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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.4 Street Sign Marking Inventory CITY CLERK File # D~~~-~[Q] AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: August 21, 2007 SUBJECT: Public Works Intern Project - Street Sign and Marking Inventory Report Prepared by: Melissa Morton, Public Works Director ATTACHMENTS: 1) 2) Written report prepared by intern Silas Toms A visual presentation will be made at the meeting RECOMMENDATION: ~Receive presentation FINANCIAL STATEMENT: The personnel cost for the intern program is budgeted in the Central Services Operating Budget. Some incidental costs were incurred in terms of vehicle mileage and operating supplies. DESCRIPTION: The Public Works Department was privileged to work with intern Silas Toms this summer. As the City has continued to grow, the number of street signs and pavement markings has also grown, through the addition of new development, Capital Improvement Projects, and special requests. Public Works did not have an updated inventory of street signs or pavement markings, so taking inventory was presented as a potential summer intern project. Traffic signs are sometimes taken for granted, and many are barely noticed except for the regulatory signs that require a driver to take a certain action, such as Stop signs, Yield signs, or No U Turn signs. By starting at the westerly end of the City and ending at the easterly end, Mr. Toms discovered that there are about 10,000 signs of various types. Part of the process of taking the inventory included utilizing a GPS (global positioning system) locating device to set coordinates for each individual sign location. Pull-down menus were developed for the device so that each sign could be identified by its MUTCD (Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices) code number, the type of mounting (wood post, steel pole, light pole, etc.), and other criteria such as direction of travel and current condition. Ultimately, the data collected was downloaded into the City's Geographic Information System (GIS) and used to create a map of sign locations and a database of information which can be updated as needed in the future. COPY TO: ITEM NO. 3.4 Page 1 of2 G:\AGENDA STATEMENTS, MISC\agenda statement sign & marking inventory presentation. doc Similar data has been collected for a variety of traffic markings, such as red, green, white, or yellow curbs, turn lane arrows, and so forth. The sign and marking data can also be used as the basis for setting up maintenance cycles. This project has been very successful in terms of work accomplished and value to the City. Staff recommends that the City Council receive the presentation. Page 2 of2 Street Signs and Curb/Pavement Markings Inventory Silas Toms, Intern Public Works Department 8/16/07 Introduction: The Street Sign and Curb/Pavement Marking Inventory was undertaken during the summer of2007. As the Public Works Department of the City of Dublin, in conjunction with the MCE Corporation, is charged with the placement and maintenance of signs and markings, the study was conducted to assess the types and amounts of 'traffic control devices' like signs and curb and pavement markings. Traffic control devices are a physical representation of the city's traffic code. They are a necessary measure, used to inform citizens of legal requirements adopted to encourage safety and responsibility. Ensuring that proper signage and markings exist and are maintained is an important part of the mission of the Public Works Department. As the city experienced tremendous growth over the last fifteen years, there was a concurrent accumulation of traffic control devices. To manage and maintain these traffic control devices the Public Works Department felt it necessary to understand what signs have been deployed and where they were located If any signs have been installed but not adopted into the traffic code they can now be identified and given legal backing. In addition, the inventory helps with the maintenance of signs and markings in established neighborhoods. Scope of Street Sign and Curb Marking Inventory Project The street sign and curb marking inventory project was undertaken for legal, informational, infrastructural, and maintenance purposes. This was achieved by: · Assessing the number and variety of street signs and curb/pavement markings within the city limits of the City of Dublin. · Recording the location, type, aspect and condition of street signs and their respective poles, and the location and condition of curb/pavement markings. · Engaging citizen questions about the survey, fielding complaints about traffic situations as detailed by these concerned citizens, and reporting all maintenance issues discovered in the field or reported by citizens. Methods Using a Trimble Global Positioning System (GPS) handheld unit (Trimble GeoXT) and an external antenna receiver, the location, type, aspect, and condition of each sign, and location and condition of each curb/pavement marking was recorded. The data was collected by walking the streets of Dublin with the Trimble unit and locating each and every sign and marking in the city. Once collected, the data was transferred to the City of Dublin's Geographic Information System (GIS). Within the GIS the data will be managed as a layer that can be appended quickly. Benefits to the City As the Public Works Department is charged with safe traffic regulation and maintenance oftraffic control devices (in partnership with the MCE Corporation), an inventory of the signs and markings that exist in the field will be an important tool in ensuring the fulfillment ofthis responsibility. Unlike other inventory methods, using a GIS to manage this data will make possible a quick assessment of the type and number of signs that exist in the field. This will assist the Public Works Department in many ways. For example, signs must meet certain standards of reflectivity to ensure visibility at night; when a sign or group of signs reaches a certain age these older signs can be easily identified for regular reflectivity checks. Also, when replacing signs that have been stolen or damaged the city will be have ensured that the correct sign (i.e. is ordered according to the proper Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices code). Another benefit is an assessment of the city's execution of its legal responsibility concerning the traffic code. Within the GIS the data collected can be analyzed for agreement with the traffic code. For example, all speed limits on city streets can be checked for agreement with the traffic control devices in the field. Any other regulatory sign can likewise be check for legal backing. Any areas that lack proper signage will be identified and rectified. Any signs that are deployed but do not carry the proper weight of the law will be recommended for adoption into the traffic code. Two side benefits also accrued from this survey. As an accessible city representative great pains were taken to answer any and all queries about the scope ofthis survey and to field any concerns about any traffic situations that disturbed local residents. .These concerns were relayed to the proper parties within the PWD. Also, any maintenance issues discovered in the field were also reported to the responsible persons within PWD and MCE. Conclusion The Sign and Curb/Pavement Markings Inventory recorded over 12,000 features (sign, poles, and markings) after two months of data collection. In addition, numerous speeding concerns were collected and over 100 sign or marking maintenance issues were reported. Within weeks the GIS layer containing the collected data will be ready for analysis. Any areas ofthe city that are underserved by signage or any signage that is not adopted within the traffic code will be reported and recommended for adoption. All maintenance will be streamlined and the legal requirements of the city will be met with greater ease.