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Committee backs raising Sunset Drive’s city section to 30 mph, contingent on village approval
Summary
The Building & Grounds Committee voted to post a 30 mph limit on the city portion of Sunset Drive (Center Road/railroad tracks to Tenney Avenue) contingent on the adjacent village raising its section to 30 mph; staff recommended 30 mph rather than 35 due to WisDOT guidance on two‑way left‑turn lane ("twiddle") lengths and roadway safety concerns.
The Waukesha City Building & Grounds Committee voted to change the posted speed limit on the city portion of Sunset Drive to 30 miles per hour, contingent on the neighboring village agreeing to raise its section to the same speed.
Staff presented spot-speed data and engineering analysis showing wide variance in vehicle speeds along Sunset Drive and identified design constraints that make a uniform 35 mph posting inconsistent with WisDOT guidance for two-way left-turn lanes (so‑called "twiddles"). Staff said the corridor’s uninterrupted twiddle segments range from about 445–590 feet, while WisDOT recommends 1,000 feet of uninterrupted twiddle for posted 35 mph and 500 feet or less for posted 30 mph. Based on those factors and roadway cross-sections, engineering recommended 30 mph for the city section rather than 35.
Committee members debated consistency versus safety and enforcement. Several aldermen said they preferred uniformity (one member said posting 35 end-to-end would remove confusion), while others warned that raising posted limits can normalize higher driving speeds and argued enforcement and design changes matter more. One committee member suggested that posted speeds affect driver expectancy at side‑streets and intersections and that a modest increase to 30 mph would narrow the variance in observed speeds without contravening WisDOT guidance.
Staff also said the village’s portion of Sunset Drive would need its own board approval to change its segment; village staff had indicated openness to 30 mph but wanted to take the change to their committee. The committee’s motion applied the change to the city portion and made the action contingent on the village approving 30 mph for its portion.
The committee voted and the motion carried. Members asked staff to forward speed-study details and proposed changes to the police department for enforcement planning and to coordinate implementation with the village and upcoming signal reconstruction work at Sunset and Prairie.
The committee’s action is procedurally contingent: it will take effect for the city section after the village adopts a matching 30 mph posting and the city updates signage and coordination materials.
