CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Agenda Date: September 19, 2022 Action Required: Vote on the proposed Ordinance Presenter: Brennen Duncan, Traffic Engineer Staff Contacts: Brennen Duncan, Traffic Engineer Title: Reducing speed limit on a portion of Cherry Avenue (1 reading) Background A small area plan was completed in the Fifeville/Cherry Avenue area and one of the recommendations from that plan was to revisit the speed limits along Cherry Avenue. Traffic counts were obtained in November of 2020. Discussion With a renewed push for Safe Routes to Schools with the recent school bus driver shortage, staff's attention has been redirected to some older efforts that had remained incomplete due to other priorities. Initial work on revising the speed limits along Cherry Avenue started at the end of 2020. Traffic Counts and speeds were obtained to complete a traffic study to evaluate whether or not speeds along Cherry Avenue were appropriate or should be changed. As a result of that study, the City Traffic engineer has determined that the current speed limit along Cherry Avenue is not appropriate for the character of the corridor and should be amended to better reflect current speeds along with the desired feel for the mostly residential corridor. As such, the City Traffic engineer is recommending a change in speed limit for the section of Cherry Avenue from Cleveland Avenue to Roosevelt Brown Boulevard from 35 MPH to 25 MPH. This section of roadway is entirely residential with two (2) of the city schools located along it. The section of roadway between Roosevelt Brown Boulevard and Ridge Street is being recommended to change from 35 MPH to 30 MPH. This section of road is much more commercial in nature, connects directly to Ridge Street with a speed limit of 40 MPH and is on the direct route to UVA hospital. Elliot Avenue on the opposite side of Ridge Street was also looked at for a speed reduction, but due to the 85th percentile of vehicle speeds, a reduction is not recommended at this time. When the Elliot Avenue Streetscape project is completed and characteristics for this section of roadway changes, a new study could be completed and a speed limit change may be appropriate at that time. Alignment with City Council's Vision and Strategic Plan Community Engagement Budgetary Impact New speed limit signs will be installed with existing sign maintenance funds. Recommendation Recommended Motion: " I move the Ordinance reducing the speed limit for the section of Cherry Avenue from Cleveland Avenue to Roosevelt Brown Boulevard from 35 MPH to 25 MPH." Alternatives Council could deny the proposed code amendment for speed limit changes. Attachments 1. Ordinance_Cherry Avenue Speed Limit_9-19-2022 2. Memo_Cherry Ave Speed Reduction Analysis