Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Department of Public Works

TO:	Charles Soules, Director of Public Works
FROM:	David Woosley, Transportation/Traffic Engineer
CC:	Shoeb Uddin, City Engineer
Date:	4 June 2008
RE:	May 5, 2008 Traffic Safety Commission Item #6 Crescent Road Speed Limit

Background:

On May 5, 2008, the Traffic Safety Commission heard a request to establish a 20MPH SPEED LIMIT on Crescent Road between Engel Road and Naismith Drive.

State law establishes a 30mph speed limit on all residential streets throughout the state; however, the city of Lawrence generally does not post speed limit signs in these areas due to the number of block of residential streets. State law does permit cities to reduce the speed limit, but requires that it be based on a traffic study (85^th percentile speed). A speed study conducted 23-24 April 2008 found the 85^th percentile speed to be 30mph between Engel & Spencer and 35mph between Spencer & Naismith.

Six members of the public, including the Allan Miller, the President of the University Heights Neighborhood Association, spoke in favor of the request. They noted that there are a lot of pedestrians in the area and there are not continuous sidewalks along the street. Police Department records do not show any pedestrian crashes in this area during the past three years (2005-2007).

The city has reduced the speed limit in other residential areas below the speed limit established by state law such as Ohio Street between 19^th Street & 23^rd Street and Oak Hill Avenue between 13^th Street & Elmwood Avenue; however, studies have shown that the speed of the traffic did not change after posting the lower limit.

The TSC voted 5-3 to recommend approval of the request.