HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated September 28, 1999 Item #
Date: September 28, 1999
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: CODIFYING EXISTING SPEED LIMITS ALONG SOUTH DUFF AVENUE
AND DAYTON AVENUE
BACKGROUND:
Speed limits have been posted along sections of Dayton Avenue and South Duff
Avenue (U.S. #69), but have not been codified by ordinance in the Municipal Code.
Although officers can use state regulations when writing speed limit citations along
these streets to enforce the posted limits, it is much easier for them to cite a specific
City Code section.
Lowered speed limits have been posted along South Duff Avenue since early July.
These posted limits include a 45-mile per hour zone that extends from Airport Road to
330 feet south of Jewel Drive. The posted speed limit along the remaining section that
extends south of this zone to the south corporate limits did remain at 50 miles per hour.
Staff did pursue with the Iowa Department of Transportation a lowered speed limit along
South Duff Avenue south of Airport Road through the Southdale neighborhood.
However, initiatives to lower the speed limit zone to 35 and 45 miles per hour were
denied by the Iowa DOT officials because of their concerns for establishing "speed
traps". Staff did seek the lowered speed limits to mitigate limited sight distance
conditions at the Garden Road and Ken Maril Road approaches caused by the rolling
terrain.
It is believed that with a combination of effective signing and enforcement, motorists will
comply with the lowered speed limit through the area. According to the Iowa DOT, they
will survey traffic speed again in early November to evaluate speed limits along South
Duff Avenue. With this survey information, staff will again seek lowered speed limits if
the data shows greater compliance with the lower speed limit. City Council will be
supplied with a report concerning the evaluation.
Another posted speed limit that has not been codified by ordinance is the 45 mile per
hour limit along Dayton Avenue. This speed limit extends for the entire length from the
south end (next to U.S. #30) to the north corporate limits except within a section 1 ,000
feet north to 1,000 feet south of the East Lincoln Way intersection. It is one that is still
appropriately posted due to the street's horizontal and vertical alignment, arterial street
designation, street geometrics, prevailing speeds, limited access, and other conditions.
It should be noted that this current 45-mile per hour zone has existed along South
Dayton Avenue without question since the street was annexed by the City.
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CAF — Speed Limits Duff/Dayton
September 28, 1999
Page 2
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Codify by ordinance the revised 45 mile per hour speed limit zone along South
Duff Avenue from Airport Road south to 330 feet south of Jewel Drive. Also, codify the
existing 45-mile per hour speed limit that extends along the entire section of Dayton
Avenue from the south end (by U.S. #30) north to the north City limits except for a
section from 1,000 feet north to 1,000 feet south of the East Lincoln Way intersection.
2. Modify the existing "posted" speed limit zones along Dayton Avenue and South
Duff Avenue.
3. Do nothing.
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 that will extend a 45
mile per hour speed limit zone along South Duff Avenue from Airport Road south to 330
feet south of Jewel Drive. This includes drafting another ordinance to codify the 45 mile
per hour speed limit that extends along the entire section of Dayton Avenue from the
south end (by U.S. #30) north to the north City limits except for a section from 1,000 feet
north to 1,000 feet south of the East Lincoln Way intersection.
COUNCIL ACTION: