To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
From: Daniel Sailer, PE, Public Works Manager
Title
A Resolution Approving the Town of Castle Rock Designated Truck Routes
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
Town Staff are continuously evaluating the transportation system for recommended safety improvements with the goal of maximizing the value 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. Staff looked into establishing town wide designated truck routes and the needed rules to govern them for Castle Rock similar to programs in Castle Pines and Parker.
Town Council recently approved Ordinance 2022-019 that amended the Town Code, with the addition of a chapter stating rules and requirements designating a Truck Route program. This Ordinance also provides the method on how the community can designate roadways as truck routes that are best designed and built for truck access through the community. Specifically, Town Council is authorized to determine and designate truck routes by resolution, which becomes effective when signs are placed giving notice and identifying the route to the public.
This purpose of this Resolution would be to establish specific truck routes and determine the placement of signs to activate the Town’s established Truck Route program. By establishing routes we also reduce 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 (Resolution Exhibit 1) and implementation.
Notification and Outreach Efforts
Staff presented the program, these specific routes, 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 reduce 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 and providing staff with a summary and recommendation that is expected soon.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
On June 6, 2022, this designated Truck Route Resolution, defining the route, was presented to Public Works Commission. Commissioners inquired about certain roadway segments like Crystal Valley Parkway and Plum Creek Parkway west of Interstate 25. It was explained that these two roadways were not on the truck route plan as there was not a commercial area and more preferred routes like S Lake Gulch to Plum Creek Parkway, and Wolfensberger Road are better suited for trucks. Trucks on these two roadways therefore would be cut-through traffic unless they had local business in these areas. There was also a question about the penalty for violating the truck route without local business on non-truck route roadways. We did not have that information at that time of the meeting. Commissioners unanimously approved the motion recommending Town Council approve the Resolution designating a Truck Route.
After further review by the Legal Department we thought it was best to establish this Ordinance first, as well as state how the route would be established by resolution. An Ordinance was then drafted and was recommended for approval unanimously by Public Works Commission. Town Council heard the first and second reading on the Ordinance on September 6th and September 20th, respectively, which Town Council voted in favor to approve.
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 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
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.
Members of the Police Department have also been involved in our outreach effort. They have reviewed the proposed designated truck route program and routes, and feel it is a great way to keep trucks on the major thoroughfares and out of neighborhoods and residential streets. We continue to coordinate with Police to address noise complaints associated with truck traffic using decibel meters and recognize trucks are in general loud. The volume level of truck noise is not likely to change with this program.
If approved, Police would focus their efforts on enforcement and education of motorists on the law. If truck drivers are traveling off route, they would need to provide Police evidence of business in the area to justify their presence. If needed, Police could dedicate members of their team for directed enforcement which can speed the educational process. Police does not have an opinion on penalty fines, points on license, etc. The common belief regarding increased penalties is that the Police should not be involved in those types of decisions. Enforcement from Police would occur as person-hours allow. Communications will continue with Castle Rock Police Department as the program matures.
If the Resolution is approved, Town staff will coordinate with Community Relations to provide an update to businesses and the community about the routes. Following approval, Town Staff will install signage between approval and December, to guide drivers to the appropriate routes and
give notice to the public.
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
Public Works Commission previously reviewed this recommended route and recommended Council approve it. Staff recommends approval of the attached Resolution creating specific Designated Truck Routes in the Town of Castle Rock.
Proposed Motion
"I move that Town Council approve the 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
Exhibit 1: Truck Routes