HomeMy WebLinkAbout990199.tiff • << BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
;lj PHONE (970) 356-4000, EXT.4200 tsAl\(1FAX: (970) 352-0242
P.O. BOX 758
GREELEY, COLORADO 80632
wilD C
COLORADO
January 18, 1999
Andy and Julie Sauter
35815 WCR 31
Eaton, CO 80615
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Sauter:
This is in response to your letter dated December 28, 1998, regarding the noise problem created
by the rumble strips on WCR 31 at the intersection of WCR 74.
Enclosed is a copy of the "M" Standards, guidelines set by the State of Colorado. The County
uses these guidelines to install rumble strips. The_"M" Standards suggests that the installation of
rumble strips be placed in sets. The sets may contain from two up to five in a set, and the rumble
strips are spaced apart starting from 300' and ending at 1000' from the approach to the
intersection.
To remedy the noise problem near your house, the County will eliminate the 2nd set of rumble
strips set at 800' from the intersection. The rumble strips set at 300' and 1000' will remain to
alert the public of the stop sign for the safety of the traveling public. I hope this is acceptable to
remedy the noise problem near your house.
The County has a duty to leave the remaining strips due to the traffic volume and the accident
reports at this particular intersection. •
If you have any further questions, please contact Frank B. Hempen, Jr. at (970)356-4000 Ext.
3750.
Very truly yours,
B OF COUNTY C MMISSIONERS
Dale K. Hall, Chair
Enclosure
cc: Frank B. Hempen, Jr., Director of Public Works/County Engineer
WCR 31 and 74 files
990199
Ihyicci
Igs tl gQ d
g ig fta' fg'of g a: i z
wE tl
i, ilk i
• grz six 4 „, „1;
iiItLttCPI
1 q 0 bil s11011dog NE . n► gg I cnt:
z
gpg� g
q iii h H il�qq it! :Itgt I
a
ill;; !lift! I!: Iii! CC
c
c v CiD
21
c m c c m • c v ccuo<U N2 m� 0<0 goo cc t7
W
v { 1 GI ymv a 4
ri
LIP II 1
g IA
is
If m ji
ill
r C� o
it a k J5JI
E w c
8p
-S6 q ill N Y
11
Jim /? //
! i/ € _
# ® i
I #
tj
11, 4 4 t / O m Tt
o o / a ; Y
4 ° I ti fi / o nil
dX m Q III
t c I -- b J / a
i%1
lit sn
t 0 II 1
g # E
� � t i z a
4 \
C
t J \\ p �}J{�QJ
` F` bl
t _ \
A 1/4.,
I C \ o
lig
S
s
Ft
I G o c
8'M I o A w1 p
o J
11 tna
990/99
rtil wO
u Pill 1 1 i .• ,.......,,:-.4::
I 1 10 otwi , fl I
Ii !!
11 h
ilii!II
15
i
pc 1
11 IR li:i is iR i
'{ N ♦ d d •
t
a a X' 1
It ,_ i::::'.iii. . .
IS
r �;
/*5 51 c b : •
b2.
f
':
o
[ :. I 1
z al
' i
b b 4. aq e1: .
42 .i -
y
N b! g •
X 6 _
IIII1iLJI!
i I s
rg gi I el _
q i a !. .
w .
ii tl 2 iLi ii
a
7 • 99°199
RECEIVED
CORRESPONDENCE RESPO�N�S�E-� DEC 3 0 1998
ML �� WELD COUNTY
��i� �i�� PUBLIC WORKS DEPT
DEPARTMENT
****PLEASE RESPOND BY: / . , 1999 ****
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Narrative:
METHOD OF RESPONSE:
Board Action
Worksession
_.41,r Letter (Attached)
Telephone Call
No Response
Staff Signature
K:\opman\rdcompll
05/28/98
990/ 99
WELD COUNTY
COMMICclONPRS
411
Andy and Julie Sauter £ 29 8: 23
35815 WCR 31 CLERK
Eaton, CO 80615 TO THE BOARD
(970) 454-2778
December 28, 1998
Commissioner Bill Webster
P.O. Box 758
Greeley, CO 80632
Dear Commissioner:
About two months ago the Weld County Public Works Department cut three "rumble strips" into
the road in front of our house at distances of 300, 800 and 1,000 feet from the stop sign. I met
with Maintenance-Support Supervisor Marc Street who told me that the strips were installed
because of the number of accidents in the intersection and that my husband and I would have to
put up with the noise. He told'-me that the county world not consider any alternatives such as
installing a flashing light but that'I could express my concerns to the head of the department,
Frank Hempen. Mr. Hempen did not respond either to my letter; copy enclosed, nor to my phone
calls. Mr. Street did, however, write to me, telling me basically the same things that he had said
before. I believe you have a copy of that letter but I am enclosing a copy for your reference.
After receiving Mr. Street's letter I again contacted him and requested a copy of the M standards
to which he referred. He brought me a copy and told me that his understanding was that the
rumble strips must be located at least 300 feet from the stop sign and no more than 1,000 feet.
I followed up by contacting Mr. Larry Haas with the Department of Transportation in Greeley.
He explained to me that the DOT had designed these standards as guidelines only and that there
were no hard and fast rules regarding their implementation. Indeed, the approaches to the state
highways in the area only have two rumble strips.
My husband and I have offered to contribute financially if the county will either move two of the
rumble snips farther down the road or, alternatively, fill in one of them4o cut down on the noise.
Because the Public Works Department will not consider any of ow proposed changes.and
because the head of the department will not even respond to me; I-am appealing to you for help.
At almost all of the other intersections where rumble strips have been installed there are no houses
WO/ 99
Webster
Page 2
nearby. Certainly there is room for some flexibility in the installation of these rumble strips, the
very purpose of which is to make an irritating noise. I realise that your term is about to expire. If
you do not have time to look into this matter will you pass along my letter to the new
commissioner? I would appreciate any help you can offer.
Very truly yours, !)
Julie Sauter
enclosures: 11/2/98 letter to Frank Hempen
11/10/98 letter from Marc Street
99ai99
Andy and Julie Sauter Copy
35815 WCR 31
Eaton, CO 80615
November 2, 1998
Mr. Frank Hempen
Department of Public Works
933 North 11th Avenue
Greeley, Colorado 80631
Dear Mr. Hempen:
My husband and I have lived on County Road 31 just south of County Road 74 for 6 1/2
years. On Friday, at the direction of the engineering department, three "rumble ships" were
cut into the road that passes in front of our house.
We are certainly aware of the need for measures to warn drivers of an upcoming stop sign.
However, with the volume of traffic and the fact that our house is less than one hundred feet
from the road, the irritating noise made by the two south strips is simply intolerable. These
abrupt b-r-r-r-r-r-t! noises can be heard throughout the house. This morning I counted 65
cars passing by just in a one hour period. You can imagine how many there are during the
course of each day.
We propose a flashing light be placed at the location of the furthest south rumble strip and the
two south strips be filled in. That would give drivers these warnings: a flashing light, a "stop
ahead" sign, and one rumble strip. I was told that the County generally does not install
flashing lights, presumably due to their cost. Because of our great distress over this, my
husband and I are willing to help with the cost of such a light or some other measure you
might suggest.
Please realise how this has affected our everyday lives. We were both raised in the country
and understand the noises and smells involved in living out here. However, these noises are
so random and numerous and grating on the nerves that we don't feel it is right to impose
them on residents when there are feasible alternatives.
Call me at your earliest convenience: 454-2778.
Very truly yours,
990/99
*7•'4''
COPY
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
PHON`B (970)356-4000,EXT. 3750
FAX: (970)352-2868
933 NORTH 11TH AVENUE
O P.O.BOX 758
GREELEY, COLORADO 80632
COLORADO
November 10, 1998
Andy and Julie Sauter
35815 WCR 31
Eaton, CO 80615
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Sauter:
This is in response to your letter to Frank Hempen dated November 2, 1998, regarding the rumble
strips at the intersection of WCR 31. and WCR 74.
The Weld County Public Works Department has taken a traffic count and acquired an accident
history for the intersection of WCR 31 and WCR 74. This information is used to determine the
required rumble strips per the "M" Standards set by the State of Colorado. The traffic count is high,
and the accident report reveals that there have been more than three accidents in one year at this
location. The rumble strips were installed due to the accident history. The "M" Standards require
that the installation of rumble strips be placed in sets. The traffic control devices were installed for
the safety of the traveling public.
Please note that the County does not install traffic lights. The rumble strips are a low-maintenance
alternative.
I apologize for the inconvenience of the noise.
Sincerely,
Marc Street
Maintenance-Support Supervisor
cc: Commissioner Webster
Frank B. Hempen, Jr., Director of Public Works/County Engineer
WCR 31 and 74 files m:wpfiles�ntarc.mslwer3l-74.let
Hello