(A) Medians.
(3) Median curb termination.
(a) Medians shall terminate in a bullet nose per MAG Standard Detail 223. Concrete pavers may be used in lieu of concrete when approved by the city engineer.
(b) At intersections, medians shall terminate at a point perpendicular to the curb return adjacent to the median’s bullet nose per MAG Standard Detail 223 or as directed by the city engineer.
(4) Median openings.
(a) Raised medians on arterial streets are provided to reduce conflicts and improve traffic flow. Requests for median cuts shall be approved by the city engineer to ensure that the purpose of the median is not defeated by a proliferation of median cuts.
(b) There are two types of median cuts used in Apache Junction.
1. Full access. The full access cut allows left turns from the street into a site as well as left turns from a site onto the street.
2. Partial access. The partial access opening allows left turns from the street into a site, but it prohibits left turns from a site on to the street.
(c) Median openings shall be designed per the following criteria:
1. Median opening spacing is measured from the center of the median opening to the center of the adjacent median opening or intersection.
2. In general, full access median cuts may be provided at 1/6-mile or 880-foot points along an arterial street. Additional median openings are allowed but should be the partial access type.
3. A median cut closer than 880 feet to an arterial-to-arterial intersection shall be the partial access type.
4. Median cuts less than 660 feet from an arterial-to-arterial intersection are not allowed.
5. Median cuts less than 660 feet from any signalized intersection or an intersection likely to be signalized are not allowed.
6. Median cuts less than 880 feet from a freeway interchange generally are not permitted, although each case will be evaluated based on the configuration of the particular interchange.
7. Adjacent median cuts should not be so closely spaced as to eliminate all of the area available for landscaping in the median.
8. Left turn storage shall be provided for both directions on the major street.
9. There may be unique geometric conditions at some locations that would affect the ability to provide a median cut. Variations from these standards may be appropriate depending on the particular design features of the street under consideration, and may be approved only by the city engineer.
(d) The design and construction of median openings for private businesses shall be the responsibility of those establishments, subject to approval by the city engineer.
(5) Median landscaping.
(a) Landscaping within a median shall be approved by the city’s parks and recreation department.
(b) Landscaping within a median along a public street shall be maintained by the city.
(B) Curbs and gutters.
(1) Vertical curbs.
(a) Vertical curbs are required for all streets except local residential and in designated rural areas.
(b) The vertical height of the curb shall be 6 inches on arterial or collector streets unless otherwise approved to match existing conditions.
(c) Installation shall be per MAG Standard Detail 220, Type “A” or MAG Standard Detail 222, Type “A.”
(d) Vertical curbs shall be 6 inches at all medians and edge of roads with landscaping, equipment or vertical structures.
(e) Six-inch vertical curb will be used at all curb returns on public local residential street intersections.
(f) Six-inch vertical curb will be used at all curb returns on public local residential street intersections with collector or arterial streets.
(2) Roll curbs. Roll curbing is required for public local residential streets except where vertical curb is required (curb returns and the like) and is to be constructed in accordance with MAG Standard Detail 220, Type “C” or “D.”
(3) Ribbon curbs. Where ribbon curb is needed and approved by the city engineer for public streets, the installation of the ribbon curb is to be per MAG Standard Detail 220, Type “B.” Transition from vertical curb and gutter or roll curbing to ribbon curb shall be with a curb termination. Installation of the curb and gutter transition is to be per MAG Standard Detail 221.
(4) Curb returns. All curb returns shall be constructed with vertical curb. Curb returns shall have a minimum drop of 0.20 of a foot around the return. Maximum drops shall not exceed 5% along the face of the curb at the sidewalk ramp. See Table 10-3.2 for minimum back of curb radii for curb returns at intersections.
Table 10-3.2
Minimum Curb Return Radii at Intersections
Parkway | Arterial | Collector | Local | |
Parkway | 35* | 35 | 30 | ** |
Arterial | 35 | 35 | 30 | ** |
Collector | 30 | 30 | 30 | 25 |
Local | ** | ** | 25 | 20 |
* feet (back of curb) | ||||
**Not allowed without written approval from the city engineer | ||||
(5) Height transitions. Transitions in curb height shall occur within the curbing at an intersection between curb returns or between the wings of a driveway (from 6 inches to 4 inches for example).
(6) Curb removal and replacement. If existing curb and gutter must be removed and replaced, the existing asphalt pavement must be sawcut and removed to a minimum width of 2 feet from the lip of the new gutter. Replacement of asphalt pavement shall match existing asphalt and base thickness at a minimum.
(7) Valley gutters. Valley gutter and aprons, where required, are to be installed per MAG Standard Detail 240. Valley gutters are to have a minimum drop across the intersection of 0.25 foot. Valley gutters and aprons shall be constructed with Class “A” concrete.
(a) Transverse valley gutters are prohibited from being used within the city. If a transverse valley gutter is proposed, it must be approved by the city engineer.
(b) Asphalt valley gutters are not allowed on public streets.
(c) Locations of valley gutters. Valley gutters may only be used across collector streets, and local residential streets. Exceptions must be approved by the city engineer.
(C) Turning lanes. A separate turning lane permits separation of conflicting traffic movements and removes turning vehicles from the intersection area. Right-turn lanes shall be provided on arterial streets at all street intersections and at driveways where warranted. For left-turn lanes at signalized intersections, dual turn lanes should be considered when the turn volume exceeds 200 vehicles per hour, the opposing through volume exceeds 1,000 vehicles per hour, or the delay to left turning vehicles exceeds 45 seconds. Abrupt reduction of alignment and sight distance standards should be avoided. The minimum length of these lanes must be approved by the city engineer and are:
Table 10-3.3
Minimum Length of Turn Lanes
Turn Direction | Street Classification | |
Parkway and Arterial | Collector | |
Left | ||
Storage | 200* | 150 |
Taper | 150 | 100 |
Right | ||
Storage | 150 | 100 |
Taper | 100 | 100 |
* Length in feet | ||
(D) Street widening.
(1) Projects widening existing pavement are required to sawcut and remove a 2-foot minimum section of the existing pavement continuous along the edge of the existing pavement.
(2) Projects that are required to widen existing pavement shall provide on the plan and profile sheets, as a minimum, existing elevation, grades at the centerline, sawcut line and gutter line at 50-foot intervals, unless a smaller interval is required by the city engineer.
(3) Also the plan sheets shall show the existing cross-slope from the existing centerline of the street to the sawcut line and from the sawcut line to the lip of proposed gutter at the same 50-foot intervals. The existing and proposed cross-slopes are to be within 1% to 3% with a desired 2%. The existing pavement must be sawcut to a line that achieves the 1% to 3% or rebuilt from the street centerline.
(4) When existing paving has been installed without surface course, the developing project shall install surface course to the centerline. The surface course shall be tapered beyond the centerline to provide a smooth transition. The city engineer shall assess the amount of tapering required to make a smooth transition to the existing pavement.
(5) The developer’s engineer will be required to investigate existing pavement for composition, structural capacity and stability. If after the developer’s engineer’s investigation, the city engineer determines the existing pavement section is below current standards, the developer’s engineer shall call out a sawcut at the construction centerline and replacement of the existing pavement with new pavement per city standards.
(E) Partial street and half-street improvements.
(1) Generally, a developer is required to construct the full street cross-section for the streets internal to the development and a portion of the streets surrounding the development. For partial or half-street designs, a 24-foot minimum width from lip of gutter to the edge of the asphaltic pavement and a striping plan is required.
(2) For all streets, pavement tapers shall be constructed to provide transitions between newly constructed and existing roadway sections as deemed necessary by the city engineer.
(F) Public alleys.
(1) New residential alleys are not allowed in Apache Junction.
(2) Commercial alleys are to be 24 feet wide. Surfacing is to be per MAG Standard Detail 202.
(3) Projects that have an alley system within or contiguous to the project which will be used as a primary means of access shall have an alley that is a minimum of 24 feet wide and paved. Paving shall be per MAG Standard Detail 202.
(4) Projects that have an alley system within, or contiguous to the project, which will not be used as a primary means of access, are required to surface the alley with a minimum of 6 inches of compacted aggregate base course (“ABC”).
(G) Sidewalks.
(2) Sidewalk widths.
(e) Sidewalks on bridges are required to be a minimum of 8 feet in width.
(3) Width transitions. Sidewalk width transitions shall occur either in the curb return area or across a driveway.
(4) Location.
(b) Sidewalks along local streets shall adjoin the back of the curbing.
(5) Sidewalk ramps. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), sidewalk ramps are required at all public street intersections per MAG Standard Detail 231, Type “A.”
(a) Existing curb installation. The installation of a sidewalk ramp in an existing curb shall be made by completely removing the existing curb and gutter. The existing asphalt pavement shall be removed and replaced as noted in the section on curb and gutter (division (B)(6) above). The sidewalk ramp will be constructed per MAG Standard Detail 231, Type “A.”
(b) Tee intersections. Sidewalk ramps per MAG Standard Detail 233 shall be installed on the perpendicular side of the street at the tee intersections and shall be aligned with one of the curb returns on the opposite side of the street. Where roll curb is constructed, the sidewalk ramp shall be per MAG Standard Detail 220, Type “C”.
(c) Existing intersections. Projects that adjoin or include an existing public street intersection in which sidewalk ramp(s) are not existing are required to install the necessary ramp(s) in order to comply with ADA requirements.
(H) Driveways. All driveways within public rights-of-way shall be designed and installed per the following:
(1) Residential lots. Residential lots where the sidewalk is adjoining the roll curb, both the sidewalk and the driveway in the right-of-way shall be Class “A” concrete, 6 inches thick.
(2) Commercial and industrial properties. Commercial and industrial driveways shall be installed per MAG Standard Detail 250.
(3) Existing curb installations. The installation of a driveway in an existing vertical curb shall be made by the complete removal of the curb and gutter. The existing asphalt pavement shall be removed and replaced as noted in the section on curb and gutter (division (B)(6) above). The driveway shall be constructed per MAG Standard Detail 250.
(4) Driveway location limitations.
(a) New access. A new access driveway will not be allowed (measured to the driveway centerline):
1. Within 30 feet of any commercial property line, except when it is a joint-use driveway serving two abutting commercial properties and access agreements have been exchanged between, and recorded by, the two abutting property owners;
2. When the total width of all driveways serving a property exceeds 50% of the curb line frontage;
3. Within 50 feet of the right-of-way line of an intersecting non-arterial street;
4. Within 100 feet of the right-of-way line of an intersecting arterial street; or
5. Within 100 feet of an approved median opening location on an arterial street.
(b) On residential access.
1. Residential properties that have frontage on a local street as well as on an arterial or collector street shall only access the local street.
2. In some instances, residential parcels fronting only on an arterial or collector street may be given access if alternate public access is not available and is approved by the city engineer. When such access is allowed, the driveway shall be circular or it shall have a turn-around area to ensure that there is no need for backing onto the street.
(5) Locations delineated.
(a) Commercial and industrial. Commercial and industrial driveway locations shall be delineated on the improvement plans and installed as part of the original curb and sidewalk construction per MAG Standard Detail 250.
(b) Residential. Residential driveway locations not delineated on the construction plans shall be identified before the curb, gutter and sidewalk is constructed and approved by the city’s inspector. The driveways shall be constructed per 10-3-6(H)(1).
(I) Deceleration lanes. Deceleration lanes may be required on streets in conjunction with driveways and may require additional right-of-way. The location and lane length shall be determined on a case-by-case basis and shall be approved by the development services project engineer.
(J) Bikeways, lanes and paths.
(1) Bikeways and bike paths separate from the paved roadway require a minimum of 5 feet for one-way travel and a minimum of 10 feet for two-way travel.
(3) Bikeways, bike lanes and bike paths will be designed in accordance with the ADOT publication, Arizona Bicycle Facilities Planning and Design Guidelines and city policy.
(K) Traffic signals.
(1) Signal poles, bases and conduits with pull boxes shall be provided at all arterial and secondary street intersections.
(2) Separate conduits shall be installed for traffic signal conductor wires and traffic signal fiber optics as directed by the city engineer.
(3) An approved traffic preemption device shall be installed on all new traffic signals.
(4) All traffic control plans shall be approved by the city engineer.
(L) Streetlights.
(1) Position. Streetlights shall be positioned a minimum of 1 foot back of the sidewalk or a minimum of 2-1/2 feet from the back of curb to the face of pole. Streetlight poles may be placed in the median where the median width is sufficient to maintain a minimum distance of 3 feet or more from the back of curb to the face of pole.
(2) Locations. Streetlights shall conform to the following table:
Table 10-3.4
Minimum Streetlight Standard
Street Type | Luminaire | Height (Feet) | Spacing Min/Max (Feet) |
Local | |||
Residential | 9,500 | 32 | 180/200 |
Indust/comm | 9,500 | 32 | 180/200 |
Collector | 16,000 | 32 | 180/200 |
Minor and major arterial | 3,000 | 35 | 180/200 |
Principal arterial and parkway | 50,000* | 35 | 180/200 |
* Double mast arm lights in median | |||
(3) New commercial, industrial and residential streetlight.
(a) Streetlights are required on all streets adjacent to development. Streetlights shall be located at all intersections.
(b) The developer’s engineer will locate perimeter lights for the project. All phasing shall be shown on the plans. The city engineer shall review the locations for approval.
(c) Proposed streetlight installations shall note the following items:
1. Luminaire size;
2. Luminaire mounting height;
3. City of Apache Junction Standard Detail number for the streetlight poles;
4. Dimensional ties from street centerline to the proposed streetlight; and
5. Dimensional ties from property corners to the proposed streetlight.
(d) The developer’s engineer will provide a legend on the plans identifying the following items:
1. Luminaire size;
a. Local streets - 9,500 Lumen;
b. Mid-section line and collectors - 16,000 Lumen;
c. Section line (arterial) - 30,000 Lumen; and
d. Principal arterial and parkway - 50,000 Lumen.
2. Luminaire mounting height; and
3. City of Apache Junction Standard Detail number.
(e) SRP will inform the developer of contribution costs which developer shall pay. Upon receipt of notice from SRP that the developer has paid the cost of the streetlights and construction to SRP, the city engineer will authorize construction and accept future energy and maintenance costs.
(f) SRP and the developer shall notify the city engineer when they are ready to install the streetlights as development construction proceeds. The city engineer will inspect the streetlights and accept the installations along with other required off-site improvement.
(g) The city engineer will accept the future energy billing.
(4) Commercial project and subdivisions with private streets or no interior public streets.
(a) From development site plan, the developer’s engineer shall locate streetlights along adjacent public streets.
(b) The developer shall provide the drawings showing the approved lights to the city and SRP.
(c) Upon receipt from SRP, if underground conduit is required, it will be provided at the developer’s expense.
(d) The developer will provide payment for the streetlight costs to SRP, or they will hire a private contractor to install the lights, with the approval of installation from SRP.
(e) The city will transmit a letter to SRP authorizing work to begin and stating the city will accept future energy and maintenance costs.
(f) The city will inspect the streetlights and accept the installations along with other required off-site improvements at the time of certificate of occupancy.
(5) Subdivision with public streets. See Subdivision Regulations, Apache Junction City Code Vol. II, Chapter 2.
(a) The intent of this requirement is to create a street light improvement district with boundaries similar to a development containing interior and perimeter public streets.
(b) The process will be initiated by a receipt of a unanimous petition for street lighting from the owner of the land to be developed.
(6) Process to create a streetlight improvement district in developed areas.
(a) To obtain streetlights in a developed neighborhood, a Street Lighting Improvement District (“SLID”) should be formed. The following list provides options available to initiate action.
1. Representative(s) of the property owners make the request;
2. A majority petition signed by property owners, is submitted and verified; and/or
3. A unanimous petition signed by all the property owners is submitted and verified.
(b) The steps required in the procedure are listed below and each action listed is handled by the city engineer after receipt of a properly executed request or petition:
1. Prepare streetlight district boundaries;
2. Determine the location of lights to be installed;
3. Obtain cost estimates from SRP;
4. Council acts on resolution of intention;
5. Public notice is given (i.e., advertised and posted on the property as per A.R.S. Title 48);
6. A 30-day protest period is provided;
7. Protest hearing and ruling by council (if applicable);
8. Council considers resolution ordering work;
9. Letter to SRP authorizing construction and providing funds;
10. Utility schedules work and coordinates installation of underground conduit;
11. City accepts improvements;
12. City informs county assessor of district charges; and
13. County collects charges each year with annual tax assessments.
(Ord. passed - - )