HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated January 28, 2003 o� a
6
Item #
Date: January 28, 2003
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: SPEED LIMITS ON DAYTON AVENUE
BACKGROUND:
This is in response to the construction of the Dayton Avenue bridge over the Union
Pacific Railroad. The design of the bridge requires that the speed limit on this section of
Dayton Avenue be reduced from 45 miles per hour (mph) to 40 mph.
The design speed for the Dayton Avenue bridge was 40 miles per hour. This affects
items such as the vertical curvature of the vertical crest curve over the bridge. The 40
mph design speed was chosen to reflect the character of the area and the fact that
there are a number of large trucks turning into and out of the industrial sites along the
street. In addition, the 40 mph design speed minimized the impact to area property
owners and kept the cost of the bridge lower. A higher design speed would have
increased the length of the bridge. As a result, the sight distance available to motorists
meets requirements for a 40 mph design speed, but would not meet requirements for
speeds higher than 40 mph. Also vertical curbs were built on Dayton Avenue. Vertical
curbs are not recommended for roadway speeds of 45 mph or greater.
Currently the speed limit from the north city limits to a point 1,000 feet north of Lincoln
Way is 45 miles per hour. Staff believes this speed limit is appropriate for the section of
Dayton Avenue north of 13th Street due to the rural nature of the roadway and
recommends leaving the speed limit at 45 mph from the north city limit to 13th Street.
Staff recommends lowering the speed limit from 45 mph to 40 mph from 13th Street to a
point 1 ,000 feet north of Lincoln Way.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Direct the City Attorney to develop an ordinance to lower the speed limit from 45
mph to 40 mph on Dayton Avenue from 13th Street to a point 1 ,000 feet north of Lincoln
Way.
2. Do nothing and leave the speed limit at 45 mph, which could expose the City to
liability for accidents that may occur.
3. Do nothing, leave the speed limit at 45 mph, and direct the Public Works
Department to install guardrail, rebuild the curbs, install warning signs regarding sight
distance and take other actions that might be appropriate. These changes would cost
several hundred thousand dollars.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt alternative
number one above and direct the City Attorney to develop an ordinance to lower the
speed limit from 45 mph to 40 mph on Dayton Avenue from 13th Street to a point 1 ,000
feet north of Lincoln Way.
COUNCIL ACTION: