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Engineering

Tom Cunningham, City Engineer
320 Fountain Circle Huntsville, Alabama 35801
Phone: (256) 427-5300
Fax: (256) 427-5325
E-Mail: Engineering Department

The goal of the Engineering Division is to provide both effective and economical infrastructure solutions, making our community a great place to live. The City of Huntsville Engineering Division provides Civil Engineering assistance to the City's administration and other City departments, engineering consultants, contractors, and the public related to the planning, design, and construction of roadways, bridges, sidewalks, sanitary sewers, drainage and Traffic Engineering and Operations projects.

The Engineering Division is organized into seven (7) functional groups:

Roundabouts

Indian Creek Rd./Old Monrovia Rd. Roundabout
Current projections for the substantial completion of this project are late November 2004 to early December 2004. The construction contract for this project began on September 8, 2003, and has a 385 calendar day duration with completion date scheduled for October 23, 2004. However, the contractor has requested additional days to be added to the contract to account for utility and weather delays and this request is currently under review by the City. PLEASE NOTE: The current 4-way stop intersection will remain open to traffic to the north, south, and east with intermittent lane shifts occurring only as required for construction of the new intersection. The roundabout's center island will be installed soon and traffic will begin using the intersection as a roundabout in November. PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
This project includes the widening of Old Monrovia Road from two lanes to five lanes (two travel lanes in each direction with a center turn lane), five ft. wide sidewalks on both sides of the road separated from the curb by a 3.5 ft. wide grass buffer strip, a signalized intersection with crosswalks at Hunting Trail (with access to the new K-8 School) and upgrading the existing four-way stop intersection to a modern roundabout. The project is part of the City of Huntsville's Major Street Plan for the area and is bounded by the City limits to the west and the TIF district boundary to the east (read more about TIF). The future of Old Monrovia Road within the City of Huntsville is to extend the five-lane section on a new alignment that will intersect with Johns Road at the current location of its intersection with Oakwood Road. The future result will be that Old Monrovia will have an improved, direct access to Research Park Boulevard. PROJECT CONTACT:
Christi Robinson, P.E., City of Huntsville Engineering Dept. (256) 427-5300.
A list of Frequently Asked Questions with answers is provided at the end of this web site. MODERN ROUNDABOUTS
Modern roundabouts are a one-way, circularized intersection with a center island. They are NOT the same as traffic circles. The features that define a modern roundabout are:
Geometric Curvature (including angles of entry, radius of circle)
Deflection or Flared Entry (have the effect of slower speeds resulting in fewer or less severe collisions, allow more time for reaction to other cars and pedestrians, and are a benefit to older and novice drivers due to simplified decision making)
Yield at Entry (keeps traffic moving and reduces congestion)
The following text will discuss safety issues, additional benefits of roundabouts versus signalized intersections, and roundabout controversies, keys to adapting to roundabout use, as well as provide additional graphics to explain key issues.
SAFETY AND ROUNDABOUTS
According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Modern Roundabouts are safer intersections than standard 4-way type intersections (either 4-way stops or signalized). The IIHS provides the following statistics:
75% fewer conflict points
90% reduction in fatalities
76% reduction in injury crashes
30-40% reduction in pedestrian collisions
ROUNDABOUTS SAVE LIVES! For additional information, go to the Federal Highway Administration website: http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/00-0675.pdf
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF ROUNDABOUTS versus SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS:
Economic savings vs. traditional signalized intersections mean better use of your tax dollars, both now and over the operational life of the intersection. Roundabouts require about the same amount of land as an improved, signalized intersection, but the installation cost is about $100,000 less by deleting signal equipment. Also, roundabouts usually cost less to maintain due to savings in electricity and maintenance on the order of about $5,000 per year. Whereas signal equipment has a typical 10-year operational life, a modern roundabout has a 25-year service life.
Roundabouts will continue to maintain traffic flow even through loss of power to the intersection. Signal and electric utility crews will not have to be mobilized in the "middle of the night" electric storms at overtime rates to reset the signals to restore intersection functionality.
More environmentally friendly! Pollution is reduced and the environment is improved due to the fact that less vehicle idling occurs at roundabout intersections, creating an economy of fuel use and a reduction in emissions versus signalized intersections.
Improved traffic capacity means reduced congestion - due to the continuous flow nature of the modern roundabout, left turning movements occur without waiting at the intersection for a break in the oncoming traffic. Vehicles needing to make a left turn will enter the roundabout in a right turn fashion along with everyone else and go around to their exit. This also creates a reduction in the need for storage lanes (no more 300' long double left turn lanes). There are less delays with roundabouts (about 2 seconds) versus signalized intersections (as much as 60 seconds), also creating less frustration for drivers on their daily commutes. Roundabouts have been documented to have between 30% and 50% increase in capacity of a typical four-way signalized intersection.
Improved aesthetics - which would you rather see in your neighborhood or on your daily commute? A sea of pavement with large signal poles at every corner, or a reduced pavement area with a green median?
ROUNDABOUT CONTROVERSIES?
Why is there so much controversy over the introduction of roundabouts in Huntsville? First, roundabouts are a change to the status quo and change is always controversial. In the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) publication, Public opinion and traffic flow impacts of newly installed modern roundabouts in the United States, it was found that the majority of the public opposes roundabouts before they are constructed. However, after gaining experience with roundabouts following their implementation, the majority now support them. The IIHS study concluded that, "...public support [for roundabouts] will build as drivers experience and adapt to this new and highly beneficial form of traffic control." Huntsville has not yet experienced the public roadway use of a modern roundabout. However, many other states in America have experienced a successful use of the modern roundabout and now favor their use, including California, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Maryland and Vermont. Some residents may recall the introduction of double left turn lanes to Huntsville in the 1960s - they were opposed and controversial at the time, but are now a common function of daily life for most residents. If any community can adapt to new things, the constantly evolving, technically driven population of the Tennessee Valley can do it!
KEYS TO ADAPTING TO ROUNDABOUT USE
As with any change, education is the key to success! The City of Huntsville is committed to providing education on how to successfully navigate a Modern Roundabout. The key points to remember are:
SLOW DOWN
YIELD TO TRAFFIC ALREADY IN THE CIRCLE
OBEY ONE-WAY SIGNS AT ALL TIMES
WATCH FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLES
EXIT CAREFULLY BY MAKING A RIGHT-HAND TURN OUT OF THE ROUNDABOUT
By following these few, simple rules, the residents of Huntsville will be able to enjoy the improved safety and reduced congestion benefits that roundabout intersections offer.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Construction and Traffic Control Issues:
Q: What areas will be closed to traffic during construction and for how long?
A: The only segment of Old Monrovia Road that will be closed to traffic is from Hunting Trail east (toward Indian Creek Road) to just west of the intersection at Indian Creek Road. Therefore, access to Old Monrovia from Biltmore and Wintergreen Roads will be closed as well. This closure will be allowed for the duration of the project (estimated at 340 days). King Road and Indian Creek Road will serve as the detour route for those needing to navigate through this area (see project map under "Project Description".) Construction will begin as soon as possible following the completion of Right of Way acquisition, currently in progress.
Q: Will I still be able to go through the intersection at Indian Creek to take Old Monrovia to the mall or Providence Main Street to University Drive/US Hwy 72?
A: Yes. Traffic movements through the intersection will be maintained at all times during construction except for traffic traveling westbound on Old Monrovia (toward Jeff Road - see above question about road closure). However, at various times during construction, individual lane closures and shifts will be required in order to build the new intersection. A traffic control plan will be prepared by a Registered Engineer for review and approval by the City's Traffic Engineer that will be required to maintain all traffic movements described above.
Q: What trees will be removed during this project to make room for the five lanes of roadway and sidewalks?
A: Trees that exist in the current 80 ft. Right of Way (ROW) of Old Monrovia must be removed to make way for construction. In addition, some trees in existing Utility and Drainage Easements on the north and south sides of the road may be removed as needed due to conflicts with utilities or to ensure proper drainage. It is the City's intent to minimize tree removal to the maximum extent possible, but to remove trees that are either in the way of construction or will be damaged so severely (through root removal) that they are likely to die soon after the project construction is complete. This will lessen the burden on property owners to remove dead trees 1-3 years down the road.
Q: I live in Westridge and my house backs up to Old Monrovia. What can I expect during construction?
A: The contractor who has been awarded this contract is APAC - Ashburn and Gray Division. They will have a representative at the Public Information Meeting to be held on Monday, July 28, 2003, at 6:00 PM at Grace United Methodist Church to answer construction questions. In general, most fences will be removed during construction and replaced with new, 6-ft wood privacy fences upon completion. Residents with animals that must be contained in backyards will have the option to have 4-ft, temporary chain link fencing installed until the new privacy fence can be placed. If this option is chosen, APAC will first install the chain link fence beyond the limits of construction and then remove the old fence along the rear for the duration of construction.
Q: How will the entrances to/from Old Monrovia be affected?
A: Sight distances at the Wintergreen and Hunting Trail intersections will be improved over their current conditions to meet current safety standards.
Q: What are the plans to extend Old Monrovia to Oakwood Rd/Johns Rd intersection? How will our roads be affected when that happens?
A: The future of Old Monrovia Road within the City of Huntsville is to extend the five-lane section on a new alignment that will intersect with Johns Road at the current location of its intersection with Oakwood Road. The future result will be that Old Monrovia will have an improved, direct access to Research Park Boulevard. This later phase of construction will not affect the roadways around the Westridge subdivision.
Q: Are there plans/opportunities to put in a city park nearby?
A: The developers of Providence are building playgrounds and parks within the neighborhood, the K-8 school will have playgrounds and ballfields and there will a new greenway section built along Indian Creek in this area (see below).
Q: Why is the City choosing this project to act as "guinea pig" for trying out this new roundabout design?
A: The City of Huntsville does not view this project as a test case. In fact, it is one of many roundabouts currently planned for intersection improvements within the City. It just happens that this intersection will be the first to begin construction. The use of modern roundabouts for improved intersection safety and traffic capacity is not a new theory - it has been around for many years in Europe and Australia but has only increased in popularity in the United States in the last 10 years. The Old Monrovia roundabout was designed by Leif Ourston of Santa Barbara, California, arguably the country's leading expert in roundabout design and the author of the Caltrans (California Dept. of Transportation) manual on roundabouts.
Q: I've seen traffic circles in Washington, D.C., that are a nightmare to navigate. Will this roundabout be just as bad?
A: The traffic circles in our nation's capital were not designed as modern roundabouts. In fact, they were originally laid out by military strategists during the 1800s so that American armies could divide and conquer any potential invading troops marching in rank down streets leading in to the city. Our roundabout has been designed with considerably more modern traffic engineering techniques geared toward moving motorized vehicles safely and expeditiously through the intersection.
Q: Why was the Indian Creek Road name changed to Providence Main Street?
A: The section of Indian Creek Road between US 72 and Old Monrovia will be running right through the middle of the "Town Center" or commercial area of the Planned Urban Development called Providence. The developers of Providence submitted a request to change this name to Providence Main Street to the City of Huntsville Planning Commission and City Council. A public hearing was held, there was no opposition, and the name change was approved.
Q: Is this road project either part of Providence or being done at the request of Providence?
A: No. This roadway improvement project is considered part of the City of Huntsville's Major Street Plan to upgrade the road to meet the ever increasing traffic volumes of this rapidly growing area of Huntsville/Madison County. The five-lane road section will eventually be extended on a new alignment beyond the east end of this phase to intersect with Johns Road at its current intersection with Oakwood Road. This will provide improved, safer access to Research Park Boulevard and I-565. The funding for the project comes from the TIF District that was approved by City of Huntsville voters.
Q: Will the new K-8 school located on the south side of the intersection of Old Monrovia and Hunting Trail only serve the Providence Development?
A: No. While the school will be located on land donated by the developers of Providence, its construction is being funded by the TIF District that was approved by City of Huntsville voters for economic stimulus to the area. The school's architecture will fit aesthetically with the Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND or "New Urbanism") style of Providence. However, it will serve as the new West Huntsville elementary and middle school for all City of Huntsville residents located in the western area of the City and is currently scheduled for opening Fall 2004. The new high school (scheduled for opening January 2005) located in Research Park is also part of this TIF package, as well as the roadway improvements to Explorer Blvd. and Farrow Rd. that will serve the high school.
Q: I have heard that another phase of the Indian Creek Greenway will be built in Providence. Will this be open to the public?
A: Yes. Just like the K-8 school, the next phase of the Indian Creek Greenway that will run from US Hwy 72 along Indian Creek to the end of the City Limits (currently the western edge of the Providence Development) is a public greenway and will be open for use by the public. There will be one public parking area located just north of US Hwy 72 and public access can also be gained through the school property. The design of this greenway is just beginning (Summer 2003) and construction is planned for 2004.

Surveying
The Survey Team provides design and construction surveying support services to the Engineering Division, Public Works Department, and other City departments.
The Survey Team is a vital part of the Engineering Division-providing surveying assistance for project designs and preparing Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) drawings for construction. Surveying is performed to determine rights-of-way, set benchmarks, determine elevations, and to provide topographic maps.
The Survey Team provides an electronic survey of sites to be improved or rehabilitated. These surveys are used by the Engineering Division to design capital projects involving streets, drainage, and sanitary sewer.
To better manage data and operations, the Survey Team has integrated the use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) into their list of technical services

Drainage
The Engineering Division handles drainage problems created by new construction and land disturbance activity including problems resulting from the construction of new streets, subdivisions, commercial developments, and new homes.
The Engineering Division manages the City of Huntsville's Capital Drainage Improvement Program which includes the large drainage improvement projects such as the Aldridge Creek Channelization Project and small drainage projects that require only minor improvements. The Engineering Division also manages the engineering watershed modeling projects for all of the city's major watersheds which is funded from the Capital Improvement Drainage Program.
The Engineering Division reviews drainage plan submittals for new subdivisions, commercial developments, and new streets to verify that the design conforms to regulations stated in the City of Huntsville Stormwater Management Manual. Conditions of approval are imposed for areas of concern related to stormwater runoff. Careful attention is directed toward drainage calculations and computer modeling of stormwater runoff in order to prevent future drainage problems. Specific concerns are placed on the impact that increased runoff may have on existing drainage facilities and the erosion and sediment problems usually created by new construction. The City's Stormwater Management Manual places restrictions on increased runoff created by the new development and requires erosion and sediment control measures be implemented and maintained during the construction process.
The Engineering Division issues Grading Permits for land disturbance that conform to the requirements of the Stormwater Management Manual. A Grading Permit, Building Permit, or Subdivision Construction Permit must be obtained by the Contractor before any land disturbance commences. Grading Permits are required for all land disturbance activity including excavation, clearing, filling, grading, and drainage-related work. Grading Permits are not issued and building permits are not approved by the Engineering Division until all drainage requirements have been met.
The Stormwater Management Manual may be purchased in the Engineering office for $25.00 per copy.

Public Works Department
Telephone: (256) 883-3944
Maintenance items on existing properties such as:
Ditches stopped up and overgrown
Trees along drainage ditch need cutting
Inlets clogged by debris
Broken pipe, grates, lids, and gutters
Storm drain lids and covers are off/missing
Standing water
Erosion problems on existing ditches
Flooding created by fences blocking flow
Drainage problems in existing developments not associated with any new development
Holes in yards/lawns over existing pipe

Engineering Division
Telephone: (256) 427-5300
Drainage problems associated with new residential development, commercial development, subdivision development or new street construction such as:
Storm water runoff
Mud resulting from storm water runoff
Storm water runoff from new house(s)
Erosion from new development and/or buildings
Flooding in a garage basement home
Request for ditches to be piped or improved

The City of Huntsville Traffic Engineering Division will provide for the safe, rapid, efficient, comfortable, convenient, economical, and environmentally compatible movement of people and goods through the application of technology and scientific principles to the planning, functional design, operation, and management of streets and highways.
Responsibilities
The mission of the City of Huntsville Traffic Engineering Division is to provide for the safe and efficient movement of traffic and pedestrians through the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of traffic control systems. Our staff continually works to upgrade and maintain the traffic control infrastructure at its 280 signalized intersections, 1106 centerline miles of roads,and 2612 lane miles.
Our division has many responsibilities in the field of Traffic Engineering. The duties include:
Oversight of all traffic-related work performed within the City's right-of-way.
Reviewing and approving of all transportation improvement projects.
Attending the monthly Subdivision Review Committee meeting and monthly Planning Commission meeting.
Oversight of the Signs and Markings and Traffic Signal Technician crews in the Traffic Operations Department. This includes the fabrication, installation, and maintenance of all traffic control devices.
Reviewing and approving the proposals for new subdivisions and multi-family apartment complexes.
Overseeing and permitting the use of City right-of-way by utility companies, general construction contractors, private citizens, and other divisions of local government.
Conducting various traffic-related studies including field surveys, intersection turning movement counts, traffic delay studies, gap studies, roadway volume counts, and speed studies.
Traffic signal designs and conceptual plan development.
Approving all public and private driveway modifications.
Administrating the City's Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program.
Maintaining an extensive traffic crash database containing all accidents occurring within the City over the past 15 years.
Assigning all addresses to residential and commercial subdivsions as well as all meets and bounds properties within the City.
Coordinating municipal agreements with the State of Alabama Department of Transportation.
Coordinating the implementation of new traffic signals, pavement markings, and signs.
Reviewing and approving of all traffic control plans for construction areas.
Modifications to the timings and sequencing of traffic signals.
Studying the timings and turning movements of intersections to determine if they are operating efficiently during peak hours.
Publishing a traffic count map every two years.
Updating and publishing the City of Huntsville/Madison County Street Index Guide.
The City of Huntsville has started work on an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS).A contract has been awarded to Gresham, Smith, and partners to design the architecture necessary for implementingthe system. Using fiber optics, computers, and cameras, Traffic Engineers can monitor an intersection remotely and make changes to the timings and sequencing of the signals. The ITS program ties all of the traffic signals together and allows the Traffic Engineersto communicate with the signals from a central command center.
Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
You may contact our office at (256) 427-5300 or by fax at (256) 427-5325 or by e-mail.

Neighborhood
Traffic Calming Program
The Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program (NTCP) is a procedure to use positive methods of speed tables, geometry, and/or landscaping to alter the negative effects that traffic flow creates in a residential area. The negative effect most often occurs when motorists use a local street as a short cut between arterials and by motorists who travel faster than the posted neighborhood speed limit. This unnecessary neighborhood thru-traffic, by motorists travelling at unsafe speeds, on streets designed primarily for local access to properties poses safety hazards. To determine if your residential street qualifies for the program download a NTCP questionnaire(.pdf), fill it out, and mail to the address on the form. If you have questions, contact Toneka Dorsey-Lindsey.

Projects and Improvements
The City of Huntsville Traffic Engineering Division is continually working to make improvements to the existing transportation infrastructure. The following is a list of projects and improvements that Traffic Engineering will be responsible for overseeing: Traffic Engineering has developed a 10-year plan to replace all traffic signals in the City Limits with LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs. LED signals are more visible and more energy efficient. Similarly, all crosswalk signals are being replaced with LEDs. Several other projects and improvements are in the early stages or pre-design stages. Please check back with this page for an update on all Traffic Engineering Projects.
For additional information please see the Transportation Quarterly Review published by the Planning Department.

Flood Mitigation
Flood Mitigation includes all measures that can be taken to reduce the impact of flooding on lives and property.
Mitigation is an ongoing effort to lessen the impact that natural disasters such as flooding have on people and property. Through the application of mitigation technologies and measures, the City can assure that fewer citizens and personal properties will become the victim of future flooding. Flood mitigation measures are often divided into the following six (6) categories.
1. Preventative
Comprehensive planning
Zoning
Stormwater management
Building codes
Open space preservation
2. Property Relocation
Relocation
Retrofitting/Floodproofing
Acquisition
Insurance
3. Emergency Services
Emergency response planning
Dam condition monitoring
Critical facilities protection
Warning
Evacuation
Health and safety maintenance
4. Structural Projects
Channel modifications
Levees, floodwalls, seawalls
Beach nourishment
Drainage system maintenance
Reservoirs
Diversions
Storm sewers
Dune and beach maintenance
5. Natural Resource Protection
Wetlands protection
Set-back regulations/buffers
Riparian area protection
Best management practices
Erosion and sediment control
Coastal barrier protection
6. Public Information
Outreach projects
Library resources
Real estate disclosure
Flood maps and data
Technical assistance
Environmental education
Huntsville currently uses most of these approaches that do not apply to coastal cities, and is beginning to use more flood mitigation measures. Some of the highlights of these measures are given below:
1. Acquisition and removal/relocation of homes in the Aldridge Creek floodway
2. Aldridge Creek channel improvements
3. Development of Aldridge Creek watershed computer model
4. Currently developing watershed model for Huntsville Spring Branch, Pinhook Creek, Broglan Branch, Fagan Creek, and Dallas Branch
5. Watershed models will be developed for every watershed in Huntsville as resources are available
6. Huntsville is now developing an Open Space Plan
7. Some open space is currently being acquired and protected. Recently, the Aldridge Creek Greenway, Big Cove Creek Greenway, and Indian Creek Greenways were completed. This system is currently being expanded and it preserves flood prone areas near these creeks from development while providing recreational opportunities for residents.
8. The City of Huntsville currently provides free flood zone determinations for Huntsville residents. Any resident wanting this information can call (256) 427-5300 to learn if their property is in the floodplain. Additional information and floodmaps are available at the main library in the reference section on the 2nd floor.

Bridge Inspection
The Engineering Division is responsible for inspecting all bridges on municipal streets within the City limits to assure the safety of motorists and pedestrians. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires that all bridges in the United States be inspected every two (2) years. Interim inspections for some bridges are required every three (3) months but no longer than twelve (12) months. This is based on the age of the bridge and the amount of traffic crossing the bridge. Utilizing a staff of three (3) Engineering Inspectors and one (1) Engineer, the staff is responsible for the annual inspection of 150 bridges in the Huntsville City Limits. Each of the inspectors are certified by the State of Alabama in bridge inspection and must be re-certified every two (2) years. Bridges not inspected by the Engineering Division include those on State maintained roadways and the elevated portions of I-565.