House Bill 87 – 25 mph Speed
Voluntary Technical Workshop
th
85
HB 87 vs
Percentile Speed
Cissy Sylo, P.E.
Director of Engineering Services
City of Frisco
January 20, 2006
Background
Prima Facie Speed Limit
„
Ҥ 545.352. PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMITS.
– (a) A speed in excess of the limits established
by Subsection (b) or under another provision of
this subchapter is prima facie evidence that the
speed is not reasonable and prudent and that
the speed is unlawful.
– Text of subsec. (b) as amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 663, § 2
and Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 739, § 1
Prima Facie Speed Limit
„
(b) Unless a special hazard exists that
requires a slower speed for compliance with
Section 545.351(b), the following speeds
are lawful:
(1) 30 miles per hour in an urban district on a
street other than an alley and 15 miles per
hour in an alley;”
Prima Facie Speed Limit
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Varies state to state
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20 mph to 35 mph typically
Prima Facie Speed Limits
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25 mph – 17
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30 mph - 15
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35 mph – 6
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Other/None - 9
HB 87
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The speed limit must be declared by the
governing body
The street must be less than 35 feet in width
Vehicular parking is not prohibited on one or both
sides of the road
Can not be used on a road that has four (4) or
more lanes of travel
The new speed limit is effective when the
governing body erects signs giving notice of the
new limit and at all times or at other times as
determined.
The governing body must determine that the
prima facie speed limit is unreasonable or unsafe
HB 87
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Most residential collector streets not eligible
due to width
– Most common speeding complaint
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Streets with parking restrictions not allowed
to be reduced
– Parks, Schools, Visibility Obstructions, HOA
Parking Restrictions
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City must determine that the prima
facie speed limit is unreasonable or
unsafe
Speed Limits
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There are widely held misconceptions
that speed limit signs will slow the
speed of traffic, reduce accidents, and
increase safety.
Speed Limits
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'Before and after' studies have shown that
there are no significant changes in vehicle
speeds or accidents following the posting of
new or revised speed limits.
Level of Compliance
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Most states experience problems
irrespective of the speed limit
Drivers tend to drive the speed they
are comfortable
Lack of Compliance
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“In 2001, police issues nearly 300 citations for speeding on
the roadways for speeds averaging 38 mph – 13 mph over
the posted speed limit.” NORTH CAROLINA
“ In May, I borrowed a friends JUGS speed gun and in a one
hour time span I recorded the speeds of 33 vehicles going
north and south on my street. Of the 33, 26 were going
over the residential speed limit of 25 mph, with a high
speed of 49 mph. The 7 other vehicles were at or below the
legal speed limit. I have often wondered what it will take to
slow these vehicles down, North Precinct has been contacted,
but as usual I get the we don't have the man-power to police
the neighborhood at the present time other than an
occasional drive thru.“ OREGON
Lack of Compliance
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“In a community pilot program in Oceanside, CA., posting
signs resulted in a 16 percent decrease in the average driver's
speed. By comparison, a national traffic engineers' survey
found that frequent stop signs resulted in a 19 percent
decrease in speed and speed bumps a 23 percent decrease.”
“Speeding on residential streets is a concern to San Jose
citizens. To impede motorists from exceeding the allowed
speed of 25 miles per hour, neighborhoods have requested
deterrents (such as more stop signs) or physical barriers (such
as speed bumps) “ CALIFORNIA
Lack of Compliance
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“Foley said she's heard from residents that speeding on residential
streets is a widespread problem”… "We need to create obstacles to
speed." CALIFORNIA
“I think this should be a team effort .... I would really like to see
more of a push from your end towards messaging that 5mph-over
the limit is unacceptable in residential areas especially in active
school zones. This is why I disregard the so-called "engineering
studies". I'd like to ask one of these engineers if they've ever had the
hair on the back of their neck go up when someone going 35 mph
hits the brakes hard because a soccer ball rolled down someone's
driveway and into the street ... in front of their house. I'm sorry, but
35 miles-per-hour is just too fast for any residential street. This is
why I've asked for a 5mph reduction. If folks insist on going 5-over,
then let the limit be 25 and then the engineering studies would mean
something. “ FRISCO TEXAS
A Tale of Two Cities
City of Frisco
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Woodstream Drive
– 20 mph speed limit adopted by Ordinance
in the 1980’s
– 1400 ADT
Woodstream Drive
City of Frisco
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Rimrock Circle
– 20 mph speed limit adopted by Ordinance
in the 2001
– 500 ADT
– Speed Studies conducted October 2001
Rimrock Circle
City of Frisco
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85th Percentile speed measured at
29.5 mph along Woodstream Drive
85th Percentile speed measured at
30.8 mph along Rimrock Circle
85th Percentile speeds consistent
with the 30 mph Prima Facie
Farmers Branch
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Veronica Road and Tanglewood Drive
posted 20 mph
– 20 mph speed limits adopted by
Ordinance in the 1970’s
– Speed Studies conducted January 1994/5
Veronica Road
Veronica Road
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ADT of 900 vpd
85th Percentile speed measured at
29.9 mph
85th Percentile speed is near the
30 mph Prima Facie
Tanglewood Drive
Tanglewood Drive
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ADT of 750 vpd
85th Percentile speed measured 34.0
mph
85th Percentile speed is near the
30 mph Prima Facie
Other Options?
Roadway Features that Reduce
Speed on Low Speed Urban Streets
(TRR 1737 or NCHRP 15-18)
ƒ Lane Width
ƒ Median Presence
ƒ Pedestrian Activity
ƒ On-Street Parking
ƒ Horizontal Curvature
ƒ Roadside Development
ƒ Speed Limit
“Zipper Street”
“Zipper Street”
On Street Parking
Roundabout
Subdivision Entrance
Horizontal Alignment
Pedestrian Activity & Median Use
Local Use of Roadway Features to
Reduce Speed
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City of Carrollton
– Spurwood Drive – 3 lane with 40 foot
width
– Posted Speed 30 mph
– 85th Percentile speed measured at 40
mph
– Public Park nearby
Spurwood Drive
Spurwood Drive
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Constructed wide median and bike
lanes
Travel lane reduced to 11 feet
85th Percentile speed measured at 30
mph, consistent with the posted speed
Spurwood Drive
Speed Limit and its Relationship
to the 85th Percentile Speed
Speed Limit and its Relationship to
the 85th Percentile Speed
ƒ The speed limit should be selected as a
safe and reasonable operating speed, as
reflected by the 85th Percentile Speed
Speed Limit and its Relationship to
the 85th Percentile Speed
ƒ On City of Frisco & Farmers Branch local
streets, 20 mph speed limits do not show
the compliance of Prima Facie streets and
did not provide a significant speed
reduction over those streets
City of Frisco - Scatter Plot of 85th
Percentile Speed vs Posted Speed
on Local Streets (<35’)
85th Percentile Speed
40.0
35.0
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
15
20
25
Posted Speed
30
35
City of Frisco City
Council Action on HB 87
Council Action
September 20, 2005
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Initiated by Frisco City Council after
August Dallas Morning News article
regarding Mesquite & Coppell
Council Action
September 20, 2005
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Staff Research
– “Keep Kids Alive Drive 25”™
„ Oceanside
website)
California (Pilot City listed in
– Prima Facie vs. HB 87
– Other cities & states
– Technical Information
Council Action
September 20, 2005
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Items Included in Staff Report
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Prima Facie Speed Limit & HB 87
NCTCOG STTC information
Technical Information
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$750,000 cost for signs
Unknown cost to provide police enforcement
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Presentation by Engineering Dept
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Q & A by Engineering/Police
Council Action
September 20, 2005
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City Attorney asked Engineering &
Police if current prima facie speed limit
was unsafe or unreasonable.
City Council did not approve 25 mph
speed limit
Conclusions
Findings & Conclusions
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The majority of motorist do not travel
at or below the posted speed along
typical urban/suburban streets, unless
the speed is considered reasonable
Findings & Conclusions
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Provision of roadway features, such as
roadway alignment or width, may
effectively reduce operating speeds
Findings & Conclusions
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Posted speeds should be based upon
engineering study (85th Percentile)
Cities have the option to use HB 87 or
the current Texas Transportation Code
to establish speed limits