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8.1 1994 STO CITY OF SALINA REQUEST FOR COMMISSION ACTION DATE TIME o9/26/94 ~: oo P.M. AGENDA SECTION: Administration ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: APPROVED FOR NO. 8 City Manager AGENDA: ITEM NO. 1; 8.la; 8. lb; 8.1c ~ BY :Dennis M. Kissinger BY: Item 8.1 Ordinance Number 94-9656 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 38-1 OF THE SALINA CODE REGULATING TRAFFIC WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF SALINA, KANSAS; INCORPORATING BY REFERENCE THE "STANDARD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE FOR KANSAS CITIES," EDITION OF 1994; AND REPEALING THE EXISTING SECTION AND ORDINANCE NUMBER 5851. Background: The proposed ordinance adopts the 1994 Edition of Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas Cities, which conforms with state law, including recent state law changes and certain Salina-specific provisions. The City Attorney has provided a summary of the substantive changes from the 1993 STO. Recommended Action: Introduce Ordinance Number 94-9656 on first reading. Item 8. la MOTION DECLARING AN EMERGENCY TO HAVE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 94-9656 ON SAME DAY ENABLING TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION OF TRAFFIC SAFETY PROVISIONS. Recommended Action: Approve emergency declaration. Item 8. lb SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE No. 94-9656. COMMISSION ACTION MOTION BY SECOND BY TO: CITY OF SALINA REQUEST FOR COMMISS ION ACTION DATE TIME 09/26/94 4:00 P.t~. AGENDA SECT I ON: OR I G I NAT I NG DEPARTMENT: APPROV ED FOR NO. City Manager AGENDA: NO. IBy.-Dennis M. Kissinger BY: Ordinance Number 94-9656 Page 2 Recommended Action: Approval on second reading. Item 8.1c AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO POST CERTAIN MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS ON SPECIFIC PUBLIC STREETS WITHIN THE SALINA CITY LIMITS. Background: The City Commission has received a staff report and recommendations for speed limit changes at .numerous locations in Salina. The report is the culmination of a review process conducted by our Engineering Department with the assistance of the Police Department. Traffic engineering processes and standards were used as the foundation for the analysis, report and recommendations. The specific changes have also been reviewed by the city staff's Traffic Safety Team, led by Deputy City Manager Michael Morgan. Since the staff report was presented to the City Commission on September 12, there has been an opportunity for public comment. We estimate 25-30 phone calls. A sampling of those comments is attached. Staff assumes City Commissioners individually also received comments. Most comments received in the City Manager's Office involved Crawford Street. No new information has been provided and the staff recommendation remains the same. Action: Consider motion authorizing and directing the City Manager to post maximum speed limits on certain Salina public streets as follows: COMMISSION ACTION MOTION BY SECOND BY TO: CITY OF SALINA REQUEST FOR COMMISSION ACTION DATE T I ME 09/26/94 ~4: O0 P. ~1. NAT I NG DEPARTMENT: APlaROV ED FOR AGENDA SECT I ON: OR I G I City Manager NO. AGENDA: ITEM NO. iBy.?ennJs M. Kissinger BY: ~rdinance Number 94-9656 ?age 3 1. West State Street, Broadway to west city limits - 40 MPH 2. Iron Avenue, Marymount Road to Smoky Hill River channel bridge - 35 MPH 3. Country Club Road, east city limits to Eastborough - 35 MPH 4. Marymount Road, Crawford to Iron Avenue - 35 MPH 5. West Crawford Street, west city limits to Graves Building - 40 MPH 6. Crawford Street, Graves Building to Ohio Street - 35 MPH 7. Magnolia. Road, east city limits to Huntington -'40 MPH 8. Schilling Road, Centennial Road to Union Pacific tracks east of Ray Street - 35 MPH 9. Ash Street, Ninth Street so Smoky Hill River - 30 MPH 10. Iron Avenue, Ninth Street to 4th Street - 30 MPH 11. Santa Fe Avenue, between Ash and North Streets - 30 MPH 12. Santa Fe Avenue, between Mulberry and Prescott Streets - 30 MpH 13. Elm Street, Ninth Street to railroad tracks at 4th Street - 30 MPH 14. Magnolia Road, Ohio to Belmont - 30 MPH (remove school zone) 15. Kenwood Park Drive, between Center Street and the Oakdale Bridge - 30 MPH. Attachments COMMISSION ACTION MOTION BY SECOND BY TO: (Published in The Salina Journal September , 1994) ORDINANCE NUMBER 94-9656 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 38-1 OF THE SALINA CODE REGULATING TRAFFIC WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF SALINA, KANSAS; INCORPORATING BY REFERENCE THE "STANDARD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE FOR KANSAS CITIES," EDITION OF 1994; AND REPEALING THE EXISTING SECTION AND ORDINANCE NUMBER 5851. BE IT ORDAINED by the Governing Body of the City of Salina, Kansas: Section 1. That Section 38-1 of the Salina Code is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 38-1. Incorporating Standard Traffic Ordinance. (a) Incorporation by reference. There is hereby incorporated by reference for the purpose of regulating traffic within the corporate limits of the City of Saline, Kansas, that certain standard traffic ordinance known as the 'Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas Cities,' Edition of 1994, prepared and published in book form by the League of Kansas Municipalities, Topeka, Kansas, except as Sections 33 and 89 contained therein is modified as set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) below. No fewer than three (3) copies of the Standard Traffic Ordinance shall be marked or stamped 'Office Copy as Adopted by Ordinance Number 94-9656', with all sections or portions thereof intended to be omitted or changed clearly marked to show any such omission or change and to which shall be attached a copy of this ordinance, and filed with the City Clerk to be open to inspection and available to the public at all reasonable hours. (b) Amendment. Section 33 of the Standard Traffic Ordinance is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 33. Maximum speed limits. (a) Except when a special hazard exists that requires lower speed for compliance with Section 32, the limits specified in this section or established as hereinafter authorized shall be maximum lawful speeds, and no person shall drive a vehicle at a speed in excess of such maximum limits: (1) In any city park, fifteen (15) miles per hour, unless posted differently, in which case the maximum speed limit shall be the posted speed limit. ; (2) In any school zone, twenty (20) miles per hour; (3) In any non-arterial residential district, thirty (30) miles per hour; (4) In any alley, ten (10) miles per hour; (5) In all other locations, fifty-five (55) miles per hour, unless posted differently, in which case the maximum speed limit shall be the posted speed limit. The maximum speed limits established by or pursuant to this paragraph shall be of force and effect regardless of whether s~gns are posted giving notice thereof. (b) No person shall drive a school bus to or from school, or interschool functions or activities, at a speed greater than forty-five (45) miles per hour on any roadway having a dirt, sand or gravel surface, and in no event shall a school bus be driven to and from school, or functions or activities, in excess of fifty-five (55) miles per hour, notwithstanding any maximum speed limit in excess thereof. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to buses used for the transportation of students enrolled in community colleges or area vocational schools when such buses are transporting students to or from school functions or activities ." Section 2. That the existing Section 38-1 of the Salina Code and Ordinance Number 5851 are hereby repealed. Section 3. That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption and publication once in the official city newspaper. Introduced: September 26, 1994 Passed: September 26, 1994 [SEAL] Joseph A. Warner, Mayor ATTEST: Judy D. Long, City Clerk SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS INCLUDED IN 1994 EDITION OF TIlE STANDARD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE FOR KANSAS CITIES 1. Section 13 - Traffic-Control Signal Legend Changes from "when appropriate signs are posted" to "unless a sign is in place prohibiting a turn", a left turn on red is allowed from a one-way street to another one-way street (not applicable in Salina). 2. Section 27 - Duty to Report Accidents Subparagraph (c) is added: "(c) Whenever the driver of the vehicle is involved in an accident resulting in property damage in the amount of $500 or more and such driver believes the conduct of other individuals causing or involved in such accident would place such driver in imminent danger of bodily injury by such individuals, such driver shall be required to provide the notice required by subsections (a), as soon as the imminent danger has passed." 3. Section 30(b) - Ignition Interlock Devices; Tampering Subparagraph (a)(4) has been added to provide that no person shall operate a vehicle not equipped with an ignition interlock devices during the restricted period. 4. Section 62 - Highway Construction and Maintenance New subparagraph (a) is added: "(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to fail, neglect, or refuse to comply with restrictions or traffic regulations in a road construction zone or fail to comply with traffic orders or traffic directions by flagrnen in a road construction zone." 5. Section 103 - Using Headphones or Television Receivers in Vehicles An additional exception is included which allows electronic displays used in conjunction with Vehicle navigation systems. 6. Section 105 - Consumption of Alcoholic Liquor or Cereal Malt Beverage [Deleted] 7. Section 106 - Transportation of Alcoholic Beverage Incorporates changes in. state law providing for a one (1) year suspension on second or subsequent violations and elaborates on what constitutes a first, second, or subsequent conviction for purposes of sentencing. 8. Section 106(a) - Transportation of Cereal Malt Beverages This section is eliminated since the previous application of 106 to alcoholic liquor has been expanded by the amendments to apply to alcoholic beverages, which is defined to include cereal malt beverages. 9. Section 151 - Additional Equipment Required on Certain Vehicles The change addresses the requirement that trailers and semi-trailers, except boat trailers and house trailers for which special permits are required pursuant to K.S.A. 8-1911, and amendments thereto, for movement of such house trailers upon the highways of the state, require two reflectors on each side, one at or near the front, and one at or near the rear. 10. Section 178 - Restrictions as to Tire Equipment The amendment adds the following two exceptions to the prohibition against operating a vehicle with a single tire on any hubs configured for dual tire assembly: 1. Any vehicle or a combination of vehicles operating with wide base single tires on any hubs configured for dual tire assembly; and 2. Any single axle with hubs configured for dual tire assembly when such single axle does exceed 9,000 pounds and is part of a triple axle combination. CITIZEN COMMENTS "Already too fast. Near Sunset Plaza, its hard to get out and almost impossible to turn left. We need to add more stop signs as it is." "West Crawford-don't raise it with the great mix of traffic in this area. The people who go 20 and the people who go faster--he feels increasing the speed limit would only increase the problems." "She thinks the higher you put the speed Hmit, the faster they will go." "Concerned about corner of 10th and Crawford. When going south on 10th when you come to Crawford, its almost impossible to get onto Crawford without going practically in the middle of the street. She feels that with an increased speed limit, you wouldn't even be able to get onto Crawford from there." "Schilling Road from railroad tracks to Ohio should be increased to 40 or 50 MPH." "Could put 100 on streets and someone would do 150!" "Would like 30 MPH and 35 MPH clocked. See how little difference there really is. What's the hurry?" "Consider 12th and Crawford and Custer stop light so car/people can cross safely. Believes section between Central High and Broadway should remain 30 MPH. If no stop light, there should be a pedestrian crossing. Many in the King's neighborhood are older drivers. Some have grandchildren who cross Crawford to visit. What can be done?" Takes grandchildren (via Ohio/Magnolia) to South High. "Traffic is terrible there." Takes Jr. High students to Roosevelt-Lincoln west on Crawford past High School. "Students ignore the electric hand signal." Pleads for consistency. Thinks speed is OK as it is now. Doesn't think she can "watch out for children and hunt for speed limit signs at the same time." "Drives 4-5 times per week. Could raise to 35 MPH if we add left turn lanes down center. Ohio is too fast. Markley Road is marked at 40, could handle 50. Could have yellow flasher for evening function." "Would like it raised. Wide smooth new street that could handle speed." "Got speeding ticket on Schilling Road. Wants to know why it is 30 MPH?" "40 mile speed is way to go. Does use Crawford daily. Would also like controlled light at Crawford and Centenniai. Said city is doing a good job of being aware of citizen needs. Thanks!" "Keep at what it is." "Happy with 35 MPH." Citizen Comments Page 2 "Have to go in and out of property through alley at rental property. Would like to stay way it is." "When Ohio was 30 MPH, they went 40. Now 40, they drive 50. Entering/existing businesses would be a problem." "Would like a controlled light at corner of Crawford and Centennial. Can get signatures with same request if needed." "Renters on 10th and Crawford. Leave 30 MPH or lower to 25 MPH." "30 MPH is plenty fast. Too much speeding now." R;ltlar i.~ used Io collect speed data from random Realistic speed limits are of public importance for vehicles on a given roadway. Off peak hours are a variety of reasons: noJmally used in conducting a spot speed study witli the speed of approximalcly .SO free flowing I. They invite publiccompliancebyconforming vehicles in each direclion obtained. On iow to thc behavior of the majority. volume roads where it would be difficult to obtain a .~ample of IIX) vehicles, thc study may be 2. They givcaclearreminderofreasonableand lerminated slier a study period of one hour. prudent speedstonon-conformingviolators. · Vehicles are selected at random from thc frec flow of the Iraffic stream to avoid bias in the 3. They offer an effective enforcement tool to results. the police. EN¢;INEERIN(; JUDOMENT: 4. They tend tominimize thepublic antagonism 6 5 toward police enforcement which results from obviously unreasonable regulations. lhol)ubly one of Ihe most important factors in a speed study, but the one most difficuh to define, 5. They encourage drivers to Iravcl at the speed is engineering judgment. No matter how com- where the risk of accident involvement is the MINIMUM plele policies .',nd guidelines are, there will al- lowest. ways be speed studies with peculiarities requiring / 4 0 engineering judgmem. WHAT UNREALISTIC SPEED LIMITS DO: Sol,lclimcs, Iht decision to raise or lower a speed Unrealistic speed limits arc also of public impor- limil in a certain area may have to be based on the lance for the following reasons: · Ilalfic invesligalor's own personal judgment. In :,()mc remote areas, where there is insufficient I. They donot invite volunta~compliance, since Ira flit for a valid speed sample, traffic engineers they do not reflect the behaviorof the majority. may have to base their decision on thc impression ohlained from driving thc speed study area. 2. They make thc behavior of thc majority LIMIT hi Iht lin;il ;m;d)'sis, it is thc judgment of the / Iraffic engineer lhat determines which, if any, of 3. They maximize public antagonism toward 55 Ihe rations iii lhe speed sludy warrant a downward the police, since the police are enforcing a adjustment of Ihe 85th percentile speeds. "speed trap". Allot all variables are considered and a speed 4. They create a bad image for a community in limit is established, traffic should flow at a safe the eyes of tourists. and efficient level. 5. They increase the potential for accidents along a troadway. KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Bureau o! Traffic EngJneerlng Speed zoning is Ihe establishment of reasonable and COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS safe speed limits based on an engineering study. Research has shown that the 8$th percentile This summary tells what rcalislic speed limits will The public normally accepts the concepts noted speed is thespeed where accident involvement do, what they won't do, and how they are estab- is the lowest. lished, in thc previous section. However, the same public when emotionally aroused in a specific H,O. instance, will often reject these fundamentals and ~/11¥ SPEED LIM ITS? rely instead on more comfortable and widely held _*, ! misconceptions, such as: ,. Since most citizens can hc relied upon to behave in ~ *~ a reasonable manner as they go about their daily ~ ~ activities, many of our laws reflect observations of A. Reducing the speed limit will slow the speed the way reasonable people behave under most cir. of traffic. culnslances. LOW T T . - B. Reducing speed limits will decrease ~he number uoToms, s~,,~os Generally speaking, traffic law~: Ihat reflect the ofaccidentsand increase saf'ety. behavior of Ibc majority of moto:i~ are found Io be Reducing the speed limit below that which is successf~,l, while laws tha~ ar.Ntra!i~ v re~4rict the C. Raising the posted speed limit will cause an warranted can actually be delrimental Iosal'el.y. majorily of motorisls enco:'ra/;~ vi~lalions, lack increase in the speed of traffic. public support, and usually fail to bring about desir- ablechangesin driving behavior. Thisisespecially D. Any posted speed limit must be safer Ihan ItOWSPEEDLIMITS ARE ESTAIII,ISllEI): true of speed zoning. an unposted speed limit, reganlless of the traffic Kansas Statules. Section 8-1337 ~dlows the eslab- Speed zoning is based upon several fundamental and roadway conditions prevailing, lishment of speed limits on the State Highway concepts deeply rooted in our American system of System "upon Ihe basis of an engineering government and law: E. Drivers will always go 5 m.p.h, over the traffic investigalion." posted speed limit. A. Driving beha¥ior is an extension of social Speed zoning in Kansas is based on the widely attitude, and the majority of drivers respond accepted principle of setting speed limils as ne~r in a safe and reasonable manner as demon- Contrary Io popular belief, speed in itself is not a as practicable to the speed at or below which 85 strated by their consistently favorable major cause of accidents. In fact, accidents percent ofthe drivers are traveling. Accordinglo driving records, appear ~o depend less on absolute speed and more a Federal ! lighway Administration sludy, all slates B. 'il~e normally careful and competent actions on ti~e variation of speeds in the traffic stream, and most local agencies use the 85th percentile of a reasonable person should be considered speed of free flowing traffic as thc basic fact~r legal. INTENT OF SPEED ZONING establishing speed limits. This speed is subject to revision has~:d upo, such C. Laws are established for the protection of the ]'he basic talent of speed zoning is to identify u factors as: accident experience, r~adw:~y gcomel public and Ihe regulation of unreasonable safe and reasonable limit foragiven road seclion, rics,patking,pedestrians.cnrvcs, adj:~c'entdc¥cl bcha~'i~r ~n the pan of individuals. 'l'he most widely accepted method is to set Ihe opment, and engineeri,gjudgmem. This pr:~clic'c limi! at Ihe speed which 85 percent of lhe traffic is in accordance with the Manual ~m Uuif~rm D. l-a~vscannot t~cffectively enforcedwilhout i~' ~oving at or below. This reflects the safe speed Ihe consent and ¥olunlary compliance of Ihe Traffic Coulrol Dcvicc~ which b:~,~ h~,~.,, I~hlic majority. ;~s determined by a large majority of the drivers, by the Slate of Kay,sas. Road Features Road features can be a large factor in de- termining the appropriate speed for a stretch of roadway. Lower speed limits can be used as a SPEED safety measure on roads with frequent sharp curves, extensive sight obstructions, poor sur- tn ~ ffi 0 ~'~ face conditions, steep downgrades, school and ~ 1 destrianc°nstructi°ntraffic.Z°nes' and a large number of pe- ~. o.~ ~-::IO~'~ ~ ~,~ -.~_'~ ~ How Are ? ~ s' They Set? Who Can Establish ~ .~ o · Speed-' "~' g.o~ Limits. "m a State traffic laws regulating vehicle speeds ~ ~ are applicable to all streets within a city unless m ~ city ordinances have been passed which set specified speed limits for all or some areas of the city. A speed limit should always be estab- lished by conducting a spot speed study and/or be the result of an engineering study. The City continually evaluates speed limits and traffic conditions to ensure a safe traffic environment. Other Traffic Information brochures available: Avoiding Parking Tickets Children at Play How Speed Limits Are Set Left-Turn Traffic Signals Pedestrian Signals Traffic Safety Tips Traffic Signal Systems Traffic Signals If you have questions, requests or suggestions concerning traffic, please call the Engineering ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT Department at 826-7290. CITY OF SALINA Speed Zones ship between posted speed limits and accident frequency or severity of accidents. frequency, though accident history is taken into Traffic flo~4ng at a uniform speed results account. Some accidents are speed-related, in increased safety and fewer accidents. Driv- Speed limits are among the most important many are not ers are less impatient, pass less often, and tail- tools one can use to create and maintain a safe gate less, which reduces both head-on and rear- traffic environment. But, as in all regulatory Speed Laws end collisions. Procedures, the limits imposed must be reason- able and appropriate to the situation. Most driv- All fifty states base their speed regulations The posting of the appropriate speed limit ers tend to regulate their own speed according on the Basic Speed Law: simplifies the job ofenforcemem officers, since to traffic, road and weather conditions. Speed most of the traffic is voluntarily moving at the limits are often taken for granted and until a No person shall drive a vehicle...at a posted speed. Blatant speeders are easily spot- problem arises, most people pay little attention speed greater than is reasonable or ted, safe drivers are not penalized, and patrol to the theory behind them. The following infor- prudent...and in no event at a speed officers aren't asked to enforce unrealistic and marion will help you understand how speed lira- which endangers the safeO, of persons arbitrary speed limits. its are established, and what they can and can- or property. not do. Under Kansas law, the maximum speed Other Factors To Take limit in urban areas is 55 MPH. Ali other speed Into Consideration limits are called prima facie limits, which are considered by law to be safe and prudent under normal conditions. Certain prima facie limits The 85th percentile speed is the first con- are established by State law, but are subject to sideration traffic engineers should use in estab- home rule modification. These include the 30 lishing speed zones, but other factors should also be considered. MPH speed limit in residential districts and 20 MPH speed limits in the downtown business Sp district and school zones when children are Accident Experience eed Limit p s nt.Alley and park speed limits are 15 Accident experience should always be taken Misco n c ep tip ns ,PH. into consideration when establishing speed lim- its. A high frequency of accidents may indicate Speed limits between 30 and 55 MPH are the need to re-evaluate the speed limit on a cer- When traffic problems occur, concerned established on the basis of traffic engineering tain road. Kno~4ng the ts. pe and frequency of citizens frequently ask why we don't lower the surveys. These surveys include an analysis of accident occurrence at a given location is use- speed limit. There are widely held misconcep- roadway conditions, accident records and a sam- ful for determining the adequacy of speed limits tions that speed limit signs will automatically piing of the prevailing speed of traffic. A safe and whether other factors may be contributing slow the speed of traffic, reduce accidents and and reasonable limit is set at or below the speed to a traffic problem. increase safety. Most drivers drive at a speed at which 85 percent of the drivers drive. This that they consider to be comfortable, regardless is known as the "85th percemile speed." The Traffic Volume of the posted speed limit. "Before and after" experience of traffic engineers has been that The higher the volume of traffic, the more studies have shown that there are no significant posting higher or lower speed limits does not important it is that most vehicles maintain about changes in average vehicle speeds following the significantly change the 85th percentile speed, the same speed. This will help to minimize the posting of new or revised speed limits. Fur- number of passing maneuvers and reduce rear- Moreover, raising a speed limit to the 85th per- thermore, research has found no direct relation- centile should not result in an increase in the end type collisions.