HomeMy WebLinkAbout88-063RESOLUTION NO. ~[-d'''v
A RESOLUTION requesting cooperation of the
Washington State Department of Transportation
in reduction of the speed limit of State
Route 20 within the City of Port Townsend.
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
the Port Townsend City Council requested and authorized
the Port Townsend Gateway Project to develop a plan for
the future development of the SR20-Sims Way Corridor
from the Washington State Ferry Terminal to the western
corporate limits of the city; and
the Mayor appointed the Gateway Steering Committee of
Port Townsend Citizens to plan and organize an
intensive community workshop called a "Charrette" to
develop and recommend a plan which defines a consensus
vision for the Sims Way Corridor Area; and
the Gateway Steering Committee adopted a goal
statement, identified key issues, assembled background
information, and organized a cross-section of Port
Townsend citizens into a Charrette core group of
thirty-three members and a support group of ten expert
assistants to meet, deliberate and recommend a plan for
the area; and
the Washington State Department of Transportation
participated in the project and was represented at the
Charrette workshop by Bob George, then State Aid
Engineer; and
all citizens of Port Townsend were invited to attend
and participate through an extensive public information
campaign; and
approximately 150 citizens attended a "Town Hall"
Meeting on April 20, 1988, to receive a presentation on
the project and express their views and ideas for the
future of the Sims Way area; and
the Charrette Core Group (and those others who joined
the deliberations) met throughout April 21 and 22,
1988, and adopted a plan for the Sims Way Corridor Area
with accompanying graphic, policy and implementation
statements; and
the highest priority selected for immediate
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WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
implementation is the reduction of the speed limit on
SR20 to 30 MPH from the Hilltop Tavern (approximately
Mile Post 10.1§) into downtown Port Townsend; and
the recommendations of the Port Townsend Gateway
Project were considered at a public hearing before the
CitY Council on May 11, 1988; and
the City Council has by Resolution 88-34 adopted said
recommendations in concept as official policy of the
City of Port Townsend; and
Department of Transportation staff have conducted speed
studies of the SR20 area within the City; have on
September 2, 1988, discussed their findings with the
Mayor and Police Chief of the City of Port Townsend;
and have agreed to recommend reduction of the speed
limit to 30 HPH to the Washington State Traffic
Operations Engineer; and
the Mayor and City Council, in the interest of public
safety, consider reduction of the speed limit on SR20
to be of the highest priority; Now, Therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend
that the cooperation of the Washington State Department of
Transportation is requested in reducing the speed limit of State
Route 20 to thirty miles per hour from approximately Mile Post
10.15 to the current thirty mile per hour limit commencing at
approximately Mile Post 11.65; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in making this request the City
Council concurs with the recommendations of Department of
Transportation staff with respect to increasing enforcement of
speed limits on SR20 and will so authorize and direct; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council makes the following
findings in support of this request:
Accident statistics and citizen testimony document
increasing public hazards to motorists and pedestrians on
SR20.
Hazardous intersections at McPherson and Sheridan Streets
will soon require traffic signals if speeds cannot be
redUced on the roadway.
The lack of controlled pedestrian crossings presents a
hazard to shoppers and an obstacle to commerce which may be
mitigated by reduced speeds.
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Enforcement of the current posted speed limits is hampered
by motorist confusion caused by the occurence of two speed
limit changes within less than two miles of the city limits.
Speed studies conducted by the Washington State Department
of Transportation demonstrate that most motorists respect
posted speeds within five miles per hour and that the 8§th
percentile exceeds §BPH over limit only where posted limits
are chan~ed alon~ the roadway.
Accordingly, enforcement of a consistent 30 MPH limit may be
expected to achieve typical traffic flows of approximately
35 MPH, and such a policy would be reasonable and
significant in achieving the City's public safety goals.
Several new commercial developments along the SR20 corridor
are in permit processing, including a large-floor-area
retail center, a 34-unit motel, a 63-unit motel, and a
branch bank. Safer traffic ingress and egress from SR20 are
considerations in these and other future developments in
Port Townsend. Reduced traffic speeds is also important in
achieving compliance with the size restrictions of the Port
Townsend sign regulations, thereby reducing sign clutter
which may otherwise occur to the distraction of motorists.
The proposed speed limit reduction will increase the
motorist travel time to the Washington State Ferry Terminal
by approximately forty-five seconds.
Passed by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend and
approved by the Mayor this ~ ~ day of ~7~~ , 1988.
Brent Shirley,
David A. Grove, City Clerk
p ov as to form:
Keith C. Harper, City Attorney
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