CHAPTER 73

SPEED REGULATIONS

73.01    GENERAL. Every driver of a motor vehicle on a street shall drive the same at a careful and prudent speed not greater than nor less than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface and width of the street and of any other conditions then existing, and no person shall drive a vehicle on any street at a speed greater than will permit said driver to bring it to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead, such driver having the right to assume, however, that all persons using said street will observe the law.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.285)

73.02    STATE CODE SPEED LIMITS. The following speed limits are established in Section 321.285 of the Code of Iowa and any speed in excess thereof is unlawful unless specifically designated otherwise in this chapter as a special speed zone.

1. Business District – twenty (20) miles per hour.

2. Residence or School District – twenty-five (25) miles per hour.

3. Suburban District – forty-five (45) miles per hour.

“Business District” is defined in Section 70.02(1).

73.03    PARKS, CEMETERIES AND PARKING LOTS. A speed in excess of fifteen (15) miles per hour in any public park, cemetery or parking lot, unless specifically designated otherwise in this chapter, is unlawful.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.236[5])

73.04    SPECIAL SPEED RESTRICTIONS. In accordance with requirements of the Iowa State Department of Transportation, or whenever the Council shall determine upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that any speed limit listed in Section 73.02 is greater or less than is reasonable or safe under the conditions found to exist at any intersection or other place or upon any part of the City street system, the Council shall

determine and adopt by ordinance such higher or lower speed limit as it deems reasonable and safe at such location. The following special speed zones have been established:

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.290)

1. Special 10 MPH Speed Zones. A speed in excess of ten (10) miles per hour is unlawful on any of the following designated streets or parts thereof.

1. In any public alley.

2. Special 15 MPH Speed Zones. A speed in excess of fifteen (15) miles per hour is unlawful on any of the following designated streets or parts thereof.

1. Main Street from the north edge of Cascade Bridge to Potter Drive.

3. Special 20 MPH Speed Zones. A speed in excess of twenty (20) miles per hour is unlawful on any of the following designated streets or parts thereof.

1. The frontage roads and their approaches along Roosevelt Avenue from Sunnyside Avenue to West Avenue.

2. In any signed school zone between the hours of seven-thirty o’clock (7:30) a.m. and four o’clock (4:00) p.m. on weekdays when school is in session.

3. Central Avenue from 150 feet north and south of Spring Street between the hours of seven-thirty o’clock (7:30) a.m. and four o’clock (4:00) p.m. on weekdays when school is in session.

4. Spring Street from 150 feet east and west of Central Avenue between the hours of seven-thirty o’clock (7:30) a.m. and four o’clock (4:00) p.m. on weekdays when school is in session.

5. Curran Street from 150 feet north and south of Agency Street between the hours of seven-thirty o’clock (7:30) a.m. and four o’clock (4:00) p.m. on weekdays when school is in session.

6. Agency Street from 150 feet east and west of Curran Street between the hours of seven-thirty o’clock (7:30) a.m. and four o’clock (4:00) p.m. on weekdays when school is in session.

4. Special 25 MPH Speed Zones. A speed in excess of twenty-five (25) miles per hour is unlawful on any of the following designated streets or parts thereof.

1. Agency Street from Osborn Street to Curran Street.

2. Columbia Street from Eighth Street to Central Avenue.

3. Elm Street from South Third Street to Main Street.

4. Harrison Street from Mason Road to Summer Street.

5. Mason Road from Haskell Street to Harrison Street.

6. North Ninth Street from Corse Street to Oak Street.

7. Osborn Street in its entirety.

8. South Fourth Street from Market Street to Division Street.

9. South Third Street from Division Street to Elm Street.

10. Wells Street from Osborn Street to Spring Street.

11. Curran Street from Agency Street to Mt. Pleasant Street except as provided in paragraph 3(E) of this section.

5. Special 30 MPH Speed Zones. A speed in excess of thirty (30) miles per hour is unlawful on any of the following designated streets or parts thereof.

1. Agency Street from Curran Street to 1,327 feet west of Roosevelt Avenue except as provided in paragraph 3(F) of this section.

2. Angular Street from Main Street to Summer Street.

3. Bluff Road from North 8^th Street to Cash Street.

4. Bluff Road southbound from a point approximately 350 feet north of on/off ramp of Highway 34 to High Street.

5. Central Avenue from Oak Street to Harrison Avenue except as provided in paragraph 3(C) and of this section.

6. Division Street from Main Street to Plane Street.

7. Division Street from Roosevelt Avenue to West Burlington Avenue.

8. Harrison Avenue from Main Street to Summer Street.

9. Irish Ridge Road from Sunnyside Avenue to north City limits.

10. Madison Avenue from Harrison Avenue to the south City limits.

11. Main Street from Angular Street to Cascade Bridge.

12. Mt. Pleasant Street, westbound only, from West Burlington Avenue to the west City limits.

13. Oak Street from Osborn Street to North Seventh Street.

14. Spring Street from Wells Street to Bluff Road except as provided in paragraph 3(F) of this section.

15. Summer Street from Angular Street to the south City limits.

16. Sunnyside Avenue from Corse Street to Roosevelt Avenue.

17. West Avenue from Garfield Street to Roosevelt Avenue.

12. Lawrence Drive from West Avenue to Mason Road.

13. Main Street from Angular Street to Division Street.

6. Special 35 MPH Speed Zones. A speed in excess of thirty-five (35) miles per hour is unlawful on any of the following designated streets or parts thereof.

1. Agency Street, eastbound only, from the west City limits to 1,327 feet west of Roosevelt Avenue.

2. Des Moines Avenue from Cash Street to approximately 700 feet north of Pond Street.

3. Division Street from Plane Street to Roosevelt Avenue.

4. Division Street from West Burlington Avenue to City limits.

5. Mason Road from Haskell Street to Howard Drive.

6. Mt. Pleasant Street from Wells Street to West Burlington Avenue.

7. West Burlington Avenue from Agency Street to West Avenue.

8. Lower Agusta Road from Howard Drive to the west City limits.

7. Special 40 MPH Speed Zones. A speed in excess of forty (40) miles per hour is unlawful on any of the following designated streets or parts thereof.

1. Bluff Road, northbound from Highway 34 on/off ramp to North 8^th Street.

2. Bluff Road, southbound from North 8th Street to a point approximately 350 feet north of Highway 34 on/off ramp.

3. Gear Avenue (Buena Vista Drive) from West Avenue Road to the north City limits.

4. Roosevelt Avenue from the south City limits to 150 feet north of Sunnyside Avenue.

5. West Avenue from Roosevelt Avenue to the west City limits.

8. Special 45 MPH Speed Zones. A speed in excess of forty-five (45) miles per hour is unlawful on any of the following designated streets or parts thereof.

1. Highway 61 (Roosevelt Avenue) from 150 feet south of West Avenue to 150 feet south of Mason Road.

9. Special 55 MPH Speed Zones. A speed in excess of fifty-five (55) miles per hour is unlawful on any of the following designated streets or parts thereof.

1. Highway 34 in its entirety.

73.05    MINIMUM SPEED. A person shall not drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation, or in compliance with law.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.294)