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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance-1986-0656INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS ORDINANCE NO. 656 Series of 1986 TITLE: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 20, STREETS OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE BY ADDING THERETO SECTIONS RELATING TO STANDARDS FOR PLACING AND MAINTAINING TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge is a Home Rule City pursuant to Article XX, Section 6 of the Constitution of the State of Colorado, and as such is vested with complete authority and powers in matters of purely local concern; WHEREAS the Colorado legislature through the adoption of C.R.S. 1973, 42-4-501 et se q., has regulated the manner in which traffic control devices may be installed and maintained upon state highways; WHEREAS it is the desire of the City Council of the City of Wheat Ridge to set forth its policy regarding installation and maintenance of traffic control and regulatory signs and devices upon purely local streets; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Chapter 20, Streets, of the Code of Laws of the City of Wheat Ridge is hereby amended by adding thereto the following Article III: Article III. Standards and Maintenance of Traffic Control Devices, Section 20-35. The City of Wheat Ridge does hereby adopt, by reference, the most recent edition of the "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways" and other related standards issued or endorsed by the Federal Highway Administrator, except as specifically amended hereby. Copies of said Manual shall be available from the Department of Public Works of the City of Wheat Ridge, which shall maintain in its offices no less than three (3) current copies, any of which may be purchased by members of the general public for a price to be established by said Department of Public Works. Section 20-36. The provisions relating to warrants for stop signs and/or traffic control devices which are listed in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways specified in the preceding section are hereby amended by the adoption of the following standards which shall be applicable to all streets and highways within the City of Wheat Ridge, with the City Council specifically acknowledging that standard No. 5 set forth herein is applicable solely to local streets, being defined as streets which are not state highways or Jefferson County, Colorado highways: 1. Intersection of a less important road with a main road where application of the normal right of way rule is unduly hazardous. This warrant indicated that Stop Signs should only be placed at intersections that either have high accident rates or where sight distance problems indicate a high potential for accidents. An existing high accident rate would be a location where 3 or more accidents have occurred during a 12 month period of the type susceptible to correction by the installation of a Stop Sign, each accident involving a personal injury or property damage greater than $100 aggregate total. A location with a high potential for accidents will be determined based upon Fig. 2-5a and Fig. 2-5b of the Traffic Control Service Handbook and the procedure therein listed. 2. Street entering a through highway or street. This warrant is applicable where a local street enters a higher volume Collector or Arterial Street. Traffic volume on the through street would be greater than 5000 average annual daily traffic. 3. Unsignalized intersection in a signalized area. This warrant refers to streets which have frequent signals (4/mile or more). This is primarily intended to assure smooth traffic flow through coordinated Traffic Signal Systems. 4. Other intersections where a combination of high speed restricted view, and serious accident record indicates the need for control by the STOP sign. This warrant covers areas which do not meet the other warrants, yet exhibit serious accident records (personal injury and/or fatalities) which may be correctable by the installation of a STOP sign. 5. Other intersections on local streets (being defined as streets which are not state highways or streets maintained by the State of Colorado or Jefferson County) where the reasonable possibility or potential for accident exists and indicates the need for control by the STOP sign or traffic control signal devices. For the purposes of this section, the phrase "reasonable possibility or potential for accident" shall be determined by a consideration of pedestrian safety, sight distances, speed, and neighborhood safety 2 considerations. This warrant covers areas which do not meet other warrants yet exhibit the reasonable possibility or potential for accident, based upon the factors described above, which may be correctable by the installation of a signal. Section 20-37. All traffic regulatory signs and control devices shall be reviewed by the Director of Public Works or his designee for compliance with the warrants stated in Section 20-36 above. Any requests for placement or removal of regulatory signs (being defined as STOP or yield signs) shall be completed by any person requesting review, and review shall be made by the Public Works Director, or his designee, indicating what criteria or warrants as specified above have been met, or not met, which review shall contain a recommended action to be taken. All such recommendations shall be submitted to the Street Committee of the City Council, which shall review and discuss said recommendation. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the City Council's Street Committee to approve or disapprove said recommendation may appeal said decision to the City Council for the purpose of obtaining a final decision from the City Council. It is expressly stated herein that said appeal process shall relate only to warrant No. 5 specified in Section 20-36 set forth above. Section 2. Safety Clause. The City Council hereby finds, determines, and declares that this ordinance is promulgated under the general police power of the City of Wheat Ridge, that it is promulgated for the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and that this ordinance is necessary for the preservation of health and safety and for the protection of public convenience and welfare. The City Council further determines that the ordinance bears a rational relation to the proper legislative object sought to be attained. Section 3. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall for any reason be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction invalid, such judgment shall not affect application to other persons or circumstances. Section 4. This ordinance shall take effect 15 days after final publication. INTRODUCED, READ, AND ADOPTED on first reading by a vote of 7 to 0 on this 10th day of Februarv , 1986, ordered published in full in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Wheat Ridge and Public Hearing and consideration on final passage set for February 24 , 1986, at 7:30 o'clock p.m., in the Council Chambers, 7500 West 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado READ, ADOPTED, AND ORDERED PUBLISHED on second and final reading by a vote of 8 to 0 this 24th day of February 1986. 3 SIGNED by the Mayor on this 25th day of February 1986. ATTEST: Frank Stite Mayor Wanda Sang, City; lerk 1st Publication: 2/13/1986 2nd Publication: 2/27/1986 Wheat Ridge Sentinel: Effective Date: March 14, 1986 APPROVED AS TO FORM BY OFFIC O C T NEY: Joh E. Hayes 4