Agenda - Public Works Committee - 09/18/2012

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Public Works Committee 5. 5. Meeting Date: 09/18/2012 Submitted For: Grant Riemer By: Grant Riemer, Engineering/Public Works Title: Crosswalk Request for Zirconium St and Alpine Dr Background: At the July 21, 2009 Public Works Committee received a request for providing cross walks that would offer access to Alpine Park to the residential neighborhoods to the north. This request has been brought forth again by a resident of that neighborhood. The chief concern is the ability to access the park safely across Alpine Drive which has a 45 mile per hour speed limit and a daily traffic count of 2400 vehicles per day. The Alpine Acres subdivision neighborhood includes 22 single family units fronting on 153rd Way that accesses Alpine Drive via Zirconium Street, and 16 single family units fronting on 153rd Court which accesses the west end of the park. Please recall that a crosswalk providing access to the western portion of the neighborhood was installed at the intersection of Alpine Drive and 153 Court at a relatively modest cost of $2,200. However, a crossing location for the eastern neighborhood was found to be more problematic and no action was taken by the Committee. A possible location having an adequate, but not ideal sight distance had been identified at a point approximately 200 feet west of the intersection with Zirconium Street. This location has the advantage of requiring a minimal distance of "extra travel" for pedestrians from the eastern neighborhood that wish to go to the playground area which is east of Zirconium Street. A crossing at this location would require; a) 200 feet of trail, b) cross walks with signage, c) concrete steps down the grade, and pedestrian ramps. The estimated cost for these improvements is $38,000. There is also a question of compliance with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) since steps would not make this access usable to wheelchair users. Staff contacted the Department of Justice, which administers the act, and was advised that a facility (the park) required only one accessible point. However, if an access were to be considered the main entrance, then a handicap access should be seriously considered. This would not be the case since there are two other access points on both the east and west sides of the park. Notification: Micheal Helfenstein 6440-153rd Way was notified that this case would be discussed at tonight's meeting. Observations: Crosswalk lines should not be used indiscriminately. An engineering study should be performed before a marked crosswalk is installed at a location away from a traffic control signal or an approach controlled by a STOP or YIELD sign. The engineering study should consider the number of lanes, the presence of a median, the distance from adjacent signalized intersections, the pedestrian volumes and delays, the average daily traffic (ADT), the posted or statutory speed limit or 85th-percentile speed, the geometry of the location, the possible consolidation of multiple crossing points, the availability of street lighting, and other appropriate factors. New marked crosswalks alone, without other measures designed to reduce traffic speeds, shorten crossing distances, enhance driver awareness of the crossing, and/or provide active warning of pedestrian presence, should not be installed across uncontrolled roadways where the speed limit exceeds 40 mph and either: A. The roadway has four or more lanes of travel without a raised median or pedestrian refuge island and an ADT of 12,000 vehicles per day or greater; or B. The roadway has four or more lanes of travel with a raised median or pedestrian refuge island and an ADT of 15,000 vehicles per day or greater. Because non -intersection pedestrian crossings are generally unexpected by the road user, warning signs