A. Established: The office of the traffic engineer is hereby established. Until further designation and appointment is made by the city council, the chief of police is hereby appointed as the traffic engineer and shall exercise all the powers and duties as provided by the ordinances of the city. (1989 Code § 7-1-2, 9-20-1988)
B. Authority, Powers And Duties:
1. General: It is the general duty of the city traffic engineer to determine the installation and maintenance of traffic control devices, to conduct engineering analyses of traffic accidents and to devise remedial measures, to conduct engineering investigations of traffic conditions and to cooperate with other city officials in the development of ways and means to improve traffic conditions and to carry out the additional powers and duties imposed by the ordinances of the city. (1989 Code § 7-1-5, 9-20-1988)
2. Traffic Control Devices:
a. The traffic engineer shall place, recommend and maintain on city streets all traffic control devices when and as required under the ordinances of the city to make effective the provisions of said ordinances, and may place and maintain such additional traffic control devices as he may deem necessary to regulate, guide or warn traffic under the traffic ordinances of the city. All such traffic control devices shall conform to and be maintained in conformance with the state manual and specifications. This subsection shall not apply to traffic control devices authorized installed and maintained by the state. (1989 Code § 7-1-3, 9-20-1988)
b. The traffic engineer may test traffic control devices under actual conditions of traffic. (1989 Code § 7-1-4(2), 9-20-1988)
3. Temporary Or Experimental Regulations: The traffic engineer is hereby empowered to make regulations necessary to make effective the provisions of the traffic ordinances of the city and to make and enforce temporary or experimental regulations to cover any emergency or special conditions. No such temporary or experimental regulations shall remain in effect for more than ninety (90) days. (1989 Code § 7-1-4(1), 9-20-1988)
4. Designate Crosswalks, Safety Zones And Traffic Lanes: The traffic engineer is hereby authorized:
a. To designate and maintain, by appropriate devices, marks or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at intersections where in his opinion there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing the roadway, and at such places as he may deem necessary;
b. To establish safety zones of such kind and character and at such places as he may deem necessary for the protection of pedestrians;
c. To mark lanes for traffic on street pavements at such places as he may deem necessary and advisable, consistent with the traffic ordinances of the city. (1989 Code § 7-1-6, 9-20-1988)
5. Timing Of Traffic Signals: The traffic engineer is authorized to regulate the timing of traffic signals so as to permit the movement of traffic in an orderly and safe manner at speed somewhat below the speeds otherwise applicable within the district or at intersections and shall erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof. (1989 Code § 7-1-7, 9-20-1988)
6. Markings At Intersections: The traffic engineer is authorized to place islands, markers or signs within or adjacent to intersections indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning at such intersections, and such course shall be traveled irrespective of any other provisions of this chapter. (1989 Code § 7-1-8, 9-20-1988)
7. Vehicles In Congested Places: The traffic engineer is hereby authorized to determine and designate by proper signs, places, not exceeding one hundred feet (100') in length, in which the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles would create an especially hazardous condition or would cause unusual delay to traffic. (1989 Code § 7-1-9, 9-20-1988)