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An Ordinance to amend Chapter 12.12 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws relative to right turns on red within the Urban Services District and reporting requirements regarding roadway safety.
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WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County has adopted a Vision Zero policy to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on Nashville's streets; and
WHEREAS, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and persons with disabilities are disproportionately vulnerable to injury and death at signalized intersections; and
WHEREAS, permitting right turns on red requires motorists to divide their attention between conflicting vehicle traffic and pedestrians lawfully crossing within crosswalks, increasing the likelihood of crashes; and
WHEREAS, the Urban Services District contains the highest concentration of pedestrians, transit service, schools, parks, businesses, entertainment venues, and mixed-use development within Davidson County; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council finds that restricting right turns on red within the Urban Services District is a reasonable and necessary exercise to improve traffic safety and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That Section 12.12.030 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
12.12.030 - Restricted turn signs-Placement authority and driver obedience
A. Except as described otherwise in section 12.12.200, the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure is authorized to determine those intersections at which drivers of vehicles shall not make a right or left turn or U-turn, and shall place proper signs at such intersections. The making of such turns may be prohibited between certain hours of any day and permitted at other hours, in which event the same shall be plainly indicated on the signs, or they may be removed when such turns are permitted.
B. Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right or left or U-turn is permitted, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey the directions of any such signs, as set out in Schedule III, which is on file for public inspection at the offices of the metropolitan traffic and parking commission.
C. Section 12.84.020 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws sets out the penalty for violation of subsection B of this section.
Section 2. That Subsection 12.12.090.C of the Metropolitan Code of Laws shall be amended as follows:
C. Steady Red Indication.
1. Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line but, if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown.
2. At intersections where a right turn on a red signal is permitted, vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal may make a right turn at an intersection after coming to a full and complete stop and yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians and cross traffic lawfully using the intersection, and such right turn shall not endanger any other traffic lawfully using the intersection. A right turn on a red signal shall be allowed at intersections unless marked by a sign which states "no turn on red."
3. Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal, as provided in section 12.12.140, pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone shall not enter the roadway.
Section 3. That Chapter 12.12 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws is amended by adding a new section as follows:
12.12.200 - No right turns on red within the Urban Services District
A. The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure shall place signs that state “No Turns On Red” at all signalized intersections within the Urban Services District, except as otherwise provided in this section. Upon the placement of these signs, the driver of any vehicle facing a steady circular red signal or a steady red arrow at a signalized intersection located within the Urban Services District shall not make a right turn until a green indication is displayed.
B. The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure may designate intersections where right turns on red are permitted following the completion of an engineering and safety study demonstrating that such movement will not materially increase risk to pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, or other roadway users.
C. Nothing in this section shall apply to emergency vehicles operating in accordance with state law while responding to an emergency.
Section 4. That within ninety days following the effective date of this section, the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure shall:
1. Identify all signalized intersections within the Urban Services District;
2. Develop an implementation schedule;
3. Install or modify traffic control devices as necessary; and
4. Identify any intersections where right turns on red should remain permitted pursuant to Metropolitan Code of Laws subsection 12.12.200.B.
Section 5. That the Metropolitan Government shall conduct a public education campaign before full implementation begins.
Section 6. That the Metropolitan Council requests that during the first ninety days following implementation, law enforcement officers issue warnings for violations unless the violation contributes to a collision or creates an immediate danger to another roadway user.
Section 7. That the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure shall submit a written report to the Metropolitan Council no later than one year following implementation that includes, at a minimum:
1. Pedestrian crashes at signalized intersections;
2. Bicycle crashes at signalized intersections;
3. Vehicle crashes at signalized intersections;
4. Fatalities and serious injuries occurring within the Urban Services District;
5. Traffic operations and travel time impacts;
6. Public complaints and requests for exemptions;
7. A list of intersections where right turns on red have been permitted pursuant to engineering study;
8. Recommendations regarding modifications to the program; and
9. Recommendations regarding expansion of the prohibition to additional areas of Nashville and Davidson County, including the General Services District.
The report shall also evaluate the effectiveness of the ordinance in advancing the Metropolitan Government's Vision Zero goals.
Section 8. Should any portion of this section be declared to be invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be severed and shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.
Section 9. Sections 1, 2, and 3 of this Ordinance shall take effect 150 days from and after its enactment. The remaining sections of this Ordinance shall take effect from and after its enactment, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.