Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on an Ordinance Establishing a Speed Limit on Redbud Boulevard from Wilmeth Road to Bloomdale Road and Modifying the Speed Limit on Redbud Boulevard from Wilmeth Road to Bray Central Drive
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Operational Excellence
MEETING DATE: May 3, 2016
DEPARTMENT: Development Services / Engineering
CONTACT: Robyn Root, P.E., P.T.O.E., Traffic Engineer
Gary Graham, P.E., P.T.O.E., Transportation and CIP Engineering Manager
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Approval of the Ordinance
ITEM SUMMARY:
• This Ordinance will establish a speed limit on Redbud Boulevard of 40 mph from Wilmeth Road northward to Bloomdale Road.
• This Ordinance will also modify the speed limit on Redbud Boulevard from Wilmeth Road southward to Bray Central Drive from 35 mph to 40 mph.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• The east lanes of the newly aligned Redbud Boulevard have been constructed which extends Redbud Boulevard to Bloomdale Road. These lanes of Redbud Boulevard have been opened to traffic and thus a speed limit needs to be established on this new section of Redbud Boulevard.
• When developing a recommendation for a speed limit, the following factors should be considered:
o The design speed of the roadway.
o The measured 85th percentile speed.
o The established speed limit on adjacent section of the same roadway.
o The adjacent land uses along the roadway.
• A design speed of 40 mph was used for construction of this minor arterial, along with the rest of the corridor.
• Currently, there is undeveloped land along this new section of Redbud Boulevard but the area is zoned as Industrial.
• The established speed limit along Redbud Boulevard, south of Wilmeth Road is 35 mph.
• A speed study was conducted in December 2015 along this new section of Redbud Boulevard. The 85th percentile speeds at several different locations along the corridor was determined to be 42 mph.
• Due to the above factors, a proposed speed limit of 40 mph is recommended on Redbud Boulevard from Wilmeth Road to Bloomdale Road.
• After reviewing the data collected on Redbud Boulevard for the proposed speed limit north of Wilmeth Boulevard, the current speed limit along the entire corridor was evaluated due to observed driver behavior.
• A speed study was conducted in March 2016 at several different locations along the 4-lane divided sections of Redbud Boulevard. The 85th percentile speeds were determined to be 41 mph on Redbud Boulevard between Wilmeth Road and Bray Central Drive, and the 85th percentile speeds ranged from 30 mph to 33 mph at different locations along Redbud Boulevard, south of Bray Central Drive.
• Although there is a couple of undeveloped tracts along the 4-lane section of Redbud Boulevard south of Wilmeth Road, most of the area is Office and Industrial Development.
• Due to the above factors, a proposed speed limit of 40 mph is recommended on Redbud Boulevard from Wilmeth Road to Bray Central Drive, but the existing speed limit of 35 mph is to remain on Redbud Boulevard from Bray Central Drive southward to White Avenue.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• The installation of the speed limit signs associated with this agenda item is in the operating budget of the Engineering Department of Development Services.
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
• N/A