Michigan State Sen. Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) is upset about the speed limit changes on gravel roads because he was told there would still be local control and that’s why he voted in favor of the new state law.
‘I specifically asked the question because of my concern about the fact that Oakland County gravel roads can be much different than say in Cheboygan, where there are no homes within miles,? he said.
On paved roads, local governments and citizens can request an engineering and traffic study be performed and if the road warrants it, a Traffic Control Order (TCO) is issued to set a new speed limit. This cannot be done on gravel roads.
‘We don’t do TCOs on gravel roads? because ‘from day-to-day (the) conditions of a gravel road can change dramatically,? according to Michigan State Police Lt. Thad Peterson. ‘That’s why can’t put an accurate maximum speed limit up on most gravel roads based on (the) normal standards of setting speed limits, which is a normal traffic and engineering study.?
Bishop said he wasn’t told this. ‘We were never told they wouldn’t do a study on gravel roads,? he said. ‘So the state police now are telling us something completely different than what we understood it to be.?
State Rep. Jim Marleau (R-Lake Orion) said he was told the same. ‘We were told there was going to be local control but unfortunately, it’s just one of those things,? he said. ‘We thought that mechanism (Traffic Control Orders) stood for all roads.?
‘I’m quite annoyed by the fact we are now getting a different statement by the state police than what we agreed on the day we voted on that issue,? Bishop said. Had he known a Traffic Control Order can’t be done on gravel roads, ‘absolutely it would have changed my vote and there’s no way I would have supported something that would have set speed limits at the state level.?
‘I certainly do not want to tell Addison Township, Oxford, or whoever, what’s safe on their streets,? the state senator explained. ‘I think it’s absurd for state government to think that it can set a state-wide speed limit on gravel roads when they have no idea the demographics of the area.?
‘Locals absolutely have got to have the authority to set their speed limits,? Bishop noted.
The state senator believes the Road Commission for Oakland County should just leave all the 25 mph signs in place as a ‘suggested? speed limit. ‘I don’t see any harm in keeping the signs up,? he said.
David Allyn, traffic safety director for road commission, said all the 25 mph must come down because it would be illegal to leave these roads posted under the new state law.
Bishop disagreed. ‘It’s not unlawful for them to have them up,? he said. ‘It’s probably not something they can enforce compliance with, but it’s not unlawful for the municipality to have that sign up.?
‘The reality is those signs are up and (the roads) are posted at certain speed limits because the locals decided that was a safe speed limit,? Bishop said.
Bishop is not planning to let this issue go.
‘I assure you that when the smoke settles on this election and we get into a legislative cycle, there will be a lot of answers being requested and a lot of people are going to be taken to task on this,? he said. ‘If I need to correct a wrong with curative legislation, I’ll be the first in line to do it.?