City of Hyattsville, MD Traffic Regulations

[Added 8-1-1994 by HB No. 8-94, amended 2-21-1995 by HB No. 8-94, 2-21-1995 by HB No. 01-95, on 3-27-2011 by HO-2011-01, 12-5-2016 by HO-2016-02]

Definitions. As used in this Ordinance, all terms shall have the definitions and meanings provided in the Maryland Code Annotated, Transportation Article, unless otherwise indicated. The following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

DWELLING UNIT

One or more rooms arranged for the use of one or more individuals living together as a single housekeeping unit, with cooking, living, sanitary and sleeping facilities as defined by the Prince George's County Housing Code.

ELIGIBLE SIGNATURE

The signature of an individual, over the age of 18, residing in a dwelling unit located on a street:

(1)

Upon which the installation of a traffic calming device is being considered, or

(2)

Within one unit block of such streets upon where the installation of a traffic calming device is being considered for only a portion of such street, or

(3)

That is only accessible over a street for which the installation of the traffic calming device is being considered and provides the only means of ingress and egress, or

(4)

Or in an area which the City Clerk pursuant to the discretion granted in subsection B(2)(b) determines should be surveyed.

Only one eligible signature per dwelling unit will be considered for any of the purposes set forth in this Ordinance.

TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICE

Is a physical device used to regulate, guide, slow, and/or control traffic, for the purpose of pedestrian and traffic safety. The term traffic calming device includes but is not limited to the following devices:

(1)

SPEED ZONESAn identifiable area of reduced speed, indicated by signage or otherwise.

(2)

SPEED HUMPSA raised or manually installed section of asphalt or other construction material constructed on a roadway, with a dip and crown shaped as viewed in cross section, on a base ordinarily 22 feet, measured parallel to the curb of the roadway and with a height not less than three inches nor more than four inches.

(3)

RAISED INTERSECTIONSContrasting surfaces such as brick, cobblestones, concrete, or other construction material in place of street surfaces at the intersection of two streets.

(4)

TRAFFIC ISLANDS, CIRCLES AND LATERAL SHIFTSPhysical barriers placed in the street to direct traffic in a specific direction including both temporary and permanent structures which do or do not contain landscaping.

(5)

RUMBLE STRIPSPhysical devices attached to or constructed in the road surface to provide contrast to the road surface in order to slow traffic.

(6)

CHOKERSA portion of the sidewalk extending out approximately six to eight feet into the street.

UNIT BLOCK

Unit block shall mean a subsection of, or a separate and distinct, but attached portion of a street, of no specific length or width, but which has been numerically designated and identified a part of that street. Each street may consist of numerous unit blocks.

Request for traffic calming device installation: Requests for the installation of a traffic calming device may be made by petition subject to the following conditions:

(1)

Residents of a street may request the installation of a traffic calming device by submitting a petition to the City Administrator containing eligible signatures from at least 60% of dwelling units located on the street, stating that such individuals want a traffic calming device. Such petition need not conform to the requirements in the Charter for petitions.

(2)

If the traffic calming device is being requested for only a portion of a street, the petition containing at least 60% of eligible signatures must be circulated to individuals residing in dwelling units located on the unit block on which the traffic calming device will be installed and to individuals residing in dwelling units located within one unit block of the block containing the requested installation site.

(a)

If the street upon which the traffic calming device is to be installed provides the only means of ingress and/or egress for other streets, the petition containing at least 60% of eligible signatures must be circulated to the residents of such other streets.

(b)

The City Clerk retains sole discretion to determine if residents of additional streets will be surveyed, based upon circumstances that could impact such residents.

(3)

The City Clerk will validate petitions submitted to the City Administrator to determine that said petitions are in compliance with applicable provision of this article. The City Clerk shall inform the City Council, petitioners, the City Administrator, Director of Public Works and the Police Chief, as to whether the petition complies with this article. If the petition is in compliance, the City will jointly undertake an assessment of the location of the request and determine if a traffic calming device is in the interests of both best traffic engineering practice and public safety; and the Mayor who will schedule a public hearing in accordance with subsection C, below.

(4)

The City Clerk shall develop and distribute a standardized "request for traffic calming device" petition form sufficient for use in accordance with this subsection.

Procedures for public hearings on traffic calming device installations:

(1)

Conduct of Public Hearing: the Mayor shall schedule a public hearing after being notified by the City Clerk in accordance with subsection B.(3) that the petition is valid.

(a)

Notice of the hearing will be given to all residents of the street upon which the proposed traffic calming device is to be installed; and

(b)

If the traffic calming device is being requested for only a portion of the street, notice will be given to residents of dwelling units located on the unit block on which the traffic calming device will be installed and also to individuals residing in dwelling units located within one unit block of the block containing the requested installation site; and

(c)

If the traffic calming device is to be installed on a street which provides the only means of ingress and/or egress for other streets, the notice will be given to residents of such other streets, by the following means:

[1]

Publication in the Hyattsville Reporter or in a paper having circulation in the City.

[2]

Advertisement on the City of Hyattsville's cable television channel.

(2)

Factors considered. The following factors shall be taken into consideration as guidance in determining whether to install a traffic calming device. The factors listed below shall not be considered exclusive.

(a)

Whether the street where installation of a traffic calming device is proposed has a speeding problem, which has been identified through a combination of residents' complaints, police radar surveillance and ticketing practices, accident statistics, electronic traffic counts and/or a history of previous efforts to control speeding which cannot be alleviated in any way other than a traffic calming device. The Department of Public Works shall provide a report of the electronic traffic count data of the proposed street to determine the traffic and speed issues.

(b)

Whether the street carries a sufficient volume of nonresidential traffic in addition to the general residential traffic, so that the requested traffic calming device is appropriate.

(c)

The impact of a traffic calming device on public transportation, police and fire apparatus.

(d)

The impact of a traffic calming device on adjacent neighborhoods.

(3)

Decision. The Mayor and City Council will announce their decision to approve, approve with modifications, or deny the requested traffic calming device within 15 days of the close of the hearing unless, due to extraordinary circumstances, the time limit is extended by majority vote of the City Council.

(4)

Notification of decision. The petitioners will be notified of the decision of the Mayor and City Council by the City Clerk and the decision will be published in the Hyattsville City Council Meeting Minutes.

Procedures for removing a traffic calming device installation:

(1)

A request for removal of a traffic calming device, installed pursuant to subsection C above, may be by petition containing eligible signatures from 60% of the dwelling units located on the street upon which the traffic calming device has been installed; or

(2)

If the traffic calming device has been installed for only a portion of the street, the petition requesting removal may be signed by eligible signatures from 60% of the dwelling units located on the unit block on which the traffic calming device was installed and dwelling units located within one unit block of the requested removal site; or

(3)

If the traffic calming device has been installed on a street that provides the only means of ingress and/or egress for other streets, the petition requesting removal may be signed by eligible signatures from 60% of the dwelling units located on the street and such other streets.

(4)

No petition will be considered until six months have elapsed since the initial installation of the traffic calming device.

Miscellaneous:

(1)

Placement of traffic calming device near schools, parks and playgrounds: the Mayor and Council may initiate the installation of traffic calming device on streets adjacent to neighborhood parks, playgrounds and schools or on commercial areas.

(2)

Authority of City over traffic calming devices.

(a)

Nothing in these guidelines shall be construed as preempting the City, at its initiative, from installing, altering, maintaining or removing a traffic calming device installation. The City Administrator will notify, pursuant to the notice provisions stated in Subsection C above, the appropriate affected residents of the proposed changes regarding a traffic calming device.

Installation and maintenance:

(1)

In the regulation and supervision of traffic, the Public Works Director is authorized to construct, install, place, erect, and maintain upon the public highways of the City those traffic calming device installations and proper signage as the Mayor and Council have or may direct at the locations designated by the Mayor and Council.

(2)

All speed humps installed pursuant with this Ordinance shall ordinarily:

(a)

Consist of one or more speed humps spaced every 200 feet to 500 feet along public street or alley;

(b)

Not be placed within 200 feet of a stop sign unless required by special circumstances as determined by the Director of Public Works; and

(c)

Be painted with distinctive markings which should include reflective paint or tape.

(3)

Warning signs marked "speed humps" shall be placed on the right hand side of the street at the approach to each speed hump.

[Rewritten on 3-27-2011 by HO-2011-01, amended 3-18-2013 by HO-39-03-2013, 8-4-2014 by HO 2014-06]

A "speed monitoring system," as defined in Maryland law, means a device with one or more motor vehicle sensors producing recorded images of motor vehicles traveling at least 12 miles per hour above the posted speed limit.

No more than 10 school zone speed monitoring systems as outlined in § 21-809 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland are hereby authorized at locations, determined by the Chief of Police or his/her designee after consultation with and agreement of the City Administrator, in school zones within the City, as established under § 21-803.1 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

Before activating a speed monitoring system in any school zone at any location where such a system had not been previously moved or placed, the City shall:

(1)

Publish notice of the location(s) of the speed monitoring system(s) on the City website and in a newspaper of general circulation within the City; and

(2)

Ensure that each sign that designates a school zone has in close proximity to it a sign that indicates that speed monitoring systems are in use in the school zone and that the signage is in accordance with the manual for and that the specifications for a uniform system of traffic control devices adopted by the State Highway Administration.

The City shall name a City employee as Program Administrator to oversee the contract with the speed monitoring system contractor and shall also name another City employee who has not been involved in monitoring system citations, to investigate and respond to questions or concerns about the City's speed monitoring systems as outlined in § 21-809(b)(1)(ix) of the Transportation Article.

Unless otherwise provided by law, the school zone speed monitoring system may operate Monday through Friday between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

For a period of at least 15 days after any speed monitoring system and the signage as required by § 21-809 of the Transportation Article are in place, a violation recorded by such speed monitoring system in the City shall be enforced only by the issuance of a warning.

The school zone speed monitoring system in the City shall be conducted in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Maryland Vehicle Law.

City staff is hereby authorized to take those actions necessary to obtain any required permission from the state of Maryland or other government with jurisdiction to operate a speed monitoring system within the school zones.