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Home My WebLink AboutA001 - Council Action form dated July 8, 1997 Item # 33 Date: July 8, 1997 COUNCIL ACTION FORM SUBJECT: ONTARIO STREET (NEBRASKA AVENUE TO COUNTY LINE ROAD) SPEED LIMITS BACKGROUND: With the paving completed on Ontario Street from Nebraska Avenue to County Line Road this past fall, staff believes that the speed limits should also be changed to accommodate the increased traffic on this newly paved street. Since a portion of this roadway is located in Story County, City staff has been working with the Story County Engineering staff during the past nine months to change the speed limits. Just recently, staff had been notified that the County had approved the change in speed limits proposed by staff. With this approval, staff proposes that speed limits be changed to correlate with ones approved by the County and recommended by City staff. Prior to paving the project, speed limits varied from a 55 mile per hour (mph) speed limit (County Line Road to Nebraska Ave), to a 25 mph speed limit (Nebraska Avenue to North Dakota). It is believed that no formal speed limits were adopted along this section by either the County or City in the past, whereas the non-designated speed limits have been applied (55 mph for County gravel roads, and 25 mph limit for City residential streets). To establish speed limits on this section of Ontario Street, staff evaluated street conditions, motorist's speeds, speed limits on comparative city streets, and other criteria. With this information, staff concluded that the speed limits along Ontario Street from Dakota Avenue to County Line Road should range from 30 mph to 45 mph for the east and west street sections, respectively. Listed below are the speed limits recommended along Ontario Street. These are also shown on the attached diagram. Ontario Street Segments Proposed Speed Average Speed 85% Speed Limit North Dakota - Idaho Avenue 30 mph 29 mph 35 mph Idaho Avenue - Kentucky 35 mph 33 mph 41 mph Avenue Kentucky Avenue - County 45 mph 33 mph 42 mph Line Road s CAF - Ontario Street Speed Limits July 8, 1997 Page 2 This measure includes designating a 30 mph hour speed limit from North Dakota Avenue to Idaho Avenue. This is consistent with the prevailing speeds, conditions, and consistent with speed limits established on other City arterial streets that extend through residential districts. Based on prevailing speeds, this proposed speed limit is similar to the average speeds (29 mph) and the 85% speed (35 mph) of motorists along this section. Traffic engineering guides do recommend that speed limits should be posted at speeds that 85% of the motorists were traveling. According to studies, 85% of the motorist travel at or below speeds that are safe for the prevailing street conditions. With speed limits established at this speed, overall compliance would be achieved and safety would be enhanced by decreasing conflicts between faster and slower drivers. The proposed 30 mph speed limit is also comparable to other speed limits established on City arterial streets that extend through residential districts. Arterial streets that are designated with a 30 mph speed limit zone include Duff Avenue (Lincoln Way to Grand Avenue), Mortensen Road (Elwood Drive to Hayward Avenue), Lincoln Way (Duff Avenue to North Riverside), South 3rd Street (South Duff Avenue to South 4th Street), 24th Street (Ferndale Avenue to Union Pacific tracks), 6th Street (Grand Avenue to Brookridge Avenue), and others. However, this proposed speed limit is higher than the 25 mph speed limit designated on Ontario Street from North Dakota to Scholl Road. It should be noted that varied conditions exist along these two segments that should affect motorists speeds. Motorists traveling east of North Dakota Avenue should have lowered speeds due to the location of Sawyer Elementary School, the higher utilization of on-street parking, and the higher number of private drives along the section. Speed limits should be higher on Ontario Street west of North Dakota since none of these conditions exist. Currently, there are only a few residential driveways on Ontario Street and parking is prohibited along the entire section. Staff also proposes a 35 mph speed limit zone from Idaho Avenue west to Nebraska Avenue. It was believed that a speed limit zone should be higher along this section due to the prevailing speeds, street conditions, and the development in the area. Currently, there is development on both sides of Ontario Street from North Dakota Avenue to Nebraska Avenue, however, there is only limited development west of this segment. Also, the prevailing speeds are increased from an average of 29 to 33 mph. It should also be noted that the 85% speeds are similarly increased from 35 to 41 mph. This zone is proposed to the west limits of the Brookview Place Subdivision. Lastly, a 45 mph speed limit zone is proposed west of Nebraska Avenue to County Line Road. This speed limit is consistent with the conditions and speed limits CAF - Ontario Street Speed Limits July 8, 1997 Page 3 along other comparable City arterial streets. (It should be noted that the prevailing speeds shown above for this sections should be higher since motorists speeds were sampled before the street was paved.) Typically, a 45 mph limit has been established along other arterial streets that have a rural design and are adjacent to undeveloped agricultural land use. This 45 mph speed limit will also provide a transition speed on Ontario Street between the 55 mph speed limit established within the County, and the 30/35 mph speed limits proposed east of the Brookview Place Subdivision. ALTERNATIVES: 1 . Designate speed limits on Ontario Street including a 30 mph zone from North Dakota Avenue to Idaho Avenue, a 35 mph zone from Idaho Avenue to Nebraska Avenue, and a 45 mph zone from Nebraska Avenue to County Line Road. 2. Modify the request by maintaining the current 25 mph speed zone on Ontario Street from North Dakota Avenue to Nebraska Avenue, and a 45 mph zone from Nebraska Avenue to County Line Road MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION: It is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt alternative number 1, thereby directing the City Attorney to draft an ordinance designating speed limits on Ontario Street including a 30 mph zone from North Dakota Avenue to Idaho Avenue, a 35 mph zone from Idaho Avenue to Nebraska Avenue, and a 45 mph zone from Nebraska Avenue west to County Line Road. 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