Lexington’s traffic engineering division presented their case this week to a city council committee for lowering speed limits on several downtown streets. The idea got a cool reaction from a number of council members.
The proposal sets out to lower speed limits from 35 to 25 miles per hour on some 17 downtown streets. It’s aimed primarily at enhancing pedestrian and cycling safety. Council member Jake Gibbs represents a significant section of downtown. “I think people would be much more likely to sit at an outdoor café, allow their children to come downtown, be more willing to be a pedestrian when you feel safer,” said Gibbs.
Council member Russ Hensley expressed reservations, saying the data seemed to indicate safety problems at specific places downtown. “It seems like you’ve got two clusters of two gateways that have predominance of the issues and you’re throwing the baby out with the bath water approach,” said Hensley.
Traffic Engineering Director Dowell Hoskins-Squier says there are also other issues to consider. She says the aim is to enhance pedestrian safety, but Hoskins-Squier adds lowering the speed limit is just one factor. “Speed is not the only factor," she said. "You know, people are not crossing in the crosswalk. They’re wearing dark clothing. There’s a whole variety of factors. Demographic places into it. So, will we address all of those issues with reducing the speed limit? No, we won’t."
But, Hoskins-Squier says the large number of pedestrians downtown compared to outlying subdivisions makes the change pertinent. No action was taken on the proposal.?
