Title
Approval of Ordinance to Reduce the Speed Limit from 35 MPH to 25 MPH on Capital Boulevard from Olympia City Limits South of Carlyon Avenue North to the I-5 Overpass
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve an ordinance on second reading to reduce the speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph on Capital Boulevard from Olympia city limits south of Carlyon Avenue, north to the I-5 overpass.
Report
Issue:
Whether the City Council should approve an ordinance to reduce the speed limit on Capitol Boulevard from 35 mph to 25 mph. A Public Hearing is scheduled to receive public comment.
Staff Contact:
David Smith, Transportation Project Engineering, Public Works Department, 360.753.8496
Presenter(s):
David Smith, Transportation Project Engineering, Public Works Department
Background and Analysis:
Background and analysis have not changed from first to second reading.
Capitol Boulevard is classified as an arterial street and the average daily traffic volume is approximately 11,000 vehicles. The speed limit is 35 mph from Olympia’s city limits south of Carlyon Avenue north to the I-5 over pass and then lowers to 25 mph
Staff recommends reducing the speed limit for the following safety reasons:
• The physical features of the street alignment, presence of residential driveways and people biking and walking.
• Increased activity at the Wildwood Building, near O’Farrell Avenue. More people are biking and walking coupled with additional vehicles turning in and out of the complex.
• Drivers negotiating the curve south of O’Farrell Avenue may be distracted and not paying attention to pedestrians crossing at O’Farrell Avenue.
A consistent speed limit of 25 mph through the entire Capitol Way and Capitol Boulevard corridor will give drivers greater ability to respond to the actions of all other uses.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
During the past few years, staff has received concerns from citizens regarding the safety of people walking when using the pedestrian crossing island at Capitol Boulevard and O’Farrell Avenue. Most of the concerns are related to vehicle speeds and drivers not stopping for pedestrians. People are requesting that the City lower the speed limit on Capitol Boulevard from the south City limits at Carlyon Avenue north to the I-5 over pass.
Options:
1. Approve the ordinance on second reading to reduce the speed limit to 25 mph.
This will provide a consistent speed limit within the City of Olympia on Capitol Way/Boulevard and improve safety.
2. Revise the ordinance on second reading to reduce the speed limit to 30 mph.
Drivers will have a graduated speed transition from 35 mph in the City of Tumwater to 25 mph in the City of Olympia on Capitol Way.
3. Do not approve the ordinance and maintain the existing 35 mph speed limit on Capitol Boulevard, from the south City limits at Carlyon Avenue north to the I-5 overpass.
Maintains the same speed limit with the City of Tumwater on Capitol Boulevard.
Financial Impact:
The budget impact to remove and replace speed limit signs and temporary traffic revision warning signs is $750.
Attachment(s):
1. Ordinance
2. Summary of Engineering and Traffic Investigation for Change in Speed Limit