GREENFIELD — Drivers will soon have to slow down as they enter Greenfield, because the Department of Public Works plans to replace 30 mph with 25 mph speed limit signs at eight city entryways.
The City Council unanimously passed an ordinance May 15, 2019, after Precinct 7 Councilor and Vice President Otis Wheeler proposed to lower the default speed limit in thickly settled residential areas. He also proposed that the city replace 30 mph signs on numerous side streets.
DPW Director Marlo Warner said the city has a total of 25 new speed limit signs that it will eventually post, but it is currently awaiting confirmation of which side streets will have new signs. He said some of the gateways include the Mohawk Trail, Bernardston Road, Leyden Road, French King Highway and Deerfield Street.
“We worked with MassDOT (the Massachusetts Department of Transportation), so that there were no conflicts with state signs because many signs are posted where drivers are coming off state highways,” Warner said. “We got the permit from the state last week and will replace them in the next few weeks.”
Wheeler said cities and towns used to go through a much longer process to replace a speed limit sign, but when the state passed the Municipal Modernization Act of 2016, that changed. The process became much more expedited because there is now more local control.
In the past, police would have to conduct a speed study. Then, the information would be submitted to the state, which would then decide what the speed limit should be. Wheeler said under the 2016 act, the city can decide without having to conduct lengthy and costly studies.
“This doesn’t apply town-wide,” Wheeler said. “The city is 21 square miles, so there are areas where it doesn’t make sense. This is essentially for the residential core, which we’ll tackle after the initial eight.”
Wheeler said the side streets that will be involved are in the “Main Street to Silver Street and High Street to Elm Street square,” with maybe a few other streets outside the square included. He said the 17 remaining signs will replace signs within those areas.
“We’re hoping that most people already drive 25 mph in densely populated areas, even where the speed limit is higher than that,” he said. “Just like our safety zones near schools, senior centers and housing developments with lots of children, we want to see other neighborhoods protected as well.”
The city councilor said he decided to make the proposal after his father and another councilor (Precinct 8 Councilor Douglas Mayo) got hit by cars in separate incidents on Federal Street. He said both were taken to the hospital after their accidents and both ended up being “fine.”
“Studies have shown that reducing a speed limit from 30 to 25 causes a driver to lose just a matter of seconds as they head to a destination,” he said. “I think that’s worth the safety of our children and neighbors. This was a no-brainer for me and the rest of the council.”
Wheeler said while doing research on the matter, he learned that if someone on foot gets hit by a car going 35 or 40 mph as opposed to 25 mph, it can mean the difference between life and death.
“I learned that if you’re hit by someone going 25 mph,” he said, “nine out of 10 people will live, while if you get hit by someone going 35 to 40 mph, half don’t survive.”
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.