Traffic Control—

Police Commission Addresses Speed Limits

By Andrew Gorosko

In a move to make the posting of speed limits on town roads consistent and in conformance with applicable state standards, the Police Commission, in its role as the local traffic authority, has submitted for state review a list of speed limits for various town-owned roads.

Police Commission members, at a March 2 session, unanimously approved submitting for State Traffic Commission (STC) review a report prepared by the police department’s traffic enforcement unit that addresses the town road speed limit issue. The STC also sets speed limits on the state roads that pass through town.

The police department’s traffic unit has completed the first phase of a two-phase project reviewing speed limits on town roads.

Following the STC review of the proposed speed limits for the various town roads, speed limit signs would be posted as directed by the STC and in conformance with applicable state regulations.

The speed limits requested by the Police Commission are derived through an analysis of the width and gradient of a road, the development alongside the road, the sight lines for motorists traveling on the road, and the prevailing speed of vehicles which travel on the road.

Many of the speed limits would conform with the current posted limits on the streets. Other speed limits would be somewhat lower than the currently posted limits.

According to traffic documents to be reviewed by the STC, the Police Commission proposes a speed limit of 15 miles per hour for Dickenson Drive, and also for a hazardous section of Butterfield Road.

The Police Commission proposes a speed limit of 20 miles per hour for road sections including: Keating Farms Avenue, Oakview Road, Simpson Street, and Trades Lane.

A 25-mph speed limit is proposed for sections of: Walnut Tree Hill Road, Birch Hill Road, Head O’ Meadow Road, Old Bethel Road, Hundred Acres Road, Orchard Hill Road, Pine Tree Hill Road, Button Shop Road,  Flat Swamp Road, High Bridge Road, Philo Curtis Road, Pole Bridge Road, Swamp Road, Butterfield Road, Cherry Street, Narragansett Trail, Old Green Road, Pootatuck Park Road, Saw Mill Road, Scudder Road, Violette Road, Cemetery Road, Cold Spring Road, Palestine Road, Bradley Lane, Little Brook Lane, Peck’s Lane, Yogananda Street, and Pocono Road.

A 30-mph speed limit is proposed for Riverside Road.

Police Chief Michael Kehoe told Police Commission members that the police traffic enforcement unit’s review of speed limits on town roads found that many town roads that the STC had reviewed in the past for speed limit approval had speed limit signs posted on them that do not match the STC-approved speed limits for those roads.

The police traffic unit consequently submitted work orders to the town public works department to have the correct speed limit signs posted on affected roads, he said.

In another speed limit matter at the March 2 Police Commission session, police Captain Joe Rios suggested that the town post road signs at its boundaries advising motorists entering the town that town police strictly enforce applicable speed limits.

Capt Rios suggested the posting of road signs which might include the legends: “Speed Limits Strictly Enforced,” or possibly “Slow Down — Newtown.”

Commission members are expected to discuss posting such advisory road signs at an upcoming session.