AgdaPkt 2000-08-28 - Laserfiche WebLink

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/tJA z present when the recommendations were developed, he will present his comments at the meeting. Evaluation Findings in Brief Speed studies show that the humps on Edgewood and stop signs on Blandford were successful in lowering speeds (in the controlled sections) to more acceptable levels. The speed reductions on Edgewood Road were significant. The eighty-fifth percentile speed on Edgewood at the fastest point on the street was in excess of 35 mph before the humps were installed, and dropped to 28.7 mph after the humps were in place. Before hump installation, approximately 550 vehicles per day drove on the' subject section of Edgewood at speeds above 35 mph; after hump installation this total has been reduced to an average of 37 per day. Traffic volume studies show that although approximately seven percent (7%) of prior Edgewood traffic may have been diverted from the street, no nearby street as far south as Brewster experienced traffic increases exceeding the acceptable thresholds established by the Council. Blandford Boulevard did experience a traffic increase close to, but not in excess of, the significance threshold established by the Council. Blandford Boulevard benefited from speed reductions due to the stop controls put in place. Committee contacts with Blandford residents indicate there is still strong opposition to the Edgewood humps. Should the humps remain, there may be a desire for additional traffic calming on Blandford. Limited acoustic measurements indicate that there are some sounds directly associated with the humps, but that overall ambient sound levels, average instantaneous sound levels associated with individual vehicle passages, and the numbers of very loud traffic sounds are slightly lower with the humps than before the humps were in place. The acoustic measurements indicate the humps' effects on sound characteristics of traffic are considerably more favorable than that of the stop signs at the nearby intersection of Edgewood, Blandford and Melrose. Despite the indications of the acoustic measurements, some residents report being disturbed by traffic sounds at the humps, especially by deliberately provocative sound disturbances caused by "peel-outs" and honking at the humps. Residents reported satisfaction, that in at least one instance, police were able to make contact and issue a friendly warning to the apparent perpetrator of deliberate sound provocations, whose license was recorded and reported by a resident. The Committee concurs with recommendations of some of the residents who suggested that sound disturbances could be mitigated by reshaping the humps to closer conformance with the City's hump standard. The appended technical report by staff presents the detailed data base and analysis supporting these findings. In summary, the data shows the humps have performed as intended in reducing traffic speed, and have not caused significant undesired effects. -2-