Press release from the city regarding a plan to lower speed limits in residential areas:
The City of Springfield is starting a community-input process to gather opinions on a proposal to reduce the speed limits in neighborhoods to 25 mph across the city.
Public Works/Traffic Engineering has reviewed the results of a pilot project to reduce the neighborhood speed limit by 5 mph in the Rountree neighborhood in central Springfield. That year-long pilot project has shown enough positive result and support to propose a similar speed-limit reduction for local streets across Springfield.
In the Rountree pilot project, speed measurements taken after the 5 mph reduction in the speed limit show that motorists reduced their speed by 3 to 5 mph on the designated streets. There also has been a reduction in the number of vehicles using the residential streets posted at 25 mph.
The program is designed to improve neighborhood traffic safety and create a more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly environment for schoolchildren and adults. The focus is on voluntary compliance with residents choosing to drive slower so that additional Police enforcement will not be required. Police will continue to focus anti-speeding enforcement in areas with higher speed limits.
The timing of the proposal to change most local street speed limits coincides with the planned replacement schedule for existing speed limit signs. The City has funding set aside for speed limit sign replacement on a 10-year schedule, so there would not be additional cost for the new signs.
A map showing the proposed streets that would be posted for 25mph speed limits is available at: maps.springfieldmo.gov/website/speedlimits.
The public is invited to offer input in several ways.
- There is a short survey available on the City Web site: springfieldmo.gov.
- A Community Forum is set up on the Web site in which citizens can post questions or comments that will be addressed by City staff. The Forum address is: springfieldmo.gov/forum.
- Citizens also can submit written comments to: City of Springfield/Traffic Engineering, P.O. Box 8368, Springfield, Mo., 65801, Attn: 25 mph speed limit.
- Citizens may speak with one of the Traffic Engineering staff members about the proposed change in local street speed limit by calling 864-1980.
City staff is forwarding information about the proposal to the parents of all Springfield Public Schools elementary students. The Traffic Advisory Board and PTA groups have expressed support for the proposal. A copy of the flyer is available for download under the “Traffic Issues” board on the Community Forum Web site: springfieldmo.gov/forum.
Information gained through the community-input process will be provided to City Council for their consideration of the speed limit reduction proposal in February.
I’m all for it, with one exception. They need to raise the highway speed limit from 65 to 70. I’d like to see some equivalent exchange here.