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Advisory board discusses trail speed limits and signage after WMPO grant denial
Summary
Board members were told the city did not receive a WMPO grant for a trail safety/signage program; MPO staff is preparing a regional signage toolkit and city staff proposed setting a numeric trail speed limit for all modes as a simpler enforcement approach.
City staff told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board that a recent WMPO grant application for trail safety signage was not funded because federal rules on eligible expenses have changed, but the MPO is developing a regional signage toolkit the city can use.
"We did not receive the grant from the WMPO," said the staff member (S5), who added that the MPO is identifying another grant opportunity and drafting a signage toolkit to ensure continuity across jurisdictions. S5 said the city will bring sample signage designs to the advisory board for feedback before any local implementation.
The board discussed how to regulate e-bikes and similar devices on multiuse trails. S5 said the city is leaning toward establishing a numeric speed limit for all trail users rather than trying to define vehicle classes (e-bike versus bicycle), which staff said would simplify public understanding and enforcement.
Board members asked how speed would be measured and whether police — who are described in the meeting as lightly staffed — would be available to enforce a limit. One member (S2) asked about measurement; S5 suggested an officer could use a speed gun as one enforcement method but acknowledged enforcement would not be perfect.
S5 recommended inviting the planning director (Linda Painter) or other city staff to a future meeting to present the broader Vision Zero/traffic-calming strategy and discuss how trail speed limits and fines could be implemented in coordination with traffic-management tools.
Next steps: staff will coordinate a presentation from planning/recreation staff on traffic-calming and the MPO will share signage drafts for the board to review in a future meeting.
