DATE: September 24, 2019
TO: Board of Mayor and Aldermen
FROM: Eric Stuckey, City Administrator
Paul Holzen, City Engineer/Director of Engineering
Jonathan Marston, Assistant Director of Engineering
Adam Moser, Traffic Engineer 3
SUBJECT:
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Consideration of Ordinance 2019-42: An Ordinance to Reduce the Speed Limit on Natchez Street, from West Main Street to 9th Avenue South, to Twenty-Five Miles Per Hour (25 MPH). (WS 10/8/19; BOMA 11/12/19, 8-0) SECOND AND FINAL READING
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Purpose
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information to the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) concerning Ordinance 2019-42.
Background
In May 2019, the Engineering Department was asked to evaluate the current speed limit on Natchez Street between West Main Street and 9th Avenue South. Speed data was collected in June 2019 and revealed an 85th percentile speed of 31 miles per hour (MPH), which is in-line with the current posted speed limit of 30 MPH.
However, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidelines for setting speed limits allow a reduction of up to 10 MPH to account for additional factors such as: roadway width, crash history, driveway density, pedestrian activity, etc. Natchez Street has sidewalks that directly abut the curbed roadway with a fair amount of pedestrian activity. Between this condition and the number of driveways (i.e. driveway density), a 25 MPH speed limit should be considered for Natchez Street. In contrast, West Main street has a posted speed limit of 30 MPH, but has shoulders/on-street parking and grass buffer between the sidewalk and roadway.
Financial Impact
The cost associated with the implementation of this ordinance is minimal and includes materials (i.e. signs) and staff labor for installation.
Recommendation
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Staff recommends approval of Ordinance 2019-42.