Denton City Council Approves New Speed Limits
N Locust Street near Congress Street.
The Denton City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve proposed speed limits on certain city roads. The proposal followed a months-long citywide speed study measured observed driving speeds and collected crash and injury data on non-residential roads in Denton.
Read: Study: Denton Roads Seeing Above Average Crash Rates
The speed study was part of the City’s efforts to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on roads in the city limits. For the past five years, an average of 16 people were killed on roads in the City of Denton each year. Speed is one of the most important factors that determines the severity of a crash.
Image from Smart Growth America.
To address the worsening traffic safety crisis in the country, cities across the U.S. are adopting policies to establish safe driving speeds on their streets. In addition to the safety benefits, slower streets are also quieter, reducing noise pollution for people living near the street.
During Denton’s citywide speed study, staff collected data on observed driving speeds, crashes and injuries. Based on the data collected, staff proposed speed limits for each road studied.
Slower speed limits were proposed for roads with above-average crash and injury rates. Roads with average crash rates will see no change. In rare cases, higher speed limits were proposed for roads where crash rates were lower than average and drivers were traveling more quickly than the posted speed limit.
Staff anticipate it will take approximately 30 days to install the new speed limit signs.
A full machine-readable list of the new speed limits is located in the ordinance attached to the meeting agenda.
City staff also proposed speed limits for TxDOT roadways in the city limits. Staff submitted the proposed speeds to TxDOT for review and response. TxDOT indicated that the review could take six to nine months from the time they received the proposal in September, 2022.
Video recording of presentation, discussion and vote.
Other Items
DCTA Board Representative. Council members voted 3-3 to reject a proposal to replace Alison Maguire with Pat Smith as Denton’s primary representative on the DCTA Board for the remainder of the current term, which ends in November 2023. Tied votes fail. Maguire is currently Denton’s primary representative to the DCTA Board, and Smith is Denton’s alternate representative. Alternates step in when the primary representative cannot attend a meeting.
Video recording of discussion and vote.
Virtual Participation in Meetings While Driving. Council voted 3-3 to reject consideration of an ordinance to prohibit virtual participation in City of Denton meetings while operating a motor vehicle. The request came from Council Member Chris Watts after Council Member Brandon Chase McGee virtually attended the November 22nd Council meeting while driving a commercial truck. McGee is a professional truck driver by occupation.
