Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program &
Policy Study
City Council Meeting
December 3, 2024
2City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 • Project Overview
• Policy/Program Update Recommendations
• Staff Recommendations
Agenda
3City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Project Overview
4City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Project Overview
• Sunnyvale Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy and Program 1997 – Council Policy 1.2.4 adopted
2004 – Handbook created
• Study Issue DPW 22-06 - To re-evaluate and identify possible updates to the Policy and Program
Examine other cities’ programs and best practices
Review traffic calming measures available for use
Identify possible changes
5City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 • Nov. 7, 2023 – Community Meeting #1 (Hybrid): 25 total attendees • Oct. 31 to Dec. 7, 2023 – Online Survey: 37 responses • Early 2024 – Best practices research
• Mar. 12, 2024 – Meeting with Department of Public Safety (DPS) • June 18, 2024 – City Council Study Session
• Summer 2024 – Developed potential updates
• Sept. 23, 2024 – Community Meeting #2 (Hybrid): 37 total attendees Progress to date
6City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Potential Policy/Program Updates
7City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Summary of Potential Updates Evaluated
1. Expand Traffic Calming definition and add objectives
2. Re-evaluate initial petition requirement
3. Consider adding Residential Collector streets
4. Re-evaluate speed thresholds
5. Consider additional Traffic Calming measures
6. Re-evaluate Stage 2 device location consensus requirement
7. Improve program communication
8City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Potential Update #1 - Expand Definition of Traffic Calming and Add Traffic Calming Objectives
• Recommended definition:
Traffic calming employs a combination of non-physical and physical measures to reduce cut-through traffic and speeding issues in residential neighborhoods, improve quality of life for residents as well as the comfort level for non-vehicular road users.
• Recommended objectives:
Encourage responsible driving
Discourage non-residential cut-through traffic on local residential streets Maintain emergency vehicle response times
Reduce the need for police enforcement post traffic calming 9City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Staff Recommendation
Potential Update #1 – Expand Definition of Traffic Calming and Add Traffic Calming Objectives
• Revise policy to include definition and objectives
Summary of Comments
It should address:
• What is Traffic Calming?
• What issues does it treat?
• Why treat it?
• General support for the definition
and addition of objectives
• Include specific reference to “safety”
10City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Potential Update #2 – Re-evaluate Initial Petition Requirement • Currently, the initial petition
requires > 50% support
11City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Staff Recommendation
Potential Update #2 – Re-evaluate Initial Petition Requirement • Clarify program language
• Keep Stage 1 neighborhood petition requirement at current level of “>50%”
Summary of Comments
• Clarification needed on how study area created
• Split feedback on lowering petition requirement
12City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Potential Update #3 – Consider Adding Residential Collectors • Currently only Local Residential Streets eligible
• 48 Residential Collectors in the City
• Considerations
Impacts to Vehicular Volumes
Diversion to Parallel Local Streets
Impacts to Emergency Vehicle Response Times
13City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Summary of
Comments
Staff Recommendation
Potential Update #3 – Eligibility of Residential Collectors • Supportive of
expanding eligibility
to Residential
Collectors
• Expand the program to include Residential
Collectors:
Adopt a speed threshold
• 85th percentile speed > posted speed limit +7 mph
No volume threshold requirement
Special consideration for emergency vehicle
access and travel times
For Stage 2 traffic calming measures – only
include ones that manage speed
14City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Potential Update #4 – Re-evaluate Speeding Thresholds
• Current Thresholds for Local Residential Streets (Posted Speed Limits of 25 miles per hour):
85th percentile speed > 32 miles per hour
95th percentile speed > 35 miles per hour
Volume threshold ADT > 1,000 vehicles per day
Consider removing
Consider refining
15City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Potential Update #4 – Re-evaluate Speeding Thresholds
• Clarifications on technical terminology
• Use the speed limit as the speeding threshold
Summary of Comments
• Revise program language to clarify technical terms
• Revise 85th percentile speed to “posted speed limit +7 miles per hour” • Remove 95th percentile speed threshold
Staff Recommendation
16City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Potential Update #5 – Additional Traffic Calming Measures 17City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Summary of Comments
Staff Recommendation
Potential Update #5 – Additional Traffic Calming Measures • Speeders may not be from the community
• Consider speed cameras
• Consider non-static measures
• Add Stage 1: Community Outreach and Education
• Add Stage 2: Raised Intersection
18City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Potential Update #6 – Re-evaluate Stage 2 Device Location Consensus Requirement
• Current Consensus Requirements for Approving Stage 2 Measures and Location:
≥ 60% of neighborhood support; AND
• Comparison with other cities
Most require >50% or >70% support through neighborhood vote Livermore – 100% support from fronting homes
Gilroy - >50% within 100 feet of device
Consider removing 100% resident support living within 100 feet from the device
19City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Staff Recommendation
Potential Update #6 – Re-evaluate Stage 2 Device Location Consensus Requirement
• Keep 60% or more neighborhood support
• Remove “100% resident support living within 100 feet from the device” requirement
Summary of Comments
• Majority of neighborhood should determine locations
• Supportive of removing 100% within 100 feet requirement 20City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Potential Update #7 – Improve Program Communication
• Update program handbook and flow chart
• Create a program webpage
Direct and simple
Improve transparency for completed and
ongoing requests
Clarify available resources
21City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Summary of Comments
Staff Recommendation
Potential Update #7 – Program Communication
• Supportive of improving program transparency
• Supportive of improving program clarity
• Create greater awareness and accessibility of the program • Update handbook and flow chart
• Create a program webpage
22City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Recommendation to City Council
23City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Summary of Staff Recommendations
1. Update program definition and add objectives
2. Maintain the 50% petition requirement to initiate a traffic calming request
3. Expand program to include Residential Collector streets with a different qualification criteria
4. Remove 95th percentile speed threshold and refine language for 85th percentile speed threshold
5. Include a) Community Outreach/Education and b) Raised Intersections in Traffic Calming Toolkit
6. Remove requiring the support of property owners fronting the device
7. Improve program communication
24City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Considerations
Recommendation to City Council
• Alternative 1: Approve Amendments to Council Policy 1.2.4 Traffic Calming as defined in Attachment 3
• Alternative 2: Approve Amendments to Council Policy 1.2.4 Traffic Calming as defined in Attachment 3 with modifications
• Alternative 3: Direct staff to include Budget Supplement to fund the recommended changes with the FY 2025/26 Recommended Budget
• Alternative 4: Other direction as provided by Council Staff Recommendation
• Alternatives 1 and 3
25City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – December 2024 Thank you!