Q Why did the city change the speed limit in front of the intermediate schools from 20 to 30 miles per hour? There are kids crossing Sixth Avenue throughout the day. This seems to make their crossings more hazardous.
A The change was made after study by the city and after consulting with the Kansas Department of Transportation and the Emporia school district.
Matt Zimmerman, city manager and traffic safety committee chairman, said that the speed limit on Sixth Avenue between Union and State streets had been set at 20 mph for many years; the remainder of Sixth Avenue is posted 30 mph.
State rules for establishing speed limits includes a number of factors, Zimmerman said, including average speed of vehicles, number of pedestrian crossings, number and types of stop signs and traffic signals and road design, such as number of lanes, curves, and hills.
Sixth Avenue is five lanes, including a turning lane, in front of the Lowther schools and has stop signals at both Congress and Constitution Streets.
“The biggest factor is the average speed limit, because numerous studies show people will drive at a speed that feels comfortable, regardless of the speed limit,” Zimmerman said.
In a study conducted by the city, drivers near the intermediate schools drove at a median speed of 28.9 mph, rather than the posted 20 mph.
“This can create a false sense of security, particularly for pedestrians,” he said regarding the posted 20 mph that was ignored by half of the drivers passing by.
A follow-up study done by KDOT, after the city requested the speed-limit change, showed the median speed at 28.7.
“Therefore, they approved the request,” Zimmerman said.
The city also contacted the school district to get administrators’ thoughts about the proposed changed.
“No children are sent across the street and a protective fence abutting Sixth was installed a few years ago to help keep children out of the street,” he said.
The school district did not object to raising the speed limit, and the city commission passed an ordinance making the change.
“City staff has been working with the school district to implement the changes and keep the principals at Lowther North and South in the loop,” Zimmerman said.
And, although the speed limit was changed, it continues to drop to 20 mph and yellow lights still flash during times when children are coming to or leaving school for the day. A crossing guard also is stationed in front of the schools, he said.
F Readers with questions on topics of local interest may send them to Because You Asked, in care of The Gazette, Drawer C, Emporia KS 66801. Questions need to be signed but names will not be used. Questions submitted anonymously will not be answered.