Council weighs traffic enforcement, signage upgrades after resident complaints about speeds and roundabout noise

City staff, police and public‑works representatives discussed traffic speeds, roundabout behavior and enforcement strategies at the Jan. 30 council meeting after residents complained about noise and high speeds at several roundabouts and corridors.

Public‑works staff and a police representative described recent data from radar feedback signs and speed trailers deployed near problem locations. Staff said the 85th‑percentile speeds on some approaches exceed posted advisory speeds and that late‑night outliers have been recorded (examples cited in staff remarks included speeds as high as the mid‑70s on some approaches during overnight hours).

Why it matters: Councilmembers said high speeds and noisy acceleration in key corridors (Montgomery Street, Wyandotte Avenue, Orange Avenue and the Table Mountain/Nelson roundabout) have led to resident complaints and safety concerns. Council requested a combination of low‑cost engineering treatments, signage and enforcement to address drivers who either do not know how to use roundabouts or deliberately speed through town.

Staff recommendations and technical discussion

- Visual and striping measures: Staff recommended additional pavement striping, center medians and visual cues (similar to recent Montgomery Street striping) that have successfully reduced speeds in pilot locations. Councilmembers noted the Montgomery treatment produced measurable behavior changes and asked for similar approaches on other high‑speed corridors.

- Fixed radar/signage: Staff recommended more fixed speed feedback signs and additional radar trailers to collect continuous speed data and to help time enforcement operations. One councilmember said fixed signs provide 24/7 monitoring that helps the police department choose enforcement locations and times.

- Roundabout geometry and rumble devices: Engineers warned against rumble‑strip devices on roundabouts because they can reduce traction; staff instead favored subtle chicanes, additional striping, and targeted visual measures (as used at the Table Mountain roundabout) that force lower, predictable speeds without unduly affecting emergency‑vehicle access.

- Enforcement strike teams: Police and staff described a coordinated enforcement approach: use collected speed data to schedule “strike” enforcement periods where officers can target the most problematic times and places. The council and police chief discussed deploying radar trailers and focused patrols at hotspot locations (examples: Wyandotte and Orange avenues).

Public comments and council direction

Residents recounted both nighttime high‑speed incidents and day‑time near misses; one councilmember noted multiple past serious collisions on Orange Avenue and urged targeted action in that corridor. Councilmembers asked staff for cost estimates and a prioritized list of low‑cost, high‑impact treatments (striping repairs, replacement of stolen or damaged solar‑powered signs, fixed radar signs at key approaches, and targeted enforcement deployments). Staff said they will return with recommendations and cost data and coordinate with the police department to implement an enforcement schedule guided by the radar data.

Ending

Council directed staff to pursue sign and striping repairs, obtain cost estimates for additional fixed radar feedback signs, and work with the police department to schedule enforcement focused on the most dangerous corridors based on the speed‑data evidence. Staff emphasized the three‑part approach — collect data, apply targeted engineering fixes, and concentrate enforcement — as the preferred strategy.