City of Lawrence

Public Works Department

MEMORANDUM

TO:              Mike Wildgen

FROM:         Chuck Soules, Director of Public Works

DATE:           June 15, 2004

CC:              Dave Corliss, Debbie Van Saun, Terese Gorman, David Woosley

On June 7, 2004 the Traffic Safety Commission considered a request from area residents to construct traffic calming devices along Goldfield Street between Eldridge Street and Prescott Drive (TSC Item #3).  The area residents requested speed humps to be installed; the request was approved on a 5-2 vote.

Additionally, the Traffic Safety Commission, at their June 7, 2004 meeting, approved by a 7-0 vote to construct a permanent traffic calming circle at the intersection of Goldfield Street and Eldridge Street.   Matt McClorey discussed the installation of speed humps with the neighbors and received acceptance/concurrence for these improvements.  None of the neighbors, however, have had a chance to comment on the traffic circle; there is concern that this may not be a welcomed addition.  Therefore, if the City Commission desires to approve the traffic circle it should be for a temporary installation only – pending further neighborhood input.  Several traffic calming devices, desired by various neighborhoods, have already been approved. The traffic calming devices, however, are not funded.  I would recommend that we do not add to the list of devices to be built unless the neighbors request a traffic calming circle.

Should the City Commission approve the speed humps, a source of funding would also need to be identified.  The Harvard/Goldfield traffic calming plan is being bond financed.  These speed humps could be added to that construction contract as a change order, without increasing the costs for engineering.  The Harvard/Goldfield project would already provide a design, and staff could identify locations.  If the City Commission desires to proceed in this direction a resolution to establish this section of Goldfield as a major thoroughfare would be needed.

If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to call.

Action Requested:

Provide staff direction on traffic circle at Goldfield and Prescott.

Provide direction on speed humps along Goldfield between Eldridge and Prescott.

 Respectfully submitted,

 Charles F. Soules, P.E.

Director of Public Works