The speed limit on some downtown Lexington streets could be lowered within the next year. A proposal to do just that received council committee backing Tuesday.
The policy change would mean lowering the speed limit from 35 to 25 miles per hour for dozens of Lexington streets. Traffic Engineering Director Dowell Hoskins-Squier presented the proposal to the Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee. “The impact on stopping distance is significant," Hoskins-Squier said. "The impact on fatality risk is significant and the impact on injuries, injury reduction is significant.”
Hoskins-Squier estimates the cost to be about $50,000 for changing 158 signs, a public education campaign, and law enforcement.
So far state officials have not agreed to the change the speed limit on state maintained roads in the downtown area. Griffin Van Meter lives along North Limestone. He addressed the committee. “I’m right there on this fast street that is really hard to cross and very concerned for the safety of not just my children, but all the children in the neighborhood,” said Van Meter.
Hoskins-Squier told the committee a recent lunchtime check found almost a thousand pedestrians along Short Street in a two hour period. While pedestrian traffic is much heavier downtown than in neighborhoods, Hoskins-Squier will come back before council members in January with ideas for slowing traffic in suburbs. In addition to improving pedestrian and bike safety, Council member James Brown believes lowering the speed could spark a cultural shift. “More activities as far as health and fitness and just being out in the community and becoming a community,” said Brown. “Getting to know your neighbors and making the neighborhoods more walkable and bike friendly.”
If given final approval, lower speed limits on downtown streets maintained by the city could be in place by next summer.?
