The state has spoken: Parts of US-12 in Saline to see faster speed limits
Look for new faster speed limits on portions of US-12 in Saline in early 2012 as the state has made its final decision.
City Manager Todd Campbell told the City Council on Monday that Michigan State Trooper Lt. Gary Megee contacted him recently and confirmed that the section of Michigan Avenue between Industrial and Hopper would be increased to 50 mph, while the section from Hopper to Kevling would increase to 45 mph.
Two weeks ago, Megee made a presentation to the City Council and said the new speeds weren't a done deal.
During his report, Megee said that slower speeds lower driver and pedestrian expectations and if cars are traveling faster than the posted speed limits, it becomes a safety risk for everyone.
So, once the new signs go up, drivers traveling from Kevling to Harris will see new speed limits of 40 mph.
The area through the downtown will remain at 30 mph.
But, there will be no change for the short stretch from Lewis to Mills, that speed limit will remain 30 mph. But from Lewis to River Oaks the new speed will be 40 mph and from River Oaks to Austin Road, the speed will increase to 45 mph.
The state is expected to complete its paperwork on the new speed limits by Dec. 31 and then “it could be two days or two months” before the new speed limit signs are erected, Campbell said.
Lisa Allmendinger is a regional reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lisaallmendinger@annarbor.com. For more Saline stories, visit our Saline page.
Comments
Jim Walker
Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 3:58 p.m.
85th percentile posted speed limits have been known to be the safest for at least 70 years and the information people have seen to the contrary since 1974 from the "safety lobby" is misinformation and deliberate dis-information from groups with financial conflicts of interest in having artificially low posted speed limits such as NHTSA and the IIHS. 85th percentile methods are proven traffic safety engineering science. Please note that actual travel speeds are a different subject than the numbers painted on the signs, and the two do not influence each other very much. You can raise too-low posted limits by up to 15 mph or lower just-right ones by up to 20 mph and the change in the actual 85th percentile travel speeds will be a MAXIMUM of 3 mph, but usually the change is 1 mph or less. See <a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/rdu/sl-irrel.html" rel='nofollow'>www.ibiblio.org/rdu/sl-irrel.html</a> For the best booklet on this method in the country, download the Michigan State Police booklet "Establishing Realistic Speed Limits" at <a href="http://www.michigan.gov/speedlimits" rel='nofollow'>www.michigan.gov/speedlimits</a> What makes 85th methods safer is the reduction in speed variance and the correct expectations of the road users. What makes cities fight using the safest methods are 1) it is harder to give lucrative speeding tickets and 2) the unwillingness of local officials to tell the truth about speed limits versus travel speeds to their residents. See all the science on our website. James C. Walker, National Motorists Association, <a href="http://www.motorists.org," rel='nofollow'>www.motorists.org,</a> Ann Arbor, MI
PatRay
Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 12:37 p.m.
On the other hand this could just be the trucking industry flexing it muscles with its new friend Snyder. Sounds like the only people that will benefit are the trucks going to the the parts plant. They don't have to slow down and lower productivity just for the safety of the public. Business first and the public safety last.
PatRay
Tue, Dec 6, 2011 : 11:56 a.m.
During his report, Megee said that slower speeds lower driver and pedestrian expectations and if cars are traveling faster than the posted speed limits, it becomes a safety risk for everyone. Under this line of reasoning (?) the speed limit will increase next year and the year after if drivers don't drive at or under the posted speed limit. We are letting the criminals set the speed limits. Why not use this guideline for the highways We could eliminate the state troopers doing speed control and let the public set the speed limits.