To: Members of the Public Works Commission
From: Chris Sobie, PE, PTOE, Traffic Operations Engineer
Title
A Resolution Approving a Designated Truck Route
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
Town Staff are continuously evaluating the transportation system for recommended safety improvements with the goal of maximizing the values our community desires which are as follows:
• High Safety
• Low Total Lifecycle Cost
• Reliability
• Low Downtime
• Low Environmental Impacts
In the Fall of 2021, Town staff received feedback at the Gilbert Street Speed Management public open house to consider designated truck routes as a result of a high number of trucks using collector roadways as their primary routes. Currently, the Town does not have a Designated Truck Route Program which results in trucks utilizing any Town street unless otherwise posted regardless of classification. This has created quality of life issues near and in residential areas. In addition, roads are built to different pavement specifications depending on classification so when a heavier volume of trucks travel on a collector or local road there is concern for the road’s pavement lifespan. Based on public request and the factors listed above, staff began to look into establishing town wide designated truck routes for Castle Rock.
This program would establish uniformity in the identification of truck routes with the placement of signs and follow the Town’s established standard operating process. It would also eliminate the need for creating localized no truck traffic areas. Trucks would be required to utilize designated truck routes unless they have a specific origin or destination that requires the use of a street outside of designated routes.
Staff is recommending approval of the proposed truck route map and implementation.
Notification and Outreach Efforts
Staff presented the program and its possible impacts to community stakeholders. These stakeholders include Town staff, CDOT, Douglas County, emergency services, local Economic Development Council, Colorado Motor Carriers Association, the trucking business community, local businesses, developers, and Castle Rock residents. The program's purpose and goals were outlined with the desired outcome to successfully communicate to truck drivers the routes that shall be taken through Town to eliminate cut through truck traffic in predominantly residential areas.
Staff also went to individual businesses along Gilbert St in January 2022 to hand deliver notification of the proposed Designated Truck Route Program and provide notification of public open house.
Public outreach has been a continued focus for this program assessment. Feedback from the community was gathered using various collection methods, including the Town's website, feedback forms, and an open house. On April 18th, 2022, Town staff hosted an open house for the community to come and provide comments on the proposed truck route. Town staff gathered all feedback from stakeholders to provide an inclusive and thoughtful recommendation for the truck route. Feedback included comments from Councilmembers, HOA's, businesses, and residents. General themes of concern included:
• Reducing the speed limit on Founders Pkwy (Hwy 86)
• Degradation of the roadway due to additional truck traffic
• Engine and road noise along the proposed routes
• Ability to enforce the routes and perceived violations due to engine noise
CDOT is reviewing the speed limit on the section of Founders Parkway between Fifth Street and Crowfoot Valley Road, and the section of State Highway 86 between Ridge Road and Enderud Boulevard. They will be collecting data in the next month and providing staff with a summary and recommendation over the summer.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
A Designated Truck Route Program has not been presented to Town Council or Boards and Commissions previously.
Discussion
Before establishing routes, staff reviewed other jurisdiction's policies, ordinances, and codes to guide what was working for other communities. We discovered that several municipalities of a similar size currently have within their municipal code a designated truck routes map approved by their council, and a designated mechanism to allow changes to that truck route map.
Vehicle types and loading contribute to wear on the pavement, as do environmental factors. Pavement sections for state highways and major arterials are designed for this type of wear from large vehicles. The Town has a Pavement Maintenance Program (PMP) that will continue to evaluate and make repairs. The proposed truck routes are all major arterials or state highways. The Town doesn't have a substantial amount of truck traffic that a significant industrial or manufacturing center would generate. The selected routes are major arterials which are the routes the Town encourages trucks to use today for both trucks passing through Town and for internal haul routes.
Traffic counts were taken in April 2022. The counts show that of the total average daily traffic (ADT) on corridors, trucks were less than 5% of overall traffic on state highways and between 1% and 3% on the Town’s major arterials. This is below typical percent trucks of 3% to 6% on these types of roadways. Since the overall total number of trucks routing through Town will not be influenced by the implementation of a Designated Truck Route program, truck volumes are not anticipated to change on Wolfensberger Road, Lake Gulch Road, Highway 86 east of Founders Parkway/Ridge Road, or Highway 86 north of Meadows Parkway. With the implementation of truck restrictions on Gilbert Street and Wilcox Street, there will be a very small increase in the number of trucks along Founders Parkway, Plum Creek Parkway, and Ridge Road. However, the increase of trucks along these roads is anticipated to less than 100 trucks per day. In addition, the implementation of the truck route would result in a reduction of trucks on Gilbert Street and through downtown Castle Rock by 130 or less trucks per day.
Table 1 shows the existing truck volume and percent of trucks, and the projected truck volume and percent trucks, along routes where implementation of the Designated Truck Route program will increase or decrease overall truck traffic. A map of the data shown in Table 1 is included as Attachment A.
Table 1 Existing and Projected Truck Traffic with Implementation of the Designated Truck Route Program
Projected Truck Projected
Volume with Percent Trucks
Average Daily Existing Truck Existing Percent Designated with Designated
Roadway Location Traffic (ADT) Volume (April 2022) Trucks of ADT Truck Routes Truck Routes
Founders Pkwy N. of Hwy 86 20,826 360 1.7% 427 2.1%
Ridge Road N. of Enderud Blvd 14,366 140 1.0% 207 1.4%
St. Hwy 86 E. of Founders Pkwy 17,635 315 1.8% 315 1.8%
Plum Creek Pkwy E. of Gilbert 21,749 168 0.8% 235 1.1%
Plum Creek Pkwy Near Perry St. 22,938 174 0.8% 241 1.1%
Fifth Street E. of Woodlands 11,711 134 1.1% 5 0.04%
Wolfensberger Rd W. of Prairie Hawk 5,656 69 1.0% 69 1.0%
As shown in the table, the overall percent of truck traffic is expected to increase by 0.3% on Plum Creek Parkway, 0.4% on Ridge Road, and 0.4% on Founders Parkway, and reduce by 0.7% on Gilbert Street. Note that the above figure is an estimation and the projected five trucks on Gilbert St are representative of local deliveries still being allowed under the Designated Truck Route program.
Staff continues to coordinate with Castle Rock Police to address noise complaints associated with truck traffic using decibel meters. The volume level of truck noise is not likely to change. Enforcement from Castle Rock Police occur as person-hours allow. Communications will continue with Castle Rock Police Department as the program matures.
If the Designated Truck Route program is approved in June 2022, Town staff will coordinate with Community Relations to provide an update over the summer to businesses and the community about the routes. In the fall Town Staff will install signage to guide truck drivers to the appropriate routes.
Budget Impact
Currently this program has no budget impacts. Staff is anticipating that new signage to mark the route will be funded from our current traffic maintenance account budget, and future maintenance needs will be adjusted to support this program. The Police Department will continue to assess their resource needs as part of their annual budgeting process.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Public Works Commission forward a recommendation of approval for creating designated truck routes to the Town Council by Resolution and a map of routes (Attachment B). A future Code update establishing the authority and process for changing the truck routes and any needed amendments to the Resolution will occur with other Code updates.
Proposed Motion
"I move that the Public Works Commission recommend that Town Council approve the attached Resolution as introduced by title."
Alternative motions:
“I move to approve the Resolution as introduced by title, with the following conditions: (list
conditions)”
“I move to continue this item to the Town Council meeting on (date) to allow additional time to (list information needed)”
Attachments
Resolution
Attachment A: Existing/Projected Truck Traffic with Implementation of the Designated Truck Route Program Map
Attachment B: Designated Truck Routes Map