HomeMy WebLinkAboutMDT Speed Limit U-6901 Laurel NMontana Department of Transportation David A. Galt, Director
Billings District Office Judy Martz, Governor
424 Morey Street
PO Box 20437
Billings, MT 59104-0437
January 22, 2002
City of Laurel
City Clerk
1 15 West 1st St.
Laurel, NIT 59044
Subject: Speed Limit Recommendations
U-6901 - Laurel North
EC E VE
D
JAN 2 8 2002
GITY OF LAUREL
The Department has completed a speed zone study for the subject location. Attached is the
study report and recommendation for a new speed zones. Please review the reports and
comment in writing within 60 days.
The new speed zone recommendations must be accepted or rejected as a whole. If the County
chooses to reject the new speed limit recommendations, The Department will take no further
action and the roadway will retain its existing speed limits as approved by previous
Commissions and current State law. If the County approves the recommendations but desires
modifications, the County may lobby the Transportation Commission to modify the
recommendations at their meeting. The District will notify the County of the date, time and
location of the Commission meeting.
We would appreciate all written comments be made within 60 days of this letter. If you have
any questions, please contact the District traffic engineer, Stan 7onutis, at 657-0240.
Respectfully,
Brace H. barren
District Administrator - Billings
Attachment: Speed zone study
03u6901 szc:smj
copies: Traffic File
phone: (406) 252-4138
Toll-free: (888) 863-8465
FAX: (406) 256-6487
TTY: (800) 335-7592
Internet m .mdtstate.us
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Mona Department of Transportat
6 Gp?? Helena, Montana 59620-1001
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To: ?Bruce Barrett
Administrator-Billings District
From : Donald P. Dusek, P.E.
Traffic Engineer
Date: January 14, 2002
Subject: Laurel North - U-69ol
In conjunction with the consultants report you have on file
please present the following information to the appropriate
local officials. Inform them that we would prefer to
receive all comments in writing within the next sixty days.
Their comments along with the Department's final
recommendations will be presented to the Montana
Transportation Commission for action.
At the request of the City of Laurel a speed limit
investigation was conducted on U-6901 (First Avenue North).
This investigation was conducted by a consulting engineering
firm. Local officials are concerned about the speed limits
on the segment of U-6901 between the cemetery and the city
limits. The cemetery is located east of the intersection
with Airport Road, north of Laurel. The existing posted
speed limits are not sanctioned by the Montana
Transportation Commission.
We have conducted an on-site evaluation of the
recommendations outlined in the consultants report. We
concur with the consultant's finding and the proposed speed
limit configuration. The proposed special speed limits are
based on the speed profile of the traffic steam and are
orientated to changes in operational character as reflected
by the adjacent side culture and intersections along the
route.
In relationship to the existing posted speed limits the
following recommendations will maintain the existing 25 mph
to 35 mph speed limit transition point at the urban district
boundary just north of the intersection with 12th Street.
The 35 mph to 45 mph speed limit transition will be
relocated 1,100 feet south of it present location to a point
1,550 feet north of the intersection with 12th Street. This
may be viewed as an increase in that a portion of the posted
35 mph speed limit will be increased to 45 mph. However, 75
percent to 80 percent of the traffic stream is exceeding 35
mph along this segment. The 85th percentile speeds are 45
mph and 48 mph in this area. We expect no change in the
travel speeds with a 45 mph speed limit in this area.
The 45 mph to 55 mph speed limit transition will be located
600 feet north of the present 45 mph speed limit boundary.
This will extend the 45 mph speed limit north of the
intersection with Airport Road.
A new 55 mph speed limit will be introduced for the change
in traffic operation associated with the intersection with
Airport Road. -
This proposal will extend the overall northern boundary of
the speed limit configuration 1,400 feet north of its
present location. The special speed limit configuration
will begin north of the intersection with Airport Road as
opposed to south of the intersection with Airport Road.
() . o6)
A 35 mph speed limit beginning at milepost 0.96, 250 feet
north of the intersection with 12th Street and continue
north to milepost 1.2, an approximate distance of 1,300
feet. 613)
A 45 mph speed limit beginning at milepos 0'.3)
t .2 and continue
north to milepost 1.8,5 (100' north of the intersection with
Airport Road), an a?ppfoximate distance of ,x,400 feet.
- 2
?,.
A 55 mph speed limit beginning at milepost 1.8
8 and
continuing north to milepost 2.0 (900 feet north of the
intersection with Airport Road) an approximate distance of
800 feet. y
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