30JAN2008

Tell Us What You Think About 25 MPH

The City of Springfield wants to receive input and answer questions concerning a proposal to lower the speed limit on local residential streets throughout the city to 25 mph. A pilot project in the Rountree neighborhood has proven successful and now City traffic engineers, with the backing of several neighborhood associations, is hoping to lower the limit on all residential streets within neighborhoods this year.

The City Council will likely consider this change in February. Here are some frequently-asked questions about the issue.

Why is the change in Speed Limit being requested?

The speed limit on streets in the Rountree Neighborhood was changed on Nov. 3, 2005 to 25 mph as a pilot project. Average speeds and top speeds have been reduced there by 3-5 mph, which was achieved almost immediately. The reduction has been sustained since then without any additional enforcement. Similar results would be expected in other city neighborhoods with a reduction in the local street speed limit. As an unexpected benefit, neighborhood streets changed to the 25 mph speed limit experienced a 3 to 4 percent reduction in traffic volume.

Rountree residents say they are pleased with the change. Several other neighborhood associations have identified speeding as a problem. Fourteen of 17 current neighborhood plans or assessments mention speeding, and of those 14, half list it as a high-priority problem.

Reduction of the speed limit to 25 mph on local streets is the first step in a traffic-calming program to manage neighborhood traffic speed. This is a single step that can benefit neighborhoods across the city. Physical traffic-calming devices such as speed bumps are designed for 25 mph or less and these devices are inappropriate on streets with higher speed limits. Lowering the limit is also much more cost-effective than these devices. The entire program will cost about the same as installing 20 speed bumps.

What is the cost and the schedule?

The City currently has about $100,000 in funding through the ¼-cent sales tax for capital improvements for its normal 10-year replacement cycle for speed-limit signs. The replacement program is being delayed until City Council makes a decision on the 25 mph proposal. So, it will not require any additional funding beyond the scheduled sign replacement cost to implement this program. It is anticipated that it would take about six months to complete the change-out process.

The new signs will be much more visible as well, with orange borders the words “Kid Friendly” on each one.

Is greater enforcement required?

The goal of the program is to encourage motorists to slow down in neighborhoods. The program is designed to encourage voluntary compliance without additional enforcement. Speeding enforcement will always be targeted at areas with higher speeds.

If approved, how would the speed limit change be implemented?

The following steps would be taken:

• Informational meetings would be held, if desired, with each neighborhood to explain the program and/or have an official kick-off for it.
• There would be an introduction to the Pace Car Program, which involves residents voluntarily signing a pledge to drive the speed limit in their neighborhood and all city neighborhoods. Residents have more power than they realize to slow the pace of traffic on their own streets.
• Signs incorporating safety messages along with the speed limit on the sign face would be installed in each neighborhood before moving on to the next neighborhood.

How would streets be selected for the change to 25 mph?

The Ozarks Transportation Organization (OTO), which is our metropolitan planning group, has adopted a Major Thoroughfare Plan, which shows the functional classification of streets in the city. All streets classified as “Local” streets would be changed to 25 mph except as otherwise approved by City Council. Streets classified as “Collectors” that are less than 34 feet wide with only residential development also would be signed with the 25 mph speed limit.

You can view a map of selected streets online now.

What if this change does not alleviate the current speeding problem?

Other cost-effective traffic calming measures may be considered if there is a documented speeding problem that exists following installation of the lower speed limit signs (contingent on neighborhood support and funding availability). Lowering the speed limit is the first step before considering other options.

posted by Mike Brothers, Public Information

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