MAYOR & COUNCIL MEMORANDUM

June 4, 2019

Subject: Strategies to Address Traffic Safety Issues; 5-Year Traffic Page: 1 of 2

Safety Plan (City Wide)

Issue – This item has been scheduled as a follow up to the May 7, 2019 Mayor and Council Study
Session discussion of traffic safety issues and related strategies to address those issues.

City Manager's Office Recommendation – The City Manager’s Office recommends that the Mayor
and Council review and discuss the information that will be presented during today’s discussion,
and to give direction to staff to proceed with the various strategies as outlined.

Background – Traffic safety continues to be a priority for the City of Tucson. Early last year
(January 23, 2018 Study Session), Mayor and Council discussed this challenging issue and
requested that the City Manager convene a Traffic Safety Working Group made up of internal and
external stakeholders. The Traffic Safety Working Group includes representatives from the
Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT), Tucson Police Department (TPD), Tucson Fire
Department (TFD), Pima Association of Governments (PAG), Pima County, the Bicycle Advisory
Committee (BAC), the Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC), and Living Streets Alliance
(LSA).

At the May 7, 2019 Study Session, the Department of Transportation and the Tucson Police
Department presented traffic statistics and a five-year plan that encompasses the “Five E’s” of
traffic safety: Engineering, Enforcement, Evaluation, Education, and Encouragement. The plan
identifies 40 specific strategies, some of which have been completed or are underway.

Present Consideration(s) – At the May 7, 2019 Study Session, Mayor and Council requested that
TDOT and TPD report back at the June 4, 2019 Study Session on the following items:

• Additional Pedestrian Crash Statistics

• City Code Section 20-146 in relation to Safety Corridors
• Daytime and Nighttime Speed Limits
• Left Turn Pedestrian Safety
• Report on Red Light Cameras (Before/After)
• Potential of additional citation revenue for the 5-Year Safety Plan

Plan Tucson Consideration(s) – The strategies embedded in the 5-Year Safety Plan are related to
various goals and policies of Plan Tucson, including Goal 3, “a safe community and secure
neighborhoods;” and Chapter 3, Public Safety, “[k]eeping the public safe is a fundamental
responsibility of government.”

Financial Considerations – No additional financial resources are requested in connection with this
item.

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MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMORANDUM Page: 2 of 2
Strategies to Address Traffic Safety Issues; 5-Year Traffic Safety Plan
(City Wide)

Operating Cost and Maintenance Input – O&M of any physical improvements are addressed under
current processes and budgets.

Legal Considerations – One of the items that the Mayor and Council requested additional
information about during the discussion at the May 7th Study Session related to Tucson Code
Section 20-146, and more specifically Sections 20-146.1, 20-146.2 and 20-146.3. In summary,
these Code sections provide:

Section 20-146.1: authorizes the City to establish temporary reduced speed limits within
temporary traffic control zones during road construction or road maintenance projects;

Section 20-146.2: authorizes the City to establish reduced speed limits during nighttime hours
(sunset to sunrise) if the current speed limit as set by ordinance is not reasonable nor safe for
nighttime conditions. These nighttime speed limits are made effective by the posting of signs
giving notice of the reduced limits;

Section 20-146.3: establishes that a violation of 20-146.1 (i.e., speeding in a temporary traffic
control zone for road construction/maintenance project) is punishable by a mandatory minimum
fine of $250.

An additional item discussed on May 7th related to “Safety Corridors.” In Arizona, the term
“Safety Corridors” refers to certain segments of Arizona highways that have been designated by
ADOT, in coordination with DPS and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. Four (4) Safety
Corridors have been implemented in Arizona – 2 in Phoenix and 2 in rural locations. Within these
Safety Corridors, ADOT has installed additional signage to educate drivers, and DPS has
increased patrol enforcement. Traffic laws within the Safety Corridors are not more restrictive,
and fines for violations are not enhanced, but enforcement is heightened in an effort to improve
safety.

The City of Tucson has identified an area within the City as a “Pedestrian Safety Corridor.”
Specifically, in 2016, the City designated the 22nd Street Pedestrian Safety Corridor, from Osborne
Avenue to the UP Railroad tracks near Santa Rita Park. This designation does not enhance
penalties or affect existing laws, but did identify this area for the installation of additional signs
and similar safety devices (flashing beacons), and for targeted police enforcement of pedestrian
laws.

Respectfully submitted,

Albert Elias
Assistant City Manager
AE/Diana Alarcon/BO/rw
Department of Transportation

Attachments: A – May 7, 2019 Presentation

B – June 4, 2019 Presentation – Follow Up from May 7, 2019

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