To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
Daniel Sailer, Director of Public Works
Jack Cauley, Chief of Police
From: Jacob Vargish, P.E. Transportation Planning & Traffic Engineering Manager
Title
Discussion/Direction: Crystal Valley Parkway - Speed Limit Evaluation
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
In 2019, the Town completed a comprehensive speed study for Crystal Valley Parkway following the roadway’s expansion from a two-lane to four-lane facility. That study recommended a posted speed of 45 mph on most segments, with a reduced 35 mph zone near Old Lanterns Parkway due to limited sight distance and pedestrian activity.
Since that time, the corridor has experienced significant growth in traffic volumes, increases in land use, and increased pedestrian and recreational activity. In September of 2025 Town Council directed a corridor-wide reduction of the speed limit to 35 mph and requested a follow-up evaluation.
When prudent drivers believe a speed limit reflects real roadway conditions, they are more likely to comply voluntarily. Setting posted speed limits near these levels greatly assists with compliance, and allows law enforcement to focus on the most dangerous behaviors, such as extreme speeding, aggressive driving, or impairment. It also aids in reducing requests for capital improvements to gain compliance.
This evaluation builds upon previous analyses and incorporates recent speed and volume data, five years of crash history, pedestrian activity and crossing context, side-street access and turning movements, and Safe System principles.
The crash history review shows that Crystal Valley Parkway is performing at expected safety levels for a roadway of this type and volume. Over the past five years, there were 18 non-intersection crashes, including four injury crashes and no fatalities. Injury crashes are below expected levels, and no systemic or speed-related crash pattern was identified. Intersection-related crashes are limited in number and are primarily associated with turning conflicts and yielding behavior, rather than excessive speed.
Pedestrian activity along the corridor is intermittent but expected when supported by continuous sidewalks, regional park access, trail crossings, and enhanced pedestrian facilities. Field observations and resident feedback indicate that visibility, sight distance, and driver awareness, rather than speed alone, are the primary factors influencing pedestrian safety concerns.
Crystal Valley Parkway includes 11 access points with moderate turning movement activity. Recent traffic signal warrant analyses did not support additional signalization. Safety at these locations depends on speed consistency, adequate sight distance, and proper yielding behavior.
Old Lanterns Parkway remains the most critical location due to limited sight distance, pedestrian crossings, and a higher concentration of severe crashes, necessitating a 35-mph speed environment or lower at that location.
Speed and volume data collected in October through December 2025 show that most drivers are operating above the posted 35 mph, with 85th-percentile speeds between 40 and 44 mph on most segments. These findings indicate that, outside of constrained areas, drivers are generally comfortable operating closer to 40 mph where roadway geometry and context allow. Based on the full engineering review, staff recommends a context-sensitive speed limit strategy:
• Maintain 35 mph at Old Lanterns Parkway due to geometric constraints, pedestrian activity, and crash history
• Revise to 40 mph on other corridor segments where sight distance, access spacing, and operating speeds support safe operation
• Implement targeted advisory signage at intersections with turning-related crash history and a downhill advisory eastbound of the pedestrian bridge
• Consider physical speed management treatments at Old Lanterns Parkway where additional speed reduction is needed for improved roadway safety
A roundabout at the intersection of Crystal Valley Parkway and West Loop Road is currently being considered. A draft amendment to the existing Five-Year Transportation CIP will be presented to Town Council for review and includes this project.
In addition, the intersection of Old Lanterns and Crystal Valley Parkway is expected to require signalization in the future. Both improvements will help maintain prevailing driver speeds closer to the recommended 40 mph limit.
This approach balances safety, mobility, enforcement effectiveness, and community expectations, aligns with national best practices, and provides a defensible, data-driven framework for setting speed limits along Crystal Valley Parkway.