Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes increasing the prima facie speed limit on Dublin-Granville Road between Hamilton Road and the City of New Albany corporation limit from 25 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour.
Dublin-Granville Road is a major thoroughfare that passes through the City of Columbus, and in absence of corporate boundaries, the speed limit at the aforesaid location would be 35 miles per hour. Presently, however, the prima facie speed limit on the portion of Dublin-Granville Road between Hamilton Road and New Albany is 25 miles per hour in conformance with Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.21 because the section is less than one mile long.
Both recent roadway improvements and traffic engineering studies conducted by the Division of Traffic Management within the Department of Public Service support increasing the current prima facie speed limit on Dublin-Granville Road between Hamilton Road and the City of New Albany corporation limit from 25 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour. Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.21 allows for the establishment, by ordinance, of a higher prima facie speed limit than that stated in that section if, given existing conditions, the higher prima facie speed limit is reasonable and safe. The purpose of this legislation is to effect said change.
2. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to ensure the prima facie speed limit of 35 miles per hour is established when the aforementioned segment of roadway reopens in September.
Title
To increase the prima facie speed limit on Dublin-Granville Road between Hamilton Road and the City of New Albany corporation limit from 25 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour; to repeal any and all speed limit ordinances and resolutions on said roadway within this section; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the current prima facie speed limit on Dublin-Granville Road between Hamilton Road and the City of New Albany corporation limit is 25 miles per hour in conformance with Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.21; and
WHEREAS, recent infrastructure improvements and traffic engineering studies and investigations performed under the direction of a professional engineer indicate a prima facie speed limit of 35 miles per hour is reasonable and safe under existing conditions; and
WHEREAS, Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.21 provides for the establishment of a reasonable and safe prima-facie speed limit under such conditions by ordinance enacted by a local authority; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service, Division of Traffic Management, recommends a reasonable and safe prima facie speed limit of 35 miles per hour be established on Dublin-Granville Road between Hamilton Road and the City of New Albany corporation limit; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to affect this change so as to ensure the prima facie speed limit of 35 miles per hour is established when the aforementioned segment of roadway reopens in September, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That, upon the basis of traffic engineering studies performed by the Department of Public Service, Division of Traffic Management, it is hereby determined that a prima facie speed limit of 35 miles per hour on Dublin-Granville Road between Hamilton Road and the City of New Albany corporation limit is reasonable and safe under existing conditions.
SECTION 2. That any and all previous speed limit ordinances and resolutions on Dublin-Granville Road between Hamilton Road and the City of New Albany corporation limit be and are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after it passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.