Roxborough Park Traffic Program, 2010 and Beyond

Objective

This plan is our next major step to increasing the quality of the roadway system in Roxborough Park.  

The objective is to enhance and improve the quality of the driving experience in Roxborough Park for residents and visitors, to provide for the safety of all users of the Roxborough Road System, including wildlife, drivers, residents, visitors, walkers, bikers, runners, and our school children who utilize our roads, trails and cross-walks, and to improve safe, expeditious and orderly transport of all official emergency responders throughout our road system.  

Perspective on Traffic

Four traffic issues confront all residential communities:

• Volume of traffic
• Noise generated by traffic
• Perceived excessive speeding
• Actual excessive speeding

Throughout the thirty-year history of the community, your Roxborough Park Board of Directors has implemented various programs, including more and more signage, striping on the roadways,  speed humps/bumps, electronic speed monitoring, and data collection, all to address traffic issues.

We know from our surveys of homeowners that the issues still exist. Over the last few years, the Board of Directors has done an extensive study on all aspects of the traffic issue. It has reviewed reports from the Traffic Safety Committee, reviewed the many comments from residents, solicited expert opinion and advice from the Douglas County Engineering and Sheriff's Departments, and studied papers and books on traffic issues from both the United States and Europe.  In all of the research to date, we find that Roxborough Park Foundation is in the very top strata in Douglas County for effective traffic management and control.   The Board has determined that no extraordinary traffic safety issues have been found.  Nevertheless, there are actions that can be taken to improve traffic-related livability throughout the community.  A few separate matters will need to be specifically addressed in the four areas identified as they pertain to Roxborough Park.

Volume

The volume of traffic is naturally greater the closer one is to the entrance of the community. In traffic engineering terms, Roxborough Park Drive is considered a collector roadway. While its volume is not high by amounts of traffic normally found on most collector roadways in Douglas County, still, every vehicle entering and exiting the community does travel on a portion of the roadway.

 

Noise generated by traffic

Every single vehicle generates noise. Highway engineers tell us that in a residential neighborhood consistency in driving speeds produces a lower noise level than multiple variations of speed.  For example, speed humps/bumps increase noise levels due to drivers braking to cross the hump/bump and then increasing their engine RPM's and exhaust noise to return to normal speed.

 

Perceived excessive speeding

Due to volume and noise, it is not unusual for a portion of a community to perceive a speeding issue, even though firm data from radar monitoring show that speeds on the roadway are within the norm for the posted speed limit. Our radar monitoring has shown that, as a community, we have a lower percentage of speeders than most other communities in Douglas County.

 

Actual excessive speeding

While there is some excessive speeding in our community, it is less than 12% of the vehicles on our roadways. This speeding is occurring even with all the previous attempts to control excessive speeding in place, such as signage, striping, and speed humps/bumps. Traffic engineers tell us the best solution to speeding is education followed by enforcement. Changing driver attitudes is the most effective method of changing driver behavior and lowering the percentage of speeders.

The 2009 update of the United States Department of Transportation Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices extends its statutory requirements to private roadways for the first time. This was justified under the concept that the public does use the private roadways, for example, guests, delivery vehicles, etc.  Thus, the Roxborough Park Foundation must conform to the standards where possible under the constraints of our physical roadways, which were constructed to 1970 standards.

Therefore, the Roxborough Park Foundation Board of Directors Traffic Program for 2010 and Beyond will begin to implement many of the requirements of the 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the Douglas County Road Policy within the community for the benefit of the residents.  Four components of the Roxborough Park Traffic Program have been identified.

Component One

Short Term Infrastructure

Remove All Speed Humps/Bumps

The Roxborough Park General Manager will schedule speed hump/bump removal by roto-milling with work to begin the week of May 17, 2010.  Funding is provided for in the current budget, line item: Ongoing Repair/Replacement-Streets & Drains.

The reasoning:  Speed humps/bumps are deemed hazardous and are not permitted by Douglas County standards, to which the Foundation roadways are now subject. Traffic engineering research has shown that speed is only affected by a speed hump/bump for a maximum of 100'.

Speed humps/bumps punish the 88%-plus of residents who are driving appropriately in the community.

Speed humps/bumps extend the response time of emergency vehicles.

Speed humps/bumps have a negative impact on the wear and tear of the community's snow removal equipment. In fact, Douglas County has confirmed that they experienced both damage to snow plow equipment and lower useable life for the plows and trucks before they adopted their no speed hump/bump policy.

There was no integrated system-engineered plan to utilize traffic calming devices such as speed humps/bumps.  Instead, speed humps/bumps were installed on a piecemeal basis over several years rather than as part of a community-wide overall master traffic plan.
 
The current program of speed humps/bumps has not reduced the speeds of the small percentage of aggressive speeders on the Foundation roadways. Thus, the speed humps/bumps punish the majority without achieving the desired effect.

Refresh Pavement Striping On The Roadways

The 2010 Roadway Striping Program:

• Narrow traffic lane to 11’ throughout the community.
  
  
• Paint yellow line on inside of traffic lane on single direction roads and in middle of two way traffic roads.  Yellow line to be 12” from the inside of pavement.  Yellow line is to be painted in a straight, uniform manner which may require slightly wider than 12” when road edge is not even.
  
  
• Use remainder of the roadway as a breakdown lane with 4” white striping 12’ from inside edge of roadway.  Breakdown lane will vary in width depending upon the width of the roadway.
  
  
• Outside striping will not follow radius of turns at intersections.
  
  
• There will be no stop bars painted on the roadway at stop signs.
  
  
• Crosswalks will be marked with white striping.
  
  
• Turn lane markings will be eliminated.
  
  
• The current striping on Hawks Nest will be continued.

 
The reasoning: Traffic studies and engineering recommendations show that narrowing the traffic lanes with roadway striping affects driver behavior with the end result of traffic calming or slowing.  In addition, The 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices along with Douglas County Policy, to which the community is subject, require striping of roadways.

Purchase A Second Radar Flasher

The Foundation will purchase a second radar flasher. Funding is provided for in the current budget, line item: Ongoing Repair/Replacement-Streets & Drains.

The reasoning: The flasher has proven to be a speed-reducing tool among the majority of our roadway users.

To specifically address traffic on the high volume roadways of the community, in particular, the East Section, the Roxborough Park Foundation Maintenance Staff will:

1. Install needed radar post bases to attain 5 locations on Roxborough Drive inbound between the Sundown Trail intersection and the Brown Fox Trail intersection.
   
   
2. Install needed radar post bases to attain 5 locations outbound between the north entrance of Big Horn Trail and the Roxborough Park Community Center intersection.

Radar Flasher and Enforcement Program

The Roxborough Park Foundation Board will monitor and evaluate the effect the Traffic Program, 2010 and Beyond has on speeding for a reasonable period; if it is then deemed necessary, the Board will institute a program of traffic enforcement within the authority provided in the Roxborough Park Foundation Protective Covenants, By-Laws and Provisions enumerated in Sections 5.0 Traffic Control and Parking and 8.0 Non-Compliance Penalty Assessments (Fines) and Enforcement and Hearing Procedures in the current Rules and Regulations.

The reasoning: Some residents and guests will consistently violate the rules of our roadways. If the number of speeders are excessive by standard norms, enforcement may be necessary part of any plan to reduce roadway speeds and increase safety.

The Enforcement Plan:

1. Move radar flasher locations regularly.
   
   
2. The Enforcement Officer will regularly allocate time using random dates and times to monitor the radar for excessive speed and to note violators.  On the first offence, the Roxborough Park Compliance Officer will notify the violator by mail with a warning letter stating the date, time, and speed and requesting compliance.
   
   
3. A second and every violation thereafter shall result in the Roxborough Park Compliance Officer issuing a notice to the violator giving them the opportunity for a Hearing before the Board of Directors and the possible imposition of a fine assessment per the schedule of fines listed in Section 8.060 of the Roxborough Park Foundation Rules And Regulations.
   
   
4. The Roxborough Park Board of Directors will evaluate adding a component to its web site where results of monitoring and enforcement will be posted.

 

Remove All Non-required and Unnecessary Traffic Control Signs on the Roadways, Trails and Paths

Removal of all non-required and unnecessary traffic control signs on the roadways, trails, and paths will begin the week of May 17, 2010. Removal will be done by the personnel of the Roxborough Park Foundation Maintenance Staff. The removal sequence will be:

1. Remove trails and path stop and yield signage.
   
   
2. Remove non-required and unnecessary signage on residential side streets working from the south neighborhood to the front entrance.
   
   
3. Remove non-required and unnecessary signage adjacent to Roxborough Drive.

The reasoning: 2nd Generation Traffic Calming Concepts have proven to increase roadway safety where signage is kept to a minimum.  Further, research has proven that few drivers pay any attention to unnecessary signs.  The signs also clutter up our pristine environment.

Exception:  One large speed sign will be mounted on the right side of the inbound lane of Roxborough Drive before the new entry station and stop signs will remain at roadway intersections.

Implement A Noise Abatement Program For Roxborough Drive

The Foundation will revive its tree-planting program with yearly budgeting and planting on the common land alongside roadways.

The Foundation and Design Review Committee will work with and encourage residents living adjacent to Roxborough Drive to increase their landscape planting to reduce the sound due to the volume of vehicles using the roadway adjacent to their property.

The reasoning:  Noise produced by the volume of traffic affects many residents living adjacent to Roxborough Drive.  Even if all speed control efforts are successful, there will still be traffic noise generated by the large volume of vehicles entering and leaving the community.  Sound retarding landscaping can help lower the ambient noise of the traffic.

Improving Line of Sight at Intersections

The Maintenance Department will continue its program of clearing vegetation on common property as required to provide a line of sight to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians at all intersections.

In addition, the Maintenance Department will work with homeowners and encourage homeowner participation in reducing vegetation on private property that impedes sighting of oncoming vehicles.

The reasoning: Intersection safety will be enhanced where roadway users have a reasonable line of sight to view all traffic. 

Updating Street Name Signage and Trail Name Signage

The current street and trail name signage will remain in place.

The reasoning: Street name signage provides a valuable and needed tool within the neighborhood, as do the small signs at the beginnings of our trails.

The Foundation also will research the cost of updating its street name signage to meet the standards and policy of Douglas County, including reflective lettering, size of lettering, etc.

The Foundation will begin reserve budgeting to bring all street signage into compliance with Douglas County standards and establish the goal to replace 25 % of the community's street signs each year beginning with the budget year 2012.

Street sign replacement will commence at the front of the community and flow to the back of the community.

Component Two

Modify Driver Behavior in the Roxborough Park Community

Implement a program in which the Entry Guards, whenever possible, stress good driving behavior to drivers stopping at the entry station

Example:   As the last comment before a guest, a delivery vehicle or a construction worker leaves the Entry Station the guards could say,
"The speed limit in Roxborough Park is 30 MPH. Please be a good guest, watch for pedestrians and animals and do observe the speed limit."

The reasoning: Reminding drivers verbally may help adjust their perception of the roadways they are driving onto, from the higher speed arterial of Rampart Range Road to the roadways of a low speed residential neighborhood and will convey our expectations of their driving behavior.

 

Implement an Interaction of Residents Program

Implement an ongoing program of Good Neighbor Behavior on Roxborough Roadways.  This will include a continuing series of articles in Echoes, focus group meetings, and Message Board slogans and will be concurrent with the physical changes of the Traffic Program. Community residents will be encouraged to submit slogans.

Example:

Be A Good Neighbor

Remember our 30 MPH Speed Limit

 

The program will address all traffic issues within the community including:

• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Slow Drivers
• School children
• Bicycles
• Pedestrians
• Wildlife

Also part of the program will be the submission of articles to other news/information sources, such as Roxborough Park News, YourHub.com, Roxborough e-News, etc.

The reasoning:  Research has shown that a good ongoing program of addressing roadway behavior has a greater effect on lowering speeds and increasing safety than any other effort in a residential neighborhood.

Relocate Message Board

The Foundation will replace the current message board, installing a new one on the right side of the inbound lane of Roxborough Drive approximately 25 feet south of the Sundown Trail intersection. The structure supporting the message board will be enhanced to conform to the desired image of Roxborough Park as a quality community.

The reasoning: The message board serves a useful purpose by informing residents of upcoming events and in aiding the campaign to modify driver behavior.  The current message board is worn and falling apart and is not easily visible in its current location.

Component Three

Long Term Infrastructure

Resurfacing Roadways

Proper road maintenance is one of the most important features of road safety.
The Roxborough Park Foundation board will continue its program of yearly budgeting for the ongoing maintenance of the streets within Roxborough Park and reserve funding for resurfacing of the streets.

Resurfacing will be ongoing as reserve funds become available.

The Foundation will research roadway resurfacing methods and materials to determine which will best suit the needs of the community.  Costs, longevity, and road noise will be determining factors.

Component Four

Special Situations

Hawks Nest Road

The Roxborough Park Board of Directors will investigate and develop a plan to enhance the safety of school children and other walkers along Hawks Nest Road.

The reasoning: Hawks Nest Road represents a unique and challenging potential safety issue because there is little or no common area currently available for paths along the winding, severely hilly parts where school children walk to and from the school bus stops.

Suggestions for consideration:  

• Discuss the challenges directly with members who live in the area of Hawks Nest Road to achieve a community-based solution. 
  
  
• Evaluate forming parent safety patrols that would be stationed along the more troublesome sections of Hawks Nest.
  
  
• Renew the striping along Hawks Nest, including a yellow center line.

Noise Abatement

Implement noise abatement measures and traffic calming solutions along Roxborough Drive, “East Stadium area”, where the traffic volume is the heaviest and resultant noise the highest.

The reasoning: Most vehicles entering and leaving Roxborough Park travel through the stretch of Roxborough Drive called the Stadium area. The sounds of vehicles braking as they approach speed humps/bumps, the noise of the vehicles vertical movement as they go over the humps, then accelerating to reach previous speeds, contribute collectively to the substantial noise that reverberates off the surrounding rocks and increase the perception of excessive speeding.  

The first stage of the Roxborough Drive Sound Abatement Program will involve the Eastern portion of Roxborough Drive.  The objective will be to overcome or diminish the perceived or real volume of noise that disturbs our residents in this area and throughout the community.  The Board of Directors will continue to be receptive to new and creative ways of enhancing our entire road system.