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Council discusses roundabout noise and speeding; staff to pursue signage, enforcement and targeted mitigation
Summary
Council and staff reviewed citizen complaints about noise and speeding around several Oroville roundabouts and other corridors. Staff recommended additional fixed speed feedback signs, striping and targeted enforcement; police and public works will coordinate data‑driven "strike team" enforcement.
Council and staff discussed traffic complaints, roundabout noise and speeding on Jan. 30 and identified a mix of engineering, education and enforcement tools to address the problems.
What was discussed: Public works staff and police described data from speed feedback trailers and on‑site counts. Staff said speed trailers registered vehicles at speeds up to 76 mph on one stretch and still‑high outlier speeds late at night; common higher speeds were reported on Montgomery Street, Wyandotte Avenue and Orange Avenue. Staff noted that the posted caution sign for roundabouts reads 20 mph as a cautionary advisory, while the legal posted speed limits remain higher in many approaches.
Recommended responses: Staff and council discussed adding more fixed speed‑feedback signs (the solar‑powered radar signs), improved striping and high‑visibility pavement markings similar to recent work on Montgomery Street, and replacing or repairing damaged signage around roundabouts. Staff warned against rumble strips in roundabouts because they can reduce traction. Council and staff also emphasized combining engineering changes with enforcement: police described planned "strike team" enforcement targeted to times and locations identified by speed‑feedback data.
Why it matters: Councilmembers said speeding and noise are both a public‑safety concern (particularly near schools and neighborhoods) and a quality‑of‑life issue for residents near problem corridors. Staff said small, relatively low‑cost measures (striping and signs) have produced measurable calming effects in at least one recent case and recommended expanding those tactics where appropriate.
Next steps: Public works will inventory damaged or missing signage and propose additional fixed speed‑feedback signs and pavement striping where justified by data. Police will coordinate targeted enforcement using the speed trailer data to set patrol times. City staff suggested public outreach to clarify how roundabouts work and to explain new or unfamiliar devices (for example, a recently‑installed pedestrian crossing device on a state highway that drew neighborhood questions).
