85th. HB 87 vs 85 Percentile Speed

Transcription

1 House Bill mph Speed Voluntary Technical Workshop 85th HB 87 vs 85 Percentile Speed Cissy Sylo, P.E. Director of Engineering Services City of Frisco January 20, 2006

2 Background

3 Prima Facie Speed Limit PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMITS. (a) A speed in excess of the limits established by Subsection (b) or under another provision of this subchapter is prima facie evidence that the speed is not reasonable and prudent and that the speed is unlawful. Text of subsec.. (b) as amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch.. 663, 2 and Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch.. 739, 1

4 Prima Facie Speed Limit (b) Unless a special hazard exists that requires a slower speed for compliance with Section (b), the following speeds are lawful: (1) 30 miles per hour in an urban district on a street other than an alley and 15 miles per hour in an alley;

5 Prima Facie Speed Limit Varies state to state 20 mph to 35 mph typically

6 Prima Facie Speed Limits 25 mph mph mph 6 Other/None - 9

7 HB 87 The speed limit must be declared by the governing body The street must be less than 35 feet in width Vehicular parking is not prohibited on one or both sides of the road Can not be used on a road that has four (4) or more lanes of travel The new speed limit is effective when the governing body erects signs giving notice of the new limit and at all times or at other times as determined. The governing body must determine that the prima facie speed limit is unreasonable or unsafe

8 HB 87 Most residential collector streets not eligible due to width Most common speeding complaint Streets with parking restrictions not allowed to be reduced Parks, Schools, Visibility Obstructions, HOA Parking Restrictions City must determine that the prima facie speed limit is unreasonable or unsafe

9 Speed Limits There are widely held misconceptions that speed limit signs will slow the speed of traffic, reduce accidents, and increase safety.

10 Speed Limits 'Before and after' studies have shown that there are no significant changes in vehicle speeds or accidents following the posting of new or revised speed limits.

11 Level of Compliance Most states experience problems irrespective of the speed limit Drivers tend to drive the speed they are comfortable

12 Lack of Compliance In 2001, police issues nearly 300 citations for speeding on the roadways for speeds averaging 38 mph 13 mph over the posted speed limit. NORTH CAROLINA In May, I borrowed a friends JUGS speed gun and in a one hour time span I recorded the speeds of 33 vehicles going north and south on my street. Of the 33, 26 were going over the residential speed limit of 25 mph, with a high speed of 49 mph. The 7 other vehicles were at or below the legal speed limit. I have often wondered what it will take to slow these vehicles down, North Precinct has been contacted, but as usual I get the we don't have the man-power to police the neighborhood at the present time other than an occasional drive thru. OREGON

13 Lack of Compliance In a community pilot program in Oceanside, CA., posting signs resulted in a 16 percent decrease in the average driver's speed. By comparison, a national traffic engineers' survey found that frequent stop signs resulted in a 19 percent decrease in speed and speed bumps a 23 percent decrease. Speeding on residential streets is a concern to San Jose citizens. To impede motorists from exceeding the allowed speed of 25 miles per hour, neighborhoods have requested deterrents (such as more stop signs) or physical barriers (such as speed bumps) CALIFORNIA

14 Lack of Compliance Foley said she's heard from residents that speeding on residential streets is a widespread problem "We need to create obstacles to speed." CALIFORNIA I I think this should be a team effort... I would really like to see more of a push from your end towards messaging that 5mph-over the limit is unacceptable in residential areas especially in active school zones. This is why I disregard the so-called "engineering studies". I'd like to ask one of these engineers if they've ever had the hair on the back of their neck go up when someone going 35 mph hits the brakes hard because a soccer ball rolled down someone's driveway and into the street... in front of their house. I'm sorry, but 35 miles-per per-hour is just too fast for any residential street. This is why I've asked for a 5mph reduction. If folks insist on going 5-over, 5 then let the limit be 25 and then the engineering studies would mean something. FRISCO TEXAS

15 A Tale of Two Cities

16 City of Frisco Woodstream Drive 20 mph speed limit adopted by Ordinance in the 1980 s 1400 ADT

17 Woodstream Drive

18 City of Frisco Rimrock Circle 20 mph speed limit adopted by Ordinance in the ADT Speed Studies conducted October 2001

19 Rimrock Circle

20 City of Frisco 85th Percentile speed measured at 29.5 mph along Woodstream Drive 85th Percentile speed measured at 30.8 mph along Rimrock Circle 85th Percentile speeds consistent with the 30 mph Prima Facie

21 Farmers Branch Veronica Road and Tanglewood Drive posted 20 mph 20 mph speed limits adopted by Ordinance in the 1970 s Speed Studies conducted January 1994/5

22 Veronica Road

23 Veronica Road ADT of 900 vpd 85 th Percentile speed measured at 29.9 mph 85 th Percentile speed is near the 30 mph Prima Facie

24 Tanglewood Drive

25 Tanglewood Drive ADT of 750 vpd 85 th Percentile speed measured 34.0 mph 85 th Percentile speed is near the 30 mph Prima Facie

26 Other Options?

27 Roadway Features that Reduce Speed on Low Speed Urban Streets (TRR 1737 or NCHRP 15-18) 18) Lane Width Median Presence Pedestrian Activity On-Street Parking Horizontal Curvature Roadside Development Speed Limit

28 Zipper Street

29 Zipper Street

30 On Street Parking

31 Roundabout

32 Subdivision Entrance

33 Horizontal Alignment

34 Pedestrian Activity & Median Use

35 Local Use of Roadway Features to Reduce Speed City of Carrollton Spurwood Drive 3 lane with 40 foot width Posted Speed 30 mph 85 th Percentile speed measured at 40 mph Public Park nearby

36 Spurwood Drive

37 Spurwood Drive Constructed wide median and bike lanes Travel lane reduced to 11 feet 85 th Percentile speed measured at 30 mph, consistent with the posted speed

38 Spurwood Drive

39 Speed Limit and its Relationship to the 85 th Percentile Speed

40 Speed Limit and its Relationship to the 85 th Percentile Speed The speed limit should be selected as a safe and reasonable operating speed, as reflected by the 85 th Percentile Speed

41 Speed Limit and its Relationship to the 85 th Percentile Speed On City of Frisco & Farmers Branch local streets, 20 mph speed limits do not show the compliance of Prima Facie streets and did not provide a significant speed reduction over those streets

42 City of Frisco - Scatter Plot of 85 th Percentile Speed vs Posted Speed on Local Streets (<35 ) th Percentile Speed Posted Speed

43 City of Frisco City Council Action on HB 87

44 Council Action September 20, 2005 Initiated by Frisco City Council after August Dallas Morning News article regarding Mesquite & Coppell

45 Council Action September 20, 2005 Staff Research Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Oceanside California (Pilot City listed in website) Prima Facie vs. HB 87 Other cities & states Technical Information

46 Council Action September 20, 2005 Items Included in Staff Report Prima Facie Speed Limit & HB 87 NCTCOG STTC information Technical Information $750,000 cost for signs Unknown cost to provide police enforcement Presentation by Engineering Dept Q & A by Engineering/Police

47 Council Action September 20, 2005 City Attorney asked Engineering & Police if current prima facie speed limit was unsafe or unreasonable. City Council did not approve 25 mph speed limit

48 Conclusions

49 Findings & Conclusions The majority of motorist do not travel at or below the posted speed along typical urban/suburban streets, unless the speed is considered reasonable

50 Findings & Conclusions Provision of roadway features, such as roadway alignment or width, may effectively reduce operating speeds

51 Findings & Conclusions Posted speeds should be based upon engineering study (85 th Percentile) Cities have the option to use HB 87 or the current Texas Transportation Code to establish speed limits