Title
An ordinance amending Chapter 9 of the City Code by reducing the speed limit from 35 MPH to 30 MPH on Motley Drive from Gus Thomasson Road on the south to Town East Boulevard on the north, effective November 12, 2018.
Body
The referenced section of the roadway was redesigned and reconstructed this year, with a revised C2 designation in the City’s Thoroughfare Plan. The majority of the roadway section adjacent to residential areas is built with one travel lane in each direction, with on-street parallel parking allowed in some areas, where residences face the roadway. The intersections at Gus Thomasson Road as well as at Town East Boulevard are signalized and include turn lanes.
Before construction, the referenced roadway had a posted speed limit of 35 MPH. City staff conducted traffic engineering studies when the new roadway was open to traffic, indicate an average 85th percentile speed of 42 MPH. This section of roadway carries approximately 4,800 vehicles per day, and the studies concluded that due to high residential zoning and high pedestrian traffic, the existing speed limit of 35 MPH be lowered to 30 MPH. Staff is also considering installation of permanent radar speed signs to monitor traffic and speeds and to encourage compliance with the new speed limit.
This section of Motley Drive contains a school zone with flashers and a designated school crossing at Larchmont Drive for Tosch Elementary School. This school crossing is supervised by two school crossing guards and generates in excess of 300 students walking to school during the school ingress and egress hours.
Recommended/Desired Action
Staff recommends approval of the ordinance.
Attachment(s)
Ordinance
Speed Limit Study
Location Map
Drafter
Srini Mandayam, P.E.
Head of Department
Matthew Holzapfel, P.E.