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~t~ASE # I REVIEW OF PLANS FOR SPEED LIMITS ON SUNWOOD DRIVE By: Steve Jankowski, City Engineer Background: Within the last month two new segments of Sunwood Drive, a collector roadway, have been opened to traffic. Both of these roadway segments have been constructed with 40 foot pavements which will allow adequate width for two traffic lanes and two parking lanes. The westernmost 900 feet of the eastern segment of Sunwood Drive has a narrower pavement, however, parking is restricted over that segment. Both roadways have alignments designed for 40 mph except for the curve on the south end of Sunfish Lake which may require a 35 mph advisory sign. At the present time, Sunwood West is unposted for speed, and Sunwood East has 30 mph speed limit signs posted on its eastern end which were placed when the portion of Sunwood Drive was constructed in conjunction with the Wood Pond Hills subdivision. At that time Sunwood Drive functioned as a residential street. At this time, the city should determine the appropriate speed limit posting for both these segments of new roadway. Under state law the City could post the easternmost segment of Sunwood East through (the Chestnut Ridge) developments at 30 mph and the remaining section of Sunwood Drive at 55 mph. To be legally enforceable any other limits could only be posted after an engineering and traffic study followed by an order from the Commission of Transportation. Obviously, 55 mph is too high of a speed for these roadways and a resolution requesting a speed study by the Commission should be passed. In passing this order, however, the issue of whether the segment of Sunwood East through the Wood Pond Hills and Chestnut Ridge subdivision should be included. It is quite predictable that most neighboring residents will want the lower 30 mph limit. However, it also seems apparent that the majority of the traffic on this road will travel faster than this causing requests for police enforcement. Recommendation: It is Staff's recommendation that a resolution be passed requesting a speed study be done to get speed limits on the both new segments of Sunwood Drive including the portion from C.S.A.H. 5 through the Chestnut Ridge developments. Minnesota's speed regulations are based on the Basic Speed Law which recognizes that most drivers use basic common sense and drive at a safe and reasonable speed for existing conditions. To effectively enforce a law, the public must believe that the it reasonable. Action: Motion to adopt Resolution g96-11-XXX petitioning the Commission of Transportation to perform an engineering investigation for the purpose of determining appropriate speed limits on Sunwood Drive. Reviewed by: City Engineer City Administrator Police Chief Public Works Supervisor City Attomey R & B: 11-12-96 /dkm