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City’s Speed Limits Come Under Review
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Monday night, Aug. 15, members of the Oakdale City Council approved the first reading to the first of two public hearings regarding the proposed ordinance to raise and lower traffic speeds in various parts of the city. The vote came following the completion of a traffic survey identifying areas that could benefit from a speed change.

In order for cities to have the power to enforce posted speed limits, a speed survey needs to be updated every seven years but can be extended to 10 years when a registered engineer determines that no significant changes in roadway or traffic conditions have occurred. The last time the City of Oakdale underwent a speed survey was in 2012.

According to city documents, the 2022 Engineering and Traffic Survey Roadways were selected by the City’s Traffic Issue Committee, comprised of the City Manager, Chief of Police, Police Lieutenant, City Engineer, Public Services Director and Public Works Superintendent.

The Committee considered comments from the public based upon information obtained from the City’s Traffic Issue Submittal Form and the Oakdale Police Department and their observations of traffic behavior and enforcement priority.

Based on their criteria, the committee selected 24 priority locations for the survey.

Those identified areas were:

River Avenue: Between Kimball Street and East North Street

South Yosemite Avenue: Between East F Street and East H Street

East D Street: Between North Sierra Avenue and Johnson Avenue

East D Street: Between Johnson Avenue and Trevor Avenue

North First Avenue: Between North Street and F Street

South Yosemite Avenue: Between East H Street and East J Street

Armstrong Way: Between South Yosemite Avenue and Post Road

East G Street: Between South Yosemite Avenue and South Maag Avenue

East D Street: Between Trevor Avenue to divided roadway east

East D Street: Between start of divided roadway to North Stearns Road

East J Street: Between South First Avenue and South Yosemite Avenue

East J Street: Between South Fifth Avenue to Arboles Way

East J Street: Between Arboles Way and Orsi Road

Hi-Tech Parkway: Between South Yosemite Avenue and Post Road

North Maag Avenue: Between East F Street and East D Street

South Maag Avenue: Between East F Street and East G Street

South Maag Avenue: Between East G Street and East J Street

Greger Street: Between Longview Drive and Kaufman Road

South Yosemite Avenue: Between East J Street and South Street

South Yosemite Avenue: Between South Street and Greger Street/Wakefield Drive

Crane Road: Between West F Street and Pontiac Street

Crane Road: Between West J Street and Patterson Road

Sierra Road: Between Pedersen Road and Orsi Road

South Yosemite Avenue: Between Greger Street/Wakefield Drive and Warnerville Road

 

Of this list, the following were selected for a speed limit increase:

Armstrong Way, between South Yosemite Avenue and Post Road. The posted speed limit is 25MPH; the recommended speed limit is 35MPH.

East D Street, between Trevor Avenue to divided roadway east. The posted speed limit is 30 MPH; the recommended speed limit is 35 MPH.

Hi-Tech Parkway, between South Yosemite Avenue and Post Road. The posted speed limit is 25 MPH; the recommended speed limit is 35 MPH.

South Yosemite Avenue, between Greger Street/Wakefield Drive and Warnerville Road. The posted speed limit is 45 MPH; the recommended speed limit is 50 MPH.

 

During the Engineering and Traffic Survey, the City received Traffic Issue Submittals by the public regarding issues between vehicles and pedestrians and their safety at certain intersections. The Traffic Issue Committee recommended new stop signs at these locations to mitigate the potential hazard. There were three locations in the community that could benefit from new stop sign installations.

Those locations are: East E Street/North Sixth Avenue, East A Street/Melva Avenue, and East C Street/North Eighth Avenue.

There was some public comment regarding the proposed speed limit changes, but residents will also have a second chance to hear about the issue at the second reading on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The traditional first Monday meeting would fall on Sept. 5, Labor Day, so the meeting will move to the next day, Tuesday, as City offices will be closed for the Labor Day holiday.