does not currently meet Town Council policy pertaining to Traffic Calming.  Highcroft Drive is a collector street with a posted speed of 35 mph which, by Town Council policy, would not qualify for the installation of speed humps.  Highcroft Drive does have a 25 mph posted speed during school hours (8:30-9:30 a.m. and 3:15-4:15 p.m.) for Highcroft Elementary School.  Speed studies indicate little difference in the operating speed between the 25 mph speed limit and the 35 mph posted speed. All 85^th percentile speeds are below 35 mph. The same is true with schools opened and closed.

Fiscal Impact:  Two capital projects currently address the Town’s traffic calming needs:

The FY 2007 capital improvements budget included a $100,000 appropriation for traffic calming.  These funds have been placed in ST1107 and are part of the $470,000 appropriated to date for that project.  While the current available balance for traffic calming projects is $303,185, needs exist beyond the Highcroft request.  For example, staff estimates the traffic calming measures associated with the Wellingborough request to range from $150,000 to $200,000.

A firm cost estimate has not yet been determined for the decorative speed humps requested by the Highcroft neighborhood.  However, staff believes it is likely that the final cost for these humps will exceed $100,000.

Staff Recommendation:  Highcroft Drive does not meet policy criteria for consideration of traffic calming.  Staff requests direction on whether the policy should be revised.  If the Town policy is to be revised, staff recommends that further review of this specific project be delayed until the Castalia and Wellingborough traffic calming projects are fully evaluated for cost and effectiveness.