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Neighbors press city on speeding on Roberts Drive; staff says street does not qualify for traffic calming
Summary
Residents told council that drivers exceed the 35 mph speed limit on Roberts Drive and urged physical traffic calming; city staff said studies did not show speeds high enough and that state requirements prevent traffic calming on the roadway.
Residents raised repeated concerns about speeding on Roberts Drive during public comment and urged the city to install traffic calming measures such as speed bumps and sidewalks. Several commenters described drivers regularly traveling 40–60 mph and said the street lacks enforcement.
Bill Griffith presented a compilation of neighbor comments and emails asserting pedestrian safety risks and urging speed bumps and sidewalks. He recounted multiple neighbors’ statements that speeds are excessive and called for immediate action. Other public remarks described near‑misses, motorcycles doing wheelies and residents who stopped running outdoors because of traffic speed.
Council members asked staff whether a traffic‑calming review had been initiated. Public works and police staff said they had performed speed and traffic studies and previously presented findings to the resident. The staff answer recorded during the meeting was that Roberts Drive does not qualify for the city’s traffic‑calming program because of state requirements tied to vehicle volumes on the road. Marty Martin, public works director, confirmed the study exists and that the city and police had presented it to the resident earlier.
Council members acknowledged the broader scope of speeding complaints citywide and reiterated an interest in reviewing traffic‑calming policy. One council member asked that the traffic‑calming policy itself be revisited so the city can consider more tools for residential streets. Staff said multiple speed studies had been conducted and that the results did not match the speeds claimed by neighbors in public comment; the council asked staff to continue enforcement and policy review.
No new traffic measures or funding allocations were approved during the meeting. Staff recommended follow‑up via existing programs and confirmed they would continue to coordinate with residents and police to monitor speeds and safety on Roberts Drive.
