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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD1049ORDINANCE NO.1049 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA;ESTABLISHING THE SPEED LIMIT ON OLD WEST HIGHWAY BETWEEN STARR ROAD AND GOLDFIELD ROAD;REPEALING ANY CONFLICTING PROVISIONS;PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY;AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA THAT: SECTION I iN GENERAL Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes ("A.R.S.")§9-276,i t is in the public interest to ensure safe,effective and efficient traffic flow along public rights -of -way within the City of Apache Junction,Arizona.The Mayor and City Council find that speed limits are necessary to further this goal.Pursuant to Apache Junction Code §12-2-4,the City may establish and/or change speed limits as deemed necessary for the public safety. In addition,pursuant to A.R.S.§28-703(B),a local authority shall determine by an engineering and traffic investigation the proper maximum speed for all arterial streets within its jurisdiction. In accordance with A.R.S.§28-703(E),a local authority may also alter the maximum speed limit on its streets but may not make more than six alterations per mile,in increments of ten miles per hour for each alteration.The speed limit set forth below is such an appropriate alteration to the existing maximum speed limit,and has been substantiated in an appropriate investigation,attached hereto as Exhibit A,and three copies of which are on file with the Department of Public Works,Engineering Division. Now,therefore be it ordained that the speed limit be allowed and established as follows: OLD WEST HIGHWAY -Starr Road to Goldfield Road 45 MPH Furthermore,the Director of Public Works and the Director of Public Safety are hereby empowered and directed to initiate appropriate action to install speed limit signs and enforce the speed limit on the referenced street. Ordinance No.1049 Page 1 of 3 SECTION I I REPEALING ANY CONFLICTING PROVISIONS All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance,or any part of the code adopted herein by reference,are hereby repealed. SECTION III PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY If any section,subsection,sentence,phrase,clause or portion of this ordinance,or any part of the code adopted herein by reference,is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction,such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof. SECTION IV EMERGENCY CLAUSE It is necessary for the preservation of the peace,health and safety of the City of Apache Junction,Arizona,that this ordinance become effective immediately, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this ordinance shall be effective immediately upon passage and adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA,THIS 21ST DAY OF JULY ,1998. SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS 22ND DAY OF JULY ,1998. DOUGLAS C MAYOR ATTEST: KATHLEEN CONNELLY City Clerk Ordinance No.1049 Page 2 of 3 LEMAN o,t„fri.„ APPROVED AS TO FORM: 3%98 RICHARD JOEL STERN City Attorney Ordinance No.1049 Page 3 of 3 EXHIBIT "A" TRAFFIC INVESTIGATION:SPEED LIMIT REPORT FOR OLD WEST HIGHWAY NEAR GOLDFIELD ROAD Prepared By Gordon L. Haws, P.E. City Engineer, City of Apache Junction The speed limit for Goldfield Road at the curve where Old West Highway joins Goldfield Road and to the south of the curve has previously been set by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) at 35 miles per hour (m.p.h.).Similarly, the speed limit for Old West Highway west of the curve has been set by City ordinance at 55 m.p.h.Currently, the posted speed limit drops from 55 m.p.h. to 35 m.p.h. or vice -versa, depending on the direction of travel.However, according to A.R.S. 28-703(E), the maximum difference between adjacent speed limits shall not be more than ten miles per hour.Therefore, to comply with A.R.S. 28-703(E) and to create a more desirable and gradual transition between the two zones; it is the recommendation of the Engineering Department that a 45 m.p.h. speed limit zone be established between the 35 m.p.h. zone and the 55 m.p.h. zone.The speed limit signs for the 35 m.p.h., 45 m.p.h., and 55 m.p.h. speed limit zones shall be placed between 1/4and 1/2miles apart.