HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated June 25, 1991 COUNCIL ACTION FORM
Item #
Date: June 25, 1991
SUBJECT: Lowering Speed Limits on Dayton & Lincoln Way.
BACKGROUND:
In March, Council approved a traffic safety project to install left-turn
lanes and traffic signals at the Dayton/Lincoln Way intersection. To
coincide with this project, speed limits on both roadways should be lowered
to reduce the large number of accidents occurring at the intersection.
Currently speed limits are 55 and 45 miles per hour (MPH) on Lincoln Way
and Dayton Road, respectfully, at the intersection.
Staff conducted a study of traffic conditions on both roadways and have
concluded that speed limits should be lowered to 45 and 35 mph on Lincoln
Way and Dayton Road, respectfully, at the intersection. This would
include lowering the speed limit on Lincoln Way from 1600' west to 1200'
east of the intersection to 45 mph where current speed limits are posted at
55 mph. In addition to this change, staff believes that speed limits should
be lowered on Lincoln Way to 50 mph from the east city limits to a distance
of 1200' west of the Dayton/Lincoln Way intersection. The location of the
proposed and existing speed limit zones are shown on the attached dia-
gram.
The study of traffic conditions consisted of an evaluation of existing
traffic speeds, speed limits on comparative roadways, accident rates, and
area conditions. Staff undertook a speed survey which showed that the
average and 85% speeds at the various locations on Lincoln Way and Dayton
support the lowering of speed limits. Listed below are the average and
85% speeds at various locations on these roadways.
Street Location Average Speed 85% Speed
Lincoln Way 2200' E of Dayton 50.4 mph 56.0 mph
Lincoln Way 1500' E of Dayton 48.6 mph 54.2 mph
Lincoln Way 1500' W of Dayton 45.3 mph 51.6 mph
Lincoln Way 500' W of Dayton 41.9 mph 49.2 mph
Dayton Avenue 500' N of Lincoln Way 35.9 mph 41.2 mph
Dayton Road 500' S of Lincoln Way 40.5 mph 47.4 mph
Traffic engineering guides recommend that speed limits should be posted at
speeds that 85% of the motorists are travelling. However, speed limits
should be lowered to 45 mph in advance to a signalized intersection. Due
to the accident rate and turning traffic at the Dayton/Lincoln Way inter-
section and the number of roadside businesses along the route, the
proposed 50 and 45 mph speed limits on Lincoln Way, and the 35 mph
speed limit on Dayton are warranted.
CAF - Dayton - Lincoln Way Speeds
June 25, 1991
Page 2
Designating a 45 mph speed limit on Lincoln Way in the vicinity of the
Dayton intersection would be consistent with standard practice according to
the Iowa Code. It states that a 45 mph speed limit should be posted on a
suburban roadways. This designation would be consistent with speed
limits posted on comparable suburban roadways in the city limits. These
streets include West Lincoln Way (west City limit to Beedle), 13th Street
(River Valley Park to Dayton), Elwood (south City limits to S. 16th
Street), and State Avenue (south City limits to College Creek).
Speed limits are also recommended to be lowered on Dayton Avenue in
advance to the Lincoln Way intersection. Average speed and traffic
conditions indicate that the speed limit should be lowered to 35 mph on
Dayton 1000' north and south of Lincoln Way. Motorists should be antici-
pating a stop condition at the intersection when the project is completed
since the traffic signals will be set to provide Lincoln Way traffic with the
prevailing green signal. By lowering the speed limit, motorists will be
able to better anticipate this stop condition.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Designate a 45 mph speed limit on Lincoln Way from 1600 feet east to
1200 feet west of Dayton Avenue, and designate a 50 mph speed limit
from 1600 feet west of Dayton to the east City limits. Also designate
a 35 mph speed limit on Dayton from 1000 feet south to 1000 feet
north of Lincoln Way.
2. Deny the recommendation.
3. Designate a continuous 45 mph speed limit on Lincoln Way from 1600
feet west of Dayton to the east city limits. Also designate a contin-
uous 35 mph speed Limit from Highway 30 south to S. 13th Street.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is recommended by the City Manager that the City Council adopt alter-
native number 1 above, and direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance
to designate 45 and 50 mph speed limits on Lincoln Way, and 35 mph on
Dayton in the zones specified.
COUNCII. ACTION•
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