CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
                    CITY COUNCIL AGENDA




  Agenda Date:          February 7, 2022

  Action Required:      Adoption of Ordinance (2 readings, no public hearing required)

  Presenter:            Brennen Duncan, PE, City Traffic Engineer, Public Works

  Staff Contacts:       Brennen Duncan, PE, City Traffic Engineer, Public Works


  Title:                5th Street SW Speed reduction



Background

State law, Virginia Code Sec. 46.2-1300(A), requires that localities may change established
speed limits when a change is supported by findings within an engineering and traffic
investigation.

Discussion

In response to public engagement and several fatal accidents along the 5th Street corridor, an
engineering and traffic investigation as conducted by the City Traffic Engineer. This included
multiple speed studies as well as reviewing recent crash reports and the safety analysis
performed as a part of the 5th-Ridge-McIntire Multimodal Corridor Study completed in 2018.
Although it was determined that the posted speed limit was not a factor in the most severe
crashes, there were nearly 40% of all of the crashes that could have been mitigated, either in
occurrence or severity, by a lower speed limit.

Budgetary Impact

Cost to install/replace speed limit signs along the 5th Street Corridor

Recommendations

Staff recommends adoption of the proposed ordinance, based on the recommendation supported
by an Engineering and Traffic Investigation conducted by the City Traffic Engineer



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Attachments

   1. Engineering and Traffic Investigation Memo
   2. Proposed Ordinance




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TO: Sam Sanders, Deputy City Manager

FROM: Brennen Duncan, PE, City Traffic Engineer

DATE: February 2, 2022

SUBJECT: 5th Street Engineering and Traffic Investigation Speed Analysis


The Virginia General Assembly establishes the statutory speed limits and gives authority to cities and incorporated
towns to decrease speed limits under their jurisdiction. In order to do so, the locality must perform an engineering
study.

The City of Charlottesville traffic engineering office has conducted such a study along the 5th Street SW corridor between
Harris Road on the south end, and Cherry Avenue on the north end. The current speed limit along this stretch is 45
miles per hour. The 85th percentile speeds falls in line with the posted speed limit, but accidents along the corridor are
much higher than the statewide average.

In reviewing the 5th-Ridge-McIntire Multimodal Corridor Study performed in 2018 by EPR, this stretch of roadway is #17
in the district for segments of roadway for its “Potential for Safety Improvements” and is 2-3 times higher than the
statewide average. In looking at the micro data for the 243 accidents between the 2011-2016 study window, it was
determined that the largest category of accident, with nearly 40% of all accidents, were of the rear end variety. This
type of accident is normally a result of the failure to stop, and the stopping distance is directly proportional to the
traveling speed. A reduction of the speed limit from 45mph to 40mph should reduce the required stopping distance for
vehicles by approximately 17%, resulting in fewer of the rear end type of accident.

After reviewing the data, lowering the posted speed limit by 5 mph should have very limited negative impact on the
traveling public while increasing safety along the corridor for the most prevalent type of accident. The City Traffic
Engineer thus recommends formally reducing the posted speed limit from 45mph to 40mph. This should take effect as
soon as City Council is able to vote to amend Section 15-99 of the City Ordinance regarding speed limits.




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                           ORDINANCE
 AMENDING AND REORDAINING SECTION 15-99 OF CHAPTER 15 (MOTOR
      VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
 CHARLOTTESVILLE, 1990, AS AMENDED, TO REDUCE THE SPEED LIMIT
                      ON 5TH STREET S.W

        WHEREAS the City’s Traffic Engineer has prepared a report entitled "5th Street
Engineering and Traffic Investigation Speed Analysis", dated February 1, 2022, for the City
Engineer, who concurs with the recommendations made by the Traffic Engineer for appropriate
speed limits (from an engineering and safety standpoint) on 5th Street, S.W., from Cherry
Avenue to the south corporate limits of the City; and

       WHEREAS the traffic engineer notes that accident type and frequency indicates the
need to reduce speed limits on this public street. Now, therefore,

       BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia, that
Section 15-99 of Article IV (Speed Limits) of Chapter 15 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) of
the Charlottesville City Code, 1990, as amended, is hereby amended and re-ordained with a
change to the established speed limit for 5th Street, S.W., as follows:

Sec. 15-99. Maximum limits on specific streets

Pursuant to a traffic engineering and traffic survey as required by Code of Virginia,
section 46.2-1300, the following speed limits are imposed as hereinafter set forth and no
person shall drive a vehicle at a speed in excess of such limits:

….

 Street               From                  To                          Speed Limit
                                                                        (MPH
 5th Street,          Cherry                South corporate             45
 S.W.                 Avenue                limits                      40