House Bill 87 25 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
Background
Prima Facie Speed Limit 545.352. 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
Prima Facie Speed Limit (b) Unless a special hazard exists that requires a slower speed for compliance with Section 545.351(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;
Prima Facie Speed Limit Varies state to state 20 mph to 35 mph typically
Prima Facie Speed Limits 25 mph 17 30 mph - 15 35 mph 6 Other/None - 9
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
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
Speed Limits There are widely held misconceptions that speed limit signs will slow the speed of traffic, reduce accidents, and increase safety.
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.
Level of Compliance Most states experience problems irrespective of the speed limit Drivers tend to drive the speed they are comfortable
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
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
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
A Tale of Two Cities
City of Frisco Woodstream Drive 20 mph speed limit adopted by Ordinance in the 1980 s 1400 ADT
Woodstream Drive
City of Frisco Rimrock Circle 20 mph speed limit adopted by Ordinance in the 2001 500 ADT Speed Studies conducted October 2001
Rimrock Circle
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
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
Veronica Road
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
Tanglewood Drive
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
Other Options?
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
Zipper Street
Zipper Street
On Street Parking
Roundabout
Subdivision Entrance
Horizontal Alignment
Pedestrian Activity & Median Use
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
Spurwood Drive
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
Spurwood Drive
Speed Limit and its Relationship to the 85 th Percentile Speed
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
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
City of Frisco - Scatter Plot of 85 th Percentile Speed vs Posted Speed on Local Streets (<35 ) 40.0 85th Percentile Speed 35.0 30.0 25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 0.0 15 20 25 30 35 Posted Speed
City of Frisco City Council Action on HB 87
Council Action September 20, 2005 Initiated by Frisco City Council after August Dallas Morning News article regarding Mesquite & Coppell
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
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
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
Conclusions
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
Findings & Conclusions Provision of roadway features, such as roadway alignment or width, may effectively reduce operating speeds
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