Submitted By
Bill McKenna, Village Engineer
Reviewed By
Ahmad M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager / Interim Director of Development Customer Services
Agenda Item Title
Title
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 15 (“Motor Vehicles and Traffic”), Article 1 (“In General”), Section 15-1-10 (“Speed Limits”) of the Oak Park Village Code to Establish Twenty (20) Miles Per Hour Neighborhood Greenway Speed Zones on Erie Street and Scoville Avenue
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Overview
Overview
As part of the Neighborhood Greenway treatments approved by the Board at the October 16th meeting, speed limits on the neighborhood Greenways will be reduced to 20 miles per hour. This ordinance establishes a 20 mile per hour (mph) Speed Zone on the Neighborhood Greenway streets of Erie Street from Kenilworth to Scoville Avenue and Scoville Avenue from South Boulevard to Lake Street.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the Ordinance.
Background
On October 16th, the Village Board approved the construction of the first segments of the Neighborhood Greenway system on portions of Erie Street and Scoville Avenue. The Neighborhood Greenway system is a network of streets that are designed to prioritize bicycle travel with features to calm and reduce vehicular traffic on neighborhood streets and improve safety for bicycles and pedestrians, especially at busy intersection crossings. One of the treatments used to calm traffic and improve safety for all users is to reduce the speed limit on Neighborhood Greenway streets from 25 miles per hour (mph) to 20 mph. This is a treatment that is recommended in the Bike Plan and is consistent with what other jurisdictions do with their neighborhood greenway or bike boulevard networks.
This Ordinance establishes a 20 mph speed zone on the Neighborhood Greenway streets that are currently being constructed on portions of Erie and Scoville. This Ordinance will be amended periodically as additional streets are constructed and added to the Neighborhood Greenway system over time.
Fiscal Impact
Costs for the signage are already included in the previously awarded construction contract for the Neighborhood Greenways.
DEI Impact
Reducing speed limits on Neighborhood Greenways aligns with Climate Action Goals CA01, VT01-2, VT09 and TS01 to improve pedestrian safety and reduce vehicle emissions by creating more opportunities for bicycle travel.
Alternatives
The alternative to this recommendation could be to delay action to gain additional information.
Previous Board Action
At the October 16, 2023 Village Board meeting, the Village Board approved a Resolution Approving a Contract with Marking Specialists Corporation for Project 23-15, Bike Boulevard Pavement Marking and Signage Improvements, in an Amount Not to Exceed $135,548.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
The Transportation Commission reviewed the design of the Neighborhood Greenway project at their August 8, 2023 meeting and again at their September 12, 2023 meeting including the change to the 20 mile per hour speed limit. The Transportation Commission approved the design of the project and the change in the speed limit at their September 12, 2023 meeting.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
Staff will submit future amendments to update this ordinance to add additional streets for the 20 mile per hour speed zone for the Neighborhood Greenway system as those streets are constructed.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
None at this time.