Traffic Engineering Division
Our roadways and sidewalks impact the quality of life for all of us. Whether through traffic signals, roadway signage and markings, road repairs, or new technology, the Sparks Traffic Engineering Division is responsible for key surface transportation functions that help vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic move as safely and efficiently as possible.
We work in close coordination with the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) and the Washoe County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) to implement new technologies to ensure safe, efficient traffic flow and maintain roadways and sidewalks. The division also works closely with all levels of government, utility companies, and private contractors to protect the integrity of the City’s surface transportation infrastructure.
RTC Traffic Signal Hotline: 775-335-ROAD (7623)
Traffic Calming
The City has also created traffic-calming guidelines that identify speed-mitigating devices to help reduce traffic speeds in neighborhoods and improve safety. There are several principles of traffic calming that should be considered when implementing traffic-calming:
Problem Identification
Identifying the real traffic problem for a neighborhood roadway is not always easy. Sometimes the perceived nature of a traffic problem is very different from the real problem. For example, residents often mention both “traffic volume” and “speeding” as problems on their streets, but in many cases the traffic problem is one or the other. It is important to identify the actual traffic problem to select the appropriate measure.Problem Characterization
To ensure that appropriate traffic-calming measures are implemented, it is essential that the extent of the problems be characterized and quantified. Roadway information, such as roadway width and intersection dimensions, should be collected. Diagrams can also be made to show items such as traffic volumes, speeds, peak travel hours, turning movement counts, historical accident information, transit routes, bicycle routes, and pedestrian volumes.
First Consider Major Road Network Improvements
Before implementing any traffic-calming measures to address unwanted through movements on neighborhood roadways, the reasons for these movements need to be determined. Sometimes congestion on adjacent arterials “forces” motorists to shortcut through the neighborhood. There are a wide range of low-cost options available to improve operations on the major road network, including fine-tuning signal timings, adding turn bays, and implementing turn prohibitions and parking restrictions.
Minimize Access Restrictions
Residents, businesses, and others who live and work in the community will be more supportive of traffic-calming measures that do not restrict their access to and from the neighborhood. Problems should be addressed with other, less restrictive traffic-calming measures when possible.
Target Passenger Vehicles
The purpose of implementing traffic calming measures is to affect passenger vehicles, not other modes of traffic.
Designs for traffic calming measures should take into account transit buses, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Temporary Implementation
When possible, inexpensive temporary measures should be installed to ensure that traffic calming measures will achieve the intended results prior to constructing permanent measures. A temporary installation also provides an opportunity to alter the geometrics of a measure or make other changes prior to permanent installation. Temporary measures should resemble permanent measures as much as possible.
Neighborhood Involvement
Residents, businesses, and others who live and work in the community should be involved in developing traffic calming. Their input is essential for identifying problems and selecting traffic-calming solutions. Involving the neighborhood builds support for a traffic-calming plan and enhances its credibility.
Monitor Conditions
Traffic patterns change, and consequently it is important that traffic volumes, vehicle speeds, accidents, and other indicators of potential traffic problems are recorded and analyzed on an ongoing basis. Much of this information is already collected. City personnel should monitor conditions on an ongoing basis.
Traffic Calming Process
Certain steps must be taken when implementing traffic calming in new developments and existing neighborhoods.
The first step in the process is to submit a request for traffic-calming. The citizen must distribute a petition to the neighborhood to gather support for the traffic-calming request. At least ten residents directly residing along the roadway in question must sign the petition in order for the City of Sparks to proceed with the traffic-calming process. Fill out the form and email it to trafficcalming@sparksnv.gov. This step can be from a concerned Sparks resident or from proactive personnel within the City of Sparks. For existing neighborhoods, the citizen can submit a request to the City of Sparks regarding a perceived traffic problem. The citizen should discuss their primary concern, such as vehicle safety, pedestrian safety, congestion, noise, speeding, or cut-through traffic.
After the petition has been verified, the City will determine whether or not the roadway is eligible for traffic calming. Data such as traffic volumes, travel speeds, roadway descriptions, descriptions of the petition area, descriptions of impacted areas, etc. will be collected.
Based on the nature of the traffic problem and the data collected, the City will develop potential traffic-calming solutions. The solutions shall be evaluated to determine if they meet the required goals and objectives. Once solutions have been developed, it is important to involve the community. A public meeting should be held to discuss the solutions. Attendees shall include the original petitioners, residents from the impacted area, homeowner association, ward council member, police, fire, rescue, etc.
Once a final solution has been developed, the traffic-calming measures will be presented to the Public Works Director and the City Council. The approval of traffic-calming measures is ultimately up to the Public Works Director and the City Council. As part of the solution, a plan should also be included for the implementation of the traffic-calming measure. The plan should detail the design and construction costs. Additionally, due to budget planning, a priority ranking of the particular project may be performed. Based on a point system, the solution will receive points based on various data. Based on this priority ranking, the project may or may not be implemented. Costs can also be shared with the neighborhood. For instance, if a community requests a speed hump but it is a low priority, the community can share the cost to move the construction forward. Costs include not only construction but also landscaping maintenance. Costs shall be discussed during the public meeting.
Using the guidelines outlined in this document, the traffic-calming measures will be designed. be in accordance with the guidelines (e.g., geometric, safety, landscaping, etc.) The final design will
Additionally, trial installations may be used to evaluate the impact of the traffic-calming measure on the area prior to a final design. This will be left to the discretion of the City of Sparks.
EVALUATION
If trial traffic-calming measures have been constructed, the City of Sparks may evaluate their effectiveness. The evaluation is conducted to ensure that the traffic-calming measures are effective. If the traffic-calming measures have been ineffective, the City of Sparks may remove them.
Request for Traffic Calming Form
For new developments, the City of Sparks will review development plans to identify potential traffic problems such as speeding or cut-through traffic. Often traffic problems can be predicted and prevented by properly reviewing roadway and lot plans for new developments.