AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Consider approval of Ordinance 2023-46, on the first of two readings, reducing the speed limit from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour in the Oak Heights Neighborhood; authorizing the installation of signs and traffic control devices reflecting the new speed limits; directing that the traffic register maintained under Section 82.067 of the San Marcos City Code be amended to reflect the new speed limits; including procedural provisions; and providing an effective date.
Body
Meeting date: June 6, 2023 - 1st Reading
July 3, 2023 - 2nd Reading
Department: Department of Public Works - Sabas Avila, Director
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: $1,500
Account Number: 10006147.53230
Funds Available: $30156.46
Account Name: Traffic-Signs
Fiscal Note:
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Background Information:
Pursuant with Texas Transportation Code Sec. 545.356. (b-1), the governing body of a municipality, for a highway or a part of a highway in the municipality that is not an officially designated or marked highway or road of the state highway system, may declare a lower speed limit of not less than 25 miles per hour, if the governing body determines that the prima facie speed limit on the highway is unreasonable or unsafe.
The Public Works Department received a petition from residents of Oak Heights Neighborhood seeking to reduce the speed limit of Franklin Drive from 30 mph to 25 mph. In order to keep the speed limits within the neighborhood consistent, city staff conducted a mailing and online survey for the entire neighborhood speed limit reduction. The petition and the survey received 129 responses in total. Among these 129 responses, 106 support the speed reduction and 23 oppose.
Based on a speed study conducted during September 20 -29, 2022, the average eighty-fifth percentile speed on Franklin Drive is 22 mph south of Old RR 12 and 24 mph near Furman Avenue. Additional speed study was conducted during May 11 - 12, 2023, the average eighty-fifth percentile speed on Clyde Street is 28.5mph, the average eighty-fifth percentile speed on Girard Avenue is 24.9 mph. the average eighty-fifth percentile speed on Perkins Street is 31.3 mph.
The neighborhood is a single-family residential area, the street widths range from 22 feet to 36 feet. With on-street parking and pedestrian activities in the neighborhood, the 30 mph speed limit is considered unreasonable and unsafe.
City staff recommends reducing the speed limit within the neighborhood from 30 mph to 25 mph for the following street blocks:
100 block Archie Street from Craddock Avenue to Dolly Street;
100 -200 block Dolly Street from Archie Street to north end;
1400-1800 block Nevada Street from Craddock Avenue to Clyde Street;
1400-1700 block Hamilton Avenue from Craddock Avenue to Clyde Street;
1400 -1600 block of Girard Avenue from Craddock Avenue to Clyde Street;
1500 -1600 block of Furman Avenue from Craddock Avenue to Franklin Drive;
1500 block of Allen Street from Craddock Avenue to Franklin Drive;
600 - 1200 block of Clyde Street from North Bishop Street to Perkins Street;
500 - 1200 block Franklin Drive from North Bishop Street to Old Ranch Road 12;
600 - 1000 block Dale Drive from Stokes Street to Furman Avenue;
700 - 1000 block Indiana Drive from Craddock Avenue to east end.
600 block Larue Drive from Stokes Street to Perkins Street;
600 block Clyde Court from Perkins Street to south end;
700 - 800 block Oregon Street from Hamilton Avenue to east end;
1100 -1600 block Perkins Street from Larue Drive to Marlton Street.
1500 -1600 block Stokes Street from Larue Drive to Franklin Drive.
Pursuant with 82.067- The traffic engineer shall develop and maintain a traffic register containing a record of every location in the city where any traffic control device or special regulation is made applicable, whether by ordinance or by the traffic engineer's authority established under this chapter.
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Recommendation:
City staff recommends approval.