Sponsor
Alderman Hart
Title
Ordinance No. 10-07
To create Secs. 82-44, 82-45, 82-46 and 82-47 of the Municipal Code of the City of Racine, Wisconsin relating to Streets.
The Common Council of the City of Racine do ordain as follows:
Part 1:
Sections 82-44 through 82-47 of the Municipal Code of the City of Racine are hereby created to read as follows:
“Sec. 82-44. Definitions.
Lateral clearance area is defined as an obstruction free area as measured from the edge of a shoulder for roadways without a curb and as measured from the face of curb for roadways with a curb.
Sec. 82-45. Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to enhance the safety of pedestrian crosswalks and city streets by creating an obstruction free area adjacent to all arterial and collector streets. The setback of obstructions from the city streets will improve visibility for pedestrians crossing the streets as well as for bicyclists and drivers who traverse the street system.
Sec. 82-46. Requirements.
Lateral clearance requirements pertain to all arterial and collector streets within the City of Racine. Within the lateral clearance area, no fixed objects are allowed including, but not limited to, light poles, sign posts, sign faces, trees, or shielded objects.
The desired lateral clearance distance shall be 2.0 feet measured from the face of the curb.
The desired lateral clearance distance shall be 6.0 feet measured from the finished shoulder width.
The minimum lateral clearance distance shall be 1.5 feet as measured from the face of the curb.
The minimum lateral clearance distance shall be 2.0 feet as measured from the finished shoulder width.
Above ground utility features such as poles, guy wires, pedestals, hydrants, etc., shall be relocated outside the minimum lateral clearance area.
Trees in urban areas shall only be removed from the lateral clearance area for identified safety concerns.
Sec. 82-47. Sign and light supports.
Break away supports shall be used for signs and lights located within the lateral clearance area.
In addition to lateral clearance requirements, there may be other required minimum offsets from the edge of shoulder or face of curb, including, but not restricted to, the following:
• Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) requirements for sign placement.
• Wisconsin Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices - supplement to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (WMUTCD) requirements for sign placement.
• Traffic Guidelines Manual (TGM), Chapter 11 requirements for the placement of light poles.
• Traffic Signal Design Manual (TSDM), Chapter 5-1-3 guidance on offsets for traffic signal supports.
To the extend the required lateral clearance exceeds any other required offset, the lateral clearance distance shall govern.”
Part 2:
This ordinance shall take effect upon passage and the day after publication.
Passed by the Common Council
__________________________
Approved: ______________
__________________________
Mayor
Attest: ____________________
City Clerk
Fiscal Note: N/A