Columbia will lower residential street speeds to 25 mph
Pedestrian and child safety have long made residential speed-limits a hotly debated topic. For many years the Columbia city council has heard from residents who wanted to lower the speed limit on a certain street, but city staff in the Public Works Department has resisted this idea, claiming that speed limit reductions have little effect on the actual speed people drive. However, a new study conducted here in Columbia has shown that people will drive more slowly when 25 mph signs are posted.
In October of 2008, two University of Missouri researchers began studies in the Rothwell Heights and Shepard Boulevard neighborhoods. Their investigation looked at how new street signs and a neighborhood campaign would reduce traffic speed in a residential neighborhood. Their conclusion, presented to the city council on June 15, 2009, showed that lowering the speed limits reduced traffic speed by 1 to 6.21 mph. Part of the success of the study was attributed to special speed limit signs that featured the words “kid-friendly”.
Public works director John Glascock expressed surprised at the findings and was quoted as saying, “I guess you could say that you can teach and old dog a new trick.” He has since recommended that the city adopt an ordinance that lowers the speed limit to 25 mph in all residential neighborhoods. The city council then requested a draft ordinance to review and discuss at future council meetings.
The proposed ordinance will need to go through ordinance adoption process and will then take time to implement. Glascock said new signs will have to be ordered and installed and a public awareness campaign will need to take place.
Related articles:
- Columbia Daily Tribune: City tests out lower speed limits for neighborhoods
- Columbia Missourian: Columbia to produce ordinance for lower residential speed limits
- KOMU: New Speed Limit
