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1 City Council Report Date: July 20, 2026 To: City Council Through: Marc Heirshberg, Assistant City Manager From: Erik Guderian, Transportation Department Director Sabine King, Assistant Transportation Director Subject: Modify Speed Limit Mesa Drive, Bates Street to Lehi Road (Council District 1) Purpose and Recommendation The intent of this report is to modify the posted speed limit on Mesa Drive from Bates Street to Lehi Road. To account for Mesa Drive’s semi-rural road characteristics, the low-density residential characteristics, the agricultural and equestrian usage, as well as the need for heritage preservation, staff recommends reducing the speed limit from 35 mph to 30 mph on Mesa Drive between Bates Street and Lehi Road. See attached Figure 1 for a location map. Background and Discussion Mesa Drive north of McKellips Road is classified as an arterial but functions as a collector street. It provides north/south access over the Loop 202 and through the Lehi Heritage Neighborhood. The corridor serves as a connection between the traditional suburban Mesa infrastructure south of McKellips Road and the semi-rural and agricultural heritage of Lehi. The northeast and northwest corner at McKellips Road are commercial lots. There is also an apartment complex just north of McKellips Road, and continuing north the land use transitions from single family homes to large residential lots designed to support livestock and equestrian lifestyles within an urban city framework. In 2023, Mesa designated Lehi as a "Heritage Neighborhood" to protect its unique historic and rural character, which dates back to its 1877 founding by Mormon pioneers. Currently, Mesa Drive has posted speed limits of 35 mph between McKellips Road and Lehi Road, and 30 mph between Lehi Road and the north City limits. It is striped as a semi-urban 2-lane cross section with one travel lane in each direction, and the majority does not have curb, gutter, or sidewalks. The current street cross-section will remain unchanged. 2 The original request was to reduce the speed limit on Mesa Drive to 30 mph from McKellips Road to Lehi Road. However, per Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-703(F), the difference between adjacent speed limits shall not exceed 10 mph. The posted speed limit south of McKellips Road is 45 mph, which limits how much the speed can be reduced at that location. Because the characteristics of the roadway do not change until north of McKellips Road, staff does not recommend reducing the speed limit south of McKellips Road. As a result, the speed limit cannot be reduced to 30 mph at McKellips Road without exceeding the allowable difference between adjacent segments. Thus, the recommendation is to keep the existing 35-mph speed limit until the next intersection north of McKellips Road, which is Bates Street. Speeds of 35 mph and 30 mph are covered in Mesa City Code Sections 10-4-5 and 10-4-6, respectively. The proposed speed limit reduction would require modification, by means of Ordinance and amendment of the respective sections. Coordination On May 19, 2026, the Transportation Advisory Board reviewed the proposed speed limit modifications and establishment for Mesa Drive and concurred with staff’s recommendation to reduce the speed limit from 35 mph to 30 mph on Mesa Drive between Bates Street and Lehi Road. Alternatives As an alternative, a speed limit other than the recommended 30 mph could be established or the existing 35-mph posted speed limit could remain. However, considering the semi-rural nature of Mesa Drive, the need to protect Lehi’s semi-rural and agricultural heritage, and the presence of livestock and equestrian usage, the recommended speed limit is most appropriate and reasonable. Fiscal Impact The installation of speed limit signs on Mesa Drive between Bates Street and Lehi Road will result in a minimal fiscal impact. An estimated two speed limit signs will cost less than $200 to install and this is not considered a contingent factor for this type of change. • • CITY OF MESA TRANSPORTATION Existing 35mph Proposed 30 mph Speed Limit FIGURE 1: ITEM NO. LOCATION MAP ST