Ordinance 34-23RECORD OF ORDINANCES
Dayton Legal Blank, Inc. Form No. 30043
34-23 20 Ordinance No. Passed
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE BRIDGE
STREET/RIVERSIDE DRIVE BUSINESS DISTRICT FOR
THE PURPOSES OF CREATING SAFER AND MORE
COMFORTABLE STREETS
WHEREAS, The City of Dublin wishes to become the most sustainable,
connected and resilient global city of choice; and
WHEREAS, Residents and visitors are drawn to the energetic destination along the
Scioto River in the Historic Dublin and Bridge Street Districts. These urban, walkable
areas make Dublin a healthier and more vibrant city in which to live, work, play and
thrive; and
WHEREAS, Establishing the Bridge Street/Riverside Drive Business District
strengthens the walkable urban districts of Historic Dublin and Bridge Street by
supporting walking, biking, transit and providing other modes of transportation choices
for residents and visitors navigating the area, and focuses on safe and comfortable
pedestrian and traffic operations; and
WHEREAS, The Bridge Street/Riverside Drive Business District is flourishing and
evolving with a mix of residential, retail, restaurant, entertainment, offices, public
parks, historic and transitional developments, creating a unique environment with
opportunities for multiple forms of transportation and mobility that is supported with
ample sidewalks, shared use paths, transit stops, bike racks, shared mobility devices,
and the Dublin Link pedestrian bridge; and
WHEREAS, The Bridge Street/Riverside Drive Business District will support many
citywide transportation and mobility initiatives, including:
e The Speed Management Program, which focuses on creating safe and
comfortable streets for all residents and road users across Dublin, including
people walking and rolling,
e The silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community award, recognizing Dublin’s efforts
to create safe and comfortable places for cyclists to ride; and
WHEREAS, Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.21(B)(2) and Dublin City Code
73.15(B)(2) provide that it is prima facie lawful to operate at a speed not exceeding 25
miles per hour within a municipal corporation, except on state routes outside business
districts, through highways outside business districts, and alleys; 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 posted speed on alleys, within school zones, or roadways adjacent to
freeway entrance or exit ramps contained in the Bridge Street/Riverside Drive Business
District shall not change.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Dublin, State
of Ohio, __ls _ of its elected members concurring, that:
Section i. The Bridge Street/Riverside Drive Business District is hereby
established and means an area located within Dublin, consisting of approximately
1,100 acres and generally bounded by Sawmill Road to the east, I-270 to the north
and west, and by Bridge Street/SR 161 to the south, as more specifically delineated
on the Bridge Street District Zoning Map and in the Historic District Development
Code.
(See attached Map 1: Bridge Street/Riverside Drive Business District)
RECORD OF ORDINANCES
Dayton Legal Blank, Inc. Form No. 30043
34-23 Page 2 of 2 20 Ordinance No. Passed
Section 2. That the roadways shown on the attached map constitute the Bridge
Street/Riverside Drive Business District, hereby establishing that the prima facie
speed limit of 25 miles per hour is reasonable, safe and comfortable under existing
conditions within the core pedestrian areas.
Section 3. This Council further hereby authorizes and directs the City Manager,
the Director of Law, the Director of Finance, the Clerk of Council or other
appropriate officers of the City to prepare and sign all other instruments and take
any other actions as may be necessary to implement this Ordinance.
Section 4. This Ordinance shall be effective on the earliest date permitted by
law and in accordance with Section 4.04(b) of the Dublin Revised Charter.
Passed this __| | day of Wn , 2023
Dene TY
Mayor — pigsiding Officer /
ATTEST:
To: Members of Dublin City Council
From: Megan D. O’Callaghan, P.E., City Manager
Date: August 22, 2023
Initiated By: Jean-Ellen Willis, P.E., Director of Transportation & Mobility
Justin Páez, Chief of Police
Nick Tabernik, Deputy Chief of Police
Tina Wawszkiewicz, P.E., Deputy Director of Transportation & Mobility
Re: Ordinance 34-23 – Establishing the Bridge Street/Riverside Drive Business
District for the Purposes of Creating Safer and More Comfortable Streets
Background
The Bridge Street Corridor zoning regulations have significantly impacted the character and
development patterns in the Bridge Street area of Dublin. The area now draws substantial pedestrian
and vehicular traffic to the vibrant, walkable district. To promote safety and better reflect the current
environment, creating a business district will enable staff to establish reasonable and safe prima facie
speed limits on the roadways within in the Bridge Street/Riverside Drive Business District, including
Riverside Drive, without seeking permission from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).
Summary
In furtherance of the recently approved Speed Management Program, this proposed legislation will
enable staff to establish a reasonable and safe prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour on the
roadways within the defined area, which contain the core walkable, multi-modal areas of Dublin. It
is not the intention to change the speed limit on roadways outside the core pedestrian areas in the
near term or to alter the speed limits on alleys, in school zones or on roadways adjacent to
freeway entrance and exit ramps.
Establishing a Business District
City Council was supportive of establishing a business district during the consideration and
adoption process of the Speed Management Program. By establishing the Bridge Street/Riverside
Drive Business District, speed limits could be lowered within the established boundaries as another
tool to further the goal of creating safe and comfortable streets for all residents and road users,
including those walking and rolling. The proposed business district boundary encompasses Historic
Dublin and the Bridge Street District (shaded in yellow on Figure 1 on the next page).
The following routes or portions of these routes are currently posted above 25 miles per hour in
the Bridge Street Business District:
• SR 161/Bridge Street
• Riverside Drive
• Dale Drive
• Bridge Park Avenue
• Village Parkway
• Tuller Road
• Dublin Center Drive
(north of SR 161)
• Shamrock Boulevard
With the adoption of the Bridge Street/Riverside Drive Business District, these routes would be
eligible for a 25 mile per hour speed limit without required speed study approval at the state level.
Office of the City Manager
5555 Perimeter Drive • Dublin, OH 43017
Phone: 614.410.4400 Memo
Ordinance 34-23 Establishing the Bridge Street/Riverside Drive Business District for the Purposes of Creating Safer
and More Comfortable Streets
August 22, 2023
Page 2 of 3
Figure 1: Proposed Boundaries of the Bridge Street/Riverside Drive Business District
After a business district is defined, the process to lower a speed limit would simply require
submitting a speed limit revision form to ODOT along with the legislation defining the business
district and associated map to ODOT. This action will remove any outstanding journalized speed
limits that may be in place and record the revised prima facie speed limit. Once approved, Dublin
could then erect the new speed limit signs, provide the date the signs were installed with a
signature and resubmit to ODOT for their records.
Riverside Drive Speed Limit
With the adoption of this legislation, it is staff’s intention to reduce the speed limit on Riverside Drive,
from the north side of Martin Road to Tuller Road, from 40 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour, in
accordance with the proposed boundaries of the Bridge Street/Riverside Drive Business District. The 25
mile per hour zone will extend slightly south of the Bridge Street District zoning boundary due to
providing a continuity of speed limits and the appropriate placement of advance warning signs alerting
drivers of the changing speed zone.
A media campaign and outreach plan is being coordinated through the Division of Communications and
Public Information. A flier with the new speed limit information will be distributed to local businesses
and business and homeowner associations. Police officers will also distribute this flier during the
educational phase of the action plan. A mock-up of the flier is attached for reference. Social media,
including Dublin News Now and Next Door, will also be used to communicate the new speed limit.
The following action plan is proposed to educate, establish and enforce the new speed limit:
Ordinance 34-23 Establishing the Bridge Street/Riverside Drive Business District for the Purposes of Creating Safer
and More Comfortable Streets
August 22, 2023
Page 3 of 3
Target Date Action
September 12 – September 17 Make any necessary modifications to action plan or educational
campaign as needed
September 18 – October 10 Media campaign and outreach to announce the new 25 mph speed limit
along Riverside Drive between Martin Road and Tuller Road
September 28 – October 11 Message boards in each direction two weeks in advance of the change
to educate drivers on the upcoming speed limit reduction
October 12 Post the new speed limit signs
October 13 – October 29 Educational enforcement with speed trailers for two weeks allowing a
reasonable amount of time for drivers to adjust their speeds
October 30 Enforcement of the 25 mph zone, per the Police Department Traffic
Enforcement Action policy
Recommendation
Staff recommends adoption of Ordinance 34-23 – Establishing the Bridge Street/Riverside Drive
Business District for the Purposes of Creating Safer and More Comfortable Streets at the second
reading/public hearing on September 11, 2023.
Purpose
Supports walking, biking, transit
Urban, walkable area makes Dublin a
healthier and more vibrant city
Flourishing and evolving with a mix of land
uses -supported with ample sidewalks,
shared use paths, transit stops, bike racks,
shared mobility devices, and the Dublin Link
pedestrian bridge
Citywide transportation and mobility
initiatives
Speed Management Program
Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community
award
Establishing a Business District
Ordinance defines the
purpose and the boundary
Speed limits follow ORC and
submit speed limit form to
ODOT
Historic Dublin
Bridge Street District
Speed limits remain the
same:
Alleys,school zones,
freeway ramps
Establishing a Business District
Proposed Business District Boundary F
Map 1: Bridge Street/Riverside Drive Business District
Outside Corporation LimitsDublin Corporation Limits
Routes with speed limits
above 25 mph
Riverside Drive
SR 161/Bridge Street
Dale Drive
Bridge Park Avenue
Village Parkway
Tuller Road
Dublin Center Drive (north
of SR 161)
Shamrock Boulevard
Establishing a Business District
Proposed Business District Boundary FSpeed limit over 25 mph
Map 1: Bridge Street/Riverside Drive Business District