18 - Downtown Traffic Committee presentation

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- The number of vehicles that drove 1+ mph over the speed limit ranged from 2.1 % to 25.3%. Those driving 5+ mph ranged from 0.3% to 7.2%, which means a majority of those driving 1+ mph were in between 1 and 4 mph above the speed limit. The number of those driving 5+ mph was much lower. - The SER is an indicator that the sign itself may have played a role in reducing speeds. It measures the speed of the vehicle when it first comes within range (shows the driver the speed they are travelling), and it examines the speed when the driver leaves the range. If the driver decreased speed, the electronic speed sign assumed that displaying the driver's speed played a role in decreasing it. SER ranged from 11.7% to 68.5%, so we have places where the sign appears to help and places that it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference. Regarding back -in angle parking, after learning from TxDOT that front -in angle parking would no longer be allowed for new parking stalls, and as an alternative to parallel parking, we decided to test back -in angle parking. The results were mixed, but primarily positive from those that took the survey. TxDOT is willing to convert parking stalls in to back -in angle parking if we ever decide to pursue that. A major topic we explored early on was the idea of Thermoplastic or Stamped Concrete/Asphalt Crosswalks for the Plaza. The goal was to more clearly mark where pedestrians cross the road. The quotes all came back ranging from $120k - $150k (including local contractors) for 16 crosswalks. Speaking with TxDOT, they were very supportive of the work we accomplished. They felt that our efforts had a positive impact on softening speeds through the downtown. BUDGET: In total, we spent less than $20,000.00 accomplishing the items listed in this memo. Much of that was purchasing the turtle shells and repainting lines. Overall, this was a very inexpensive exercise which we believe has had a positive impact for the downtown. NEXT STEPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Our committee has completed its work. Our recommendation is that electronic speed signs be purchased and installed at several of the entrances and exits to the Plaza where we saw their effectiveness to have the greatest impact. These signs are expensive ($5k+) and therefore will need to be a budgetary capital request we consider as part of the FY24/25 budget process.