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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0557.001 2000-2002 ~~~~I~~rnn~~T o~ ~u~~ic ~®~~s COUNTI' OF HA ff ~~il~ ~E (J~~ ~ rj H I LO, HAWAII 4. _ . , DATA: April 23, 2002 To: LENINGRAD ELARIONOFF, Chairman Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations Hawaii Co uncil Thru: DENNIS K. W. LEE, Director Department of Public Works FPOIn: CASEY K. YANAG ision Chief Traffic Division SUBJECT: TRAFFIC CODE AMENDMENT, BILL NO. 197 COUNTY OF HAWAII TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM WAIANUENUE AVENUE/HILO MEDICAL CENTER This is in response to the questions that were presented when the subject item was discussed at the Apri12, 2002 meeting of the Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations. The following are our responses to the questions that came up at this meeting. 1. What's the definition of a traffic signal? The County Code defines a traffic control signal as "any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and permitted to proceed." Please note that a traffic signal is a regulatory device that requires the driver to stop on ared-light, and then proceed on agreen-light. Also note by regulation, we cannot change the light from green to red without a warning amber-light. An embedded flashing amber-light, on the other hand, is a warning device as oppose to a ~ regulatory device, as noted in the MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices), published in part by the Federal Highways Administration. A marked crosswalk is the ~ c~a regulatory marking that requires drivers to stop when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk. ~ ~ We agree with the MUTCD, as such, that an embedded flashing amber-light is not a ~ regulatory traffic signal, and therefore, does not need to be Council approved. ~ Memo to Elarionoff Page 2 of 2 4/23/02 2. Is it your understanding that the County Council has to approve the installation of a traffic signal? Yes, the County Council does approve the installation of traffic signal systems by way of approving the budget or funding for the planning, design, and construction of the signal system. In addition, our understanding is that the County Council is responsible for legislation of highway regulations not covered in the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Some of the items requiring legislation, by ordinance, are listed in Section 24-8 of the County Code. The Hilo Medical Center traffic signals were added to the County Code, by Ordinance No. 95-94, in June of 1995, at the recommendation of the Corporation Counsel. 3. Is an approval by the County Council required in order to deactivate a traffic signal? We feel that the addition or removal of any regulatory traffic signal system in the County Code is a legislative function of the County Council. The removal of the signal system at Hilo Medical Center started with our discovery that the system was outdated and required a major renovation. The cost of the renovation was estimated at more than $100,000. A study conducted in year 2000 verified that this signal system did not meet the MUTCD warrants. Although Hilo Medical Center wanted to retain the traffic signal system, they were not willing to accept and pay for the renovation, and operation and maintenance of this signal system. As a compromise, the Traffic Division installed the embedded flashing lights at a cost of approximately $8,000. Yes, the Traffic Division should have obtained County Council approval before removing the signal system. This was the first time a traffic signal system was removed and we apologize for this oversight, and will insure that this will not reoccur. 4. Wouldn't the embedded lights be considered a traffic signal? If you install an embedded system that had blinking red lights, would that then be a traffic signal? As we tried to explain in #1 above, embedded lights are a special type of traffic control that are installed in the roadway surface to "warn" drivers that they are approaching a condition in the roadway that might not be readily apparent and might require them to slow down and/or stop. Attached is a copy of Chapter 4L (In-Roadway Lights) from the MUTCD. The embedded lights are covered under this chapter and require the use of flashing amber- lights only. We hope that we have answered all of your questions and concerns, and that the subject Bill can move forward. Should there be any additional questions, please feel free to contact Casey Yanagihara in our Traffic Division at 961-8341. Attachment (In-Roadway Lights) December, 2000 Page 4L-1 CIIAPTER 4L. IN-ROADWAY LIGIITS Section 4L.01 Application of In-Roadway Lights Support: ln-Roadway Lights are special types of highway traffic signals installed in the roadway surface to warn road users that they are approaching a condition on or adjacent to the roadway that might not be readily apparent and might require the road users to slow down and/or come to a stop. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, situations warning of marked school crosswalks, marked mid-block crosswalks, marked crosswalks on uncontrolled approaches, and other roadway situations involving pedestrian crossings. Standard: If used, In-Roadway Lights shall not exceed a height of 19 mm (0.75 in) above the roadway surface. Option: The flash rate for In-Roadway Lights may be different than the flash rate of standard beacons. Section 4L.02 In-Roadway Warning Lights at Crosswalks Standard: If used, In-itoadevay Warning Lights at crosswalks shall be installed only at marked crosswalks with applicable warning signs. They shall not be used at crosswalks controlled by YIELD signs, STOP signs, or traffic control signals. If used, In-Roadway Warning Lights at crosswalks shall be installed along both sides of the crosswalk and shall span its entire length. If used, In-Roadway Warning Lights at crosswalks shall initiate operation based on pedestrian actuation and shall cease operation at a predetermined time after the pedestrian actuation or, with passive detection, after the pedestrian clears the crosswalk. If used, In-Roadway Warning Lights at crosswalks shall display a flashing yellow signal indication when actuated. The flash rate for In-Roadway Warning Lights at crosswalks shall be at least 50, but not more than 60, flash periods per minute. The flash rate shall not be between 5 and 30 flashes per second to avoid frequencies that might cause seizures. Sect 4L.01 to 4L.02 December, 2000 Page 4Lr2 If used on one-lane, one-way roadways, a minimum of two In-Roadway Warning Lights shall be installed ou the approach side of the crosswalk. If used on two-lane roadways, a minimum of three In-Roadway Warning Lights shall be installed along both sides of the crosswalk If used on roadways with more than two lanes, a rninimum of one In-Roadway Warning Light per lane shall be installed along both sides of the crosswalk. If used, In-Roadway Warniaag Lights shall be installed in the area between the outside edge of the crosswalk line and 3 m (10 ft} from the outside edge of the crosswalk, Iae-Roadway Warning Lights shah Ease away from the crosswalk if uni- directional, or shall face away from and across the crosswalk if bi-directional. Guidance: If used, the period of operation of the In-Roadway Warning Lights following each actuation should be sufficient to allow a pedestrian crossing in the crosswalk to leave the curb or shoulder and travel at a normal walking speed of 1.2 m (4 ft) per second to at least the far side of the traveled way or to a median of sufficient width for pedestrians to wait. Where pedestrians who walk slower than normal, or pedestrians who use wheelchairs, routinely use the crosswalk, a walking speed of less than 1.2 m (4 ft) per second should be considered in determining the period of operation. Where the period of operation is sufficient only for crossing from a curb or shoulder to a median of sufficient width for pedestrians to wait, additional measures should be considered, such as median-mounted pedestrian actuators. If used, In-Roadway Warning Lights should be installed in the center of each travel lane, at the centerline of the roadway, at each edge of the roadway or parking lanes, or at other suitable locations away from the normal tire track paths. The location of the In-Roadway Warning Lights within the lanes should be based on engineering judgment. Option: In-Roadway Warning Lights at crosswalks may use pedestrian detectors to determine the duration of the operation instead of ceasing operation after a predetermined time. On one-way streets, In-Roadway Warning Lights may be omitted on the departure side of the crosswalk. Based on engineering judgment, the hi-Roadway Warning Lights on the departure side of the crosswalk on the left side of a median may be omitted. Unidirectional ln-Roadway Warning Lights installed at crosswalk locations may have an optional, additional yellow light indication in each unit that is visible to pedestrians in the crosswalk. These lights may flash with and at the same flash rate as the light module in which each is installed. The purpose of these optional additional lights is to indicate to pedestrians in the crosswalk that the ln-Roadway Warning Lights are in fact flashing as they cross the street. Sect. 4L.02