DATE: August 27, 2015
TO: Board of Mayor and Aldermen
FROM: Eric Stuckey, City Administrator
David Parker, City Engineer/CIP Executive
Joe York, Director of Streets
Paul Holzen, Director of Engineering
Jonathan Marston, Staff Engineer 3
SUBJECT:
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Consideration of Ordinance 2015-44, An Ordinance to Set New Speed Limits on Carothers Parkway, South Carothers Road, and Connector Road Upon Completion of the Carothers Parkway South Extension Construction Projection (08/27/15 CIC 3-0; 9/8/15 BOMA 1st Reading 7-0); SECOND AND FINAL READING
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Purpose
The purpose of this memo is to provide information to the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) concerning Ordinance 2015-44, which will set new speed limits on Carothers Parkway, South Carothers Road, and Connector Road upon completion of the Carothers Parkway South Extension construction project.
Background
On June 11, 2013, the BOMA approved Resolution 2013-37, which awarded the construction contract (COF Contract 2013-0048) for the Carothers Parkway South Extension Project, from Falcon Creek subdivision to Truman Road West, in the Highlands at Ladd Park subdivision. Subsequently, on September 9, 2014, the BOMA approved Change Order No. 2 to the construction contract, which extended the southern limits of the project to Long Lane.
Prior to the start of construction, the existing speed limits on Carothers Parkway and South Carothers Road were:
• Carothers Parkway
o 30 MPH - from 90 degree curve at Falcon Creek subdivision to Upland Drive
o 35 MPH - from Upland Drive to Murfreesboro Road (SR-96)
o 40 MPH - from Murfreesboro Road (SR-96) to Brentwood City Limits
• South Carothers Road
o 40 MPH - from Arno Road (Williamson County) to Franklin City Limits
o 35 MPH - from Franklin City Limits to 800 feet southeast of Falcon Creek Drive
o 30 MPH - from 800 feet southeast of Falcon Creek Drive to 90 degree curve at Falcon Creek subdivision
On April 22, 2014, the BOMA approved Ordinance 2014-05, which temporary lowered the speed limits to 20 MPH on the following sections of Carothers Parkway and South Carothers Road:
• Carothers Parkway
o 90 degree curve at Falcon Creek subdivision to Upland Drive
• South Carothers Road
o City Limits to Corbert Lane, and
o Falcon Creek Drive to 90 degree curve at Falcon Creek subdivision
With the opening date of the Carothers Parkway South Extension project closing in, the contractor will soon begin installing final signage, including speed limit signs. The Carothers Parkway mainline was designed to be posted at 40 MPH, which matches other sections of Carothers Parkway further north. The existing section of Carothers Parkway, from Upland Drive to Murfreesboro Road (SR-96) is posted at 35 MPH. Upon opening of Carothers Parkway, traffic should reduce on the bypassed portion of South Carothers Road. Also, South Carothers Road is a narrow, 2-lane facility with no shoulders and sharp curves. Therefore, staff recommends the following changes to area speed limits:
• Carothers Parkway
o 40 MPH - from Long Lane to Murfreesboro Road (SR-96); this will create a consistent speed limit along the entire stretch of Carothers Parkway that is located within the City of Franklin.
• South Carothers Road
o 35 MPH - from Franklin City Limits to Connector Road; the speed limit for this section of South Carothers Road would remain unchanged.
o 30 MPH - from Connector Road to Carothers Parkway; this section of South Carothers Road has no shoulders and sharp curves.
• Connector Road
o 35 MPH - from South Carothers Road to Carothers Parkway; the new, short stretch of roadway provides a connection from South Carothers Road to Carothers Parkway.
Financial Impact
The contractor, utilizing items within the existing construction contract (COF 2013-0048), will fabricate and install the necessary speed limit signs along recently completed portions of Carothers Parkway, Connector Road, and the existing, bypassed section of South Carothers Road. The City’s Streets Department would be responsible for signage changes north of Upland Drive
Recommendation
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Staff recommends approval of Ordinance 2015-44 to set new speed limits on Carothers Parkway, South Carothers Road, and Connector Road.