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Council approves MoDOT traffic-enforcement grant; traffic commission reports falling speeds on humps
Summary
The Ferguson City Council on April 22 approved participation in a Missouri Department of Transportation traffic-enforcement grant to fund officer staffing for enforcement and DUI checkpoints and heard a traffic-commission report showing reduced speeds where humps and targeted enforcement have been used.
The Ferguson City Council on April 22 approved a resolution authorizing the city's participation in a Missouri Department of Transportation traffic-enforcement grant intended to offset officer costs for targeted enforcement, including DUI checkpoints.
City Manager John Hampton said the grant helps "pay some of the salaries of officers" assigned to traffic enforcement. Captain Amos of the Ferguson Police Department told the council the grant is eligible for digital signage and radar-display signs but not for speed hump construction; speed-hump installation remains a separate capital/maintenance item.
Council and staff also discussed a report from the traffic commission outlining results from speed studies and enforcement activity. Councilwoman Glenda Lipka presented the commission's findings, citing data gathered by a Jamar traffic-monitoring device. Lipka said studies at multiple locations show average speeds falling where speed humps and focused enforcement were deployed. For example, a LaMotte Street count recorded an average speed near 18 mph in early April where the posted limit is 25 mph; another study on Parsons reported an average speed of 13 mph.
The commission recommended larger signage at existing speed humps and asked the council to consider having the abatement team assist with placement and movement of Jamar devices. The commission also praised the effect of targeted enforcement: its monthly comparison showed hundreds of citations and warnings in recent months, with the traffic program giving officers focused locations for enforcement.
Councilwoman Aquita Noah asked whether the MoDOT grant could fund flashing stop signs or speed humps. Captain Amos said the grant can be used for flashing signs and related awareness equipment but not for physical speed-hump construction. The council requested follow-up on engineering options and a plan for capital-level speed-hump placements.
The MoDOT enforcement resolution passed on a roll call vote; council members recorded "aye" and the resolution was approved during the meeting.
Staff noted that final placement of additional traffic-calming devices depends on engineering review and that some proposed measures will await hiring or contracting with a city engineer.
