HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Formd ated July 12, 1994 Q
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COUNCIL ACTION FORM G
Item #
Date: Jul- 12, 1994
SUBJECT: Lowering speed limit on 13th Street from Dayton Avenue east to corporate
limit.
BACKGROUND:
A request was received from Bill Cobb, 508 Carroll Avenue, to implement several
measures on 13th Street in order to reduce accidents at the Dayton Avenue/13th Street
intersection. After evaluating intersection and accident conditions at this location, staff
concurs that one measure, lowering the speed limit on 13th Street east of the
intersection, would minimize the severity and number of accidents at the intersection.
Currently, a "55 mph" speed limit is posted along 13th Street from Dayton Avenue east
1 ,839' to the corporate limits. Staff believes that this speed limit should be lowered to a
"45 mph" speed limit due to the conditions along the street. Attached is both the letter
from Bill Cobb and staff's reply.
Staff conducted a study of traffic conditions on 13th Street east of Dayton Avenue. This
study showed that the prevailing "85 percentile" speed along this section supported the
reduction of the speed limit. (The 85th percentile speed is the speed which traffic
engineering standards suggest should be posted. Prudent drivers feel that at this
speed they can drive safely under the existing conditions.) The 85th percentile speeds
were "45 mph" for both the east and westbound vehicles. The average speed for east
and westbound vehicles were 39.84 and 41.74 mph, respectively. Speed counts were
taken on 13th Street at a location approximately 1000' east of the Dayton Avenue
intersection.
By lowering the speed limit on 13th Street, safety will be enhanced at the 13th
Street/Dayton Avenue intersection. Motorists travelling at lowered speeds will have
more time to react to intersection situations, and accident severity will be lessened.
Also, left-turning motorists at the intersection will be better able to judge gaps in the
traffic stream, and make turns more safely. The left-turning accident is the most
prevalent at this intersection, as at most intersections where left-turning bays are not
provided.
Also taken into consideration for determining the speed limit was the limited number of
accesses, roadway conditions, and speed limits on adjacent arterial roadways. Along
the City's 1,839 foot section of 13th Street east of Dayton Avenue, there are four
accesses and one intersection. ,Also, the grades are relatively mild with no horizontal
curves in this section of roadway. Currently, "45 mph" speed limits are posted on the
adjacent arterials of Dayton Avenue and 13th Street (west of Dayton Avenue).
. 4
CAF - 13/Dayton Signal
July 12, 1994
Page 3
In order to further enhance safety at the intersection, staff will propose in next year's
Capital Improvement Plan that a project be included for modifying the Dayton
Avenue/13th Street intersection to add turn lanes at the approaches. (This has been
one of the few measures that has effectively reduced the left-turning type of accidents
at signalized intersection.) Staff will schedule this intersection modification in
conjunction with a 13th Street pavement rehabilitation project.
ALTERNATIVES:
1 . Lower the speed limit from "55 mph" to "45 mph" on 13th Street from Dayton
Avenue east 1,839' to the corporate line.
2. Do nothing.
3. Reduce the speed limit on 13th Street, and modify the signal timings as re-
quested by Bill Cobb.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is recommended by the City Manager that the City Council adopt alternative number
one above, thereby directing the City Attorney to draft an,ordinance lowering the speed
limit from "55 mph" to "45 mph" on 13th Street from Dayton Avenue east 1,839' to the
corporate line.
COUNCIL ACTION:
FILED 045
Mayor Curtis and _ 91 June 6 , 1994
City Council Members , CITY
4.. CLERK �
OTY OF AMES. IOWA
Subject; accidents at the
intersection of 13th and
Dayton Rd.
Friday June 3 another one of my friends was in an accident
at the intersection of Dayton Rd. and 13th Street . Just 3 or
4 weeks previously another of my friends h d an accident at
the same corner .
I ' ve been talking to people I work with nd we all have
horror stories to tell about near misses . I decided it was
time to ask the City to do something about the problem as it
seems to have gotten worse . There appears to be more traffic
on 13th over the past year and I ' d guess i comes from the
increased amount of train traffic that crosses Dayton Rd.
south of 13th St .
What I would like to see happen is two fold.
1 . The speed limit coming off of I-35 should be lowered to
45 at a maximum and possibly slower . Cars exiting I-35
currently accelerate to 55 Mph and in the ffort to "beat"
the signal sometimes eXCeed 60 Mph and go hrough the
intersection on a red light .
2 . There needs to be a staggered left tur arrow like we
have at Duff and Lincoln Way. In an efforLd
to keep the cost
down for the City a dedicated turn lane wo not be
necessary.
I hope you can find time ; in the near future , to address
this issue and I thank you for your time .
Sincerely,
Bill Cobb
508 Carroll
Ames , Ia .
'.OUNCIL ACTION SUMMARY
MEETING DATE: 7-la-9
AGENDA ITEM NO. : a7
SUBJECT: —< /J 74' 3,.eet
ACTION TAKEN: c
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We, the undersigned, want to see the City of Ames install a
staggered left turn arrow at the intersection of 13th and
Dayton Rd. We would also like to see the 'speed limit lowered
to 45 mph on 13th St. from Dayton Rd. east, to the corporate
line.
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