Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on an Ordinance Reducing the Speed Limit on Virginia Parkway (FM 3038) from West Park Drive to Jordan Road
Summary
MEETING DATE: July 19, 2011
DEPARTMENT: Development Services / Engineering
CONTACT: Gary Graham, PE, PTOE - Transportation Engineering Manager
Robyn Root, PE - Traffic Engineer
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Approval of Ordinance.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• This Ordinance:
o Lowers the speed limit along Virginia Parkway (FM 3038) from 45 mph to 40 mph between West Park Drive and Jordan Road.
o Lowers the speed limit in the reduced speed school zone for Slaughter Elementary school from 30 mph to 25 mph.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• The speed limit on Virginia Parkway at US 75 is 40 mph and increases to 45 mph at West Park Drive.
• City Staff has worked with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to reduce the speed limit on Virginia Parkway between West Park Drive and Jordan Road.
• City Staff completed the necessary speed zone study and has received approval from TxDOT to pass an ordinance establishing the lower speed limit.
• The Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices recommends setting speed limits at or below the 85th percentile speed, which is the speed at which 85% of the traffic is travelling. The 85th percentile speed along this section of Virginia Parkway was determined to be 42.8 mph for westbound traffic and 43.6 for eastbound traffic.
• TxDOT sets speed limits in reduced speed school zones at a speed no lower than 15 mph below the regulatory speed limit.
• Lowering the regulatory speed to 40 mph through the Slaughter Elementary school zone allows the school zone speed to be reduced to 25 mph. The length of the Slaughter Elementary school zone will not be affected by this ordinance.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• N/A
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
• N/A