Title
An Ordinance amending Chapter 29, Traffic and Motor Vehicles, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri, by amending Appendix A, Schedule of Speed Limits, for certain streets and segments of streets located in the City of Lee's Summit. (PWC 12/13/21)
Body
Issue/Request:
An Ordinance amending Chapter 29, Traffic and Motor Vehicles, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri, by amending Appendix A, Schedule of Speed Limits, for certain streets and segments of streets located in the City of Lee's Summit.
Key Issues:
This revision to Appendix A, Schedule of Speed Limits, is proposed based upon a speed studies and engineering assessment of the roadway typology, classification, context and surrounding development along Fairway Homes Drive, Channel Drive, and Lake Drive conducted by City staff. Study results and consistency with similar neighborhood collectors support an engineering recommendation to lower the existing speed limit of 35 MPH to 30 MPH. Staff did not feel a reduction to 25 MPH was appropriate or in the best interest of public safety based on sound engineering principals.
Proposed Committee Motion:
I move to recommend to the City Council approval of an Ordinance amending Chapter 29, Traffic and Motor Vehicles, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri, by amending Appendix A, Schedule of Speed Limits, for certain streets and segments of streets located in the City of Lee's Summit.
Proposed City Council Motion:
FIRST MOTION: I move for a second reading of an Ordinance amending Chapter 29, Traffic and Motor Vehicles, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri, by amending Appendix A, Schedule of Speed Limits, for certain streets and segments of streets located in the City of Lee's Summit.
SECOND MOTION: I move for adoption of an Ordinance amending Chapter 29, Traffic and Motor Vehicles, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri, by amending Appendix A, Schedule of Speed Limits, for certain streets and segments of streets located in the City of Lee's Summit.
Background:
Channel Drive and Lake Drive
These changes to Appendix A, Schedule of Speed Limits, were proposed to create consistency across the City and street class for similar conditions supported by speed data and engineering practice. Channel Drive and Lake Drive are classified as Residential Collectors and currently have a speed limit of 35 MPH. All other Residential Collectors in the City currently have a speed limit of 30 MPH or 25 MPH. Additionally, Dick Howser Drive and Lakewood Boulevard, which intersect Channel Drive and Lake Drive respectively, and complete the circle around Lakewood Lake, also have speed limits of 30 MPH. A speed study was performed and found that current speeds are within a reasonable range to lower the speed limits to 30 MPH.
Fairway Homes Drive
This change to Appendix A, Schedule of Speed Limits, is proposed based upon a speed study initially requested by residents living along Fairway Homes Drive and conducted by City staff. This section of roadway south of La Costa Street to Dick Houser Drive is currently 35 MPH. Residents requested that the speed limit be reduced to 25 MPH considering the connecting roadways on either end of this segment of Fairway Homes Drive both have lower speed limits. Fairway Homes Drive north of La Costa Street to Lakewood Blvd (e.g. to the north) has a speed limit of 25 MPH and Dick Houser Drive to the south has a speed limit of 30 MPH. The speed limits on these other sections were previously lowered from 35 MPH due to roadway design and sight distance constraints. Study results on Fairway Homes Drive support a speed limit reduction to 30 MPH, but a reduction to 25 MPH was not appropriate or deemed in the best interest of public safety by the engineer.
Impact/Analysis:
This amendment would reduce the posted speed limit, thereby posing a greater risk of speed violation and more frequent speed violations based on data collected and expectations that behaviors are typically not impacted by signs. A police presence may be periodically needed to enforce the new speed limit. Reducing the speed limit would create more consistency in residential collector speed limits throughout the City and better match driver/resident expectations within neighborhood settings. The lower speed limit also creates opportunity for these corridors to be evaluated for traffic calming, i.e. the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program, if enforcement of the new limit does not adequately deter speeding.
Timeline:
Not Applicable
Presenter
Michael Park, Director of Public Works
Recommendation
Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of an Ordinance amending Chapter 29, Traffic and Motor Vehicles, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri, by amending Appendix A, Schedule of Speed Limits, for certain streets and segments of streets located in the City of Lee's Summit.
Committee Recommendation
Committee Recommendation:
The Public Works Committee voted unanimously 4-0 to recommend to City Council approval of an Ordinance amending Chapter 29, Traffic and Motor Vehicles, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri, by amending Appendix A, Schedule of Speed Limits, for certain streets and segments of streets located in the City of Lee's Summit.