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An Ordinance to amend Chapter 12.12 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws relative to right turns on red, reporting requirements regarding roadway safety, and other related clarifications.
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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 Connect Downtown footprint, Nashville Next Tier 1 Zones, and the areas within 500 feet of a school zone contain the highest concentration of pedestrians, transit service, schools, parks, businesses, entertainment venues, and mixed-use development within Davidson County; and;
WHEREAS, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (“MUTCD”) defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on streets, highways, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and site roadways open to public travel; and
WHEREAS, the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (“NDOT”) has sufficient data to initiate implementation of No Right On Red restrictions under MUTCD at 59 signalized intersections, composed of intersections within the Connect Downtown study area that have been identified and recommended for deployment and intersections within 500 feet of both a school zone and Metro park; and
WHEREAS, NDOT will collect data on and evaluate the other signalized intersections within the Connect Downtown footprint, Nashville Next Tier 1 Zones, and the areas within 500 feet of a school zone; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council finds that restricting right turns on red within the Urban Services District at qualifying intersections within Davidson County 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 Chapter 12.12 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws shall be amended by replacing the first instance of “department of public works” with “department of transportation and multimodal infrastructure (“NDOT”)” and replacing each subsequent instance of “department of public works” with “NDOT”.
Section 2. 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 NDOT 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 23. 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 34. 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 at qualifying intersections.
A. The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure NDOT shall place signs that state “No Turns On Red” at all signalized intersections within the Urban Services District that meet the standards of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, 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 where such signage is placed shall not make a right turn until a green indication is displayed.
B. The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure NDOT 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. 5. That within ninety days nine months following the effective date of this section, the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure NDOT shall:
1. Identify and evaluate all signalized intersections within: the Urban Services District the footprint described in the Connect Downtown Action Plan, as endorsed by the Metropolitan Council through Resolution No. RS2024-369; the Tier 1 zone of the NashvilleNext general plan, as adopted by the Metropolitan Planning Commission on June 22, 2015; and the areas within 500 feet of a school zone;
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 6. That within three months following the effective date of this section, NDOT shall install or modify traffic control devices and signage at 59 signalized intersections identified in the attached exhibit and composed of intersections within the Connect Downtown study area that have been identified and recommended for deployment and intersections within 500 feet of both a school zone and Metro park.
Section 67. 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 78. That the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure NDOT 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 89. 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 910. Sections 1, 2, and 3 2, 3, and 4 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.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This ordinance amends Chapter 12.12 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws relative to right turns at red lights within the Urban Services District and other reporting requirements regarding roadway safety.
This proposal requires the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (“NDOT”) to place signs that state “No Turns On Red” at all signalized intersections within the Urban Services District. When those signs are placed, the driver of any vehicle facing a steady red light or a steady red arrow at an intersection located within the Urban Services District shall not make a right turn until a green light appears. NDOT may designate intersections where right turns on red are permitted after a completed engineering and safety study demonstrates that that right turns will not materially increase risk to pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, or other roadway users. This ordinance would not apply to emergency vehicles operating in accordance with state law while responding to an emergency.
The ordinance also updates language in Section 12.12.030 to describe NDOT as the proper regulating department and reiterate its authority to determine where left, right, and U turns are appropriate outside of the above circumstances. The ordinance also updates Section 12.12.090 to provide that vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal may only make a right turn when that action is permitted.
Within 90 days of the effective date of this ordinance, NDOT would be required to do the following:
• Identify all signalized intersections within the Urban Services District;
• Develop an implementation schedule;
• Install or modify traffic control devices as necessary; and
• Identify any intersections where right turns on red should remain permitted.
The ordinance further requires that the Metropolitan Government conduct a public education campaign before full implementation of this ordinance begins. The ordinance 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 user of the roadway.
Within a year following implementation, NDOT is required to submit a written report to the Metropolitan Council that includes data regarding:
• Pedestrian crashes at signalized intersections;
• Bicycle crashes at signalized intersections;
• Vehicle crashes at signalized intersections;
• Fatalities and serious injuries occurring within the Urban Services District;
• Traffic operations and travel time impacts;
• Public complaints and requests for exemptions;
• A list of intersections where right turns on red have been permitted pursuant to engineering study;
• Recommendations regarding modifications to the program; and
• 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.
All changes to the Metropolitan Code would take place 150 days after the ordinance becomes effective. The remaining sections would become effective when the ordinance is enacted.
Fiscal Note: According to the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (“NDOT”), the estimated cost of installing “No Right Turn on Red” signage at 418 pedestrian signals of the 744 signalized intersections is $1,003,500. The individual sign cost is $20 each, with installation costs estimated at $500 per sign for external contractor or $232.95 for in-house installation. The estimated cost of deployment for dynamic blank-out “No Right Turn on Red” at these intersections is $7,808,447.26.