When township residents say, ‘slow down,? local drivers are going to listen.
‘Often people would question the speed on local roads,? said Robert DePalma, Groveland township supervisor. ‘Many times residents need motorists to slow down driving past their houses and they request the township’s help. This new law will aid with the process.?
DePalma along with township officials statewide will now have greater latitude in determining local speed limits after Gov. Jennifer Granholm recently signed into law two bills that give townships more authority in the speed limit process. A township official will now have a vote, along with the county road commission and the Michigan State Police in determining the speed limits on county roads.
Prior to the new rules townships had ‘weaker? decision-making authority regarding speed limits on county roads within the township lines. Speed limits on township roads were the sole determination of the county road commission and the Michigan State Police. Cities and villages exercise authority over speed limits within their boundaries.
The speed limits are determined if 85 percent of the vehicles are traveling at a given speed, then the speed is implemented. According to the Michigan Association of Townships, the Michigan State Police conduct about 1,300 traffic studies per year. The data collected includes speed and type of vehicles on the road.
Since residents with concerns about traffic, speed and public safety often look to their township boards for action, the Michigan Association of Townships along with lawmakers spearheaded the pair of bills affording township boards involvement in decisions to set speed limits on county highways.
‘Township officials can now have input that may not be in the data or known by the State Police,? said David Bertram, Legislative liaison for the Michigan Townships Association, which represents 1,242 townships statewide.
‘Often the traffic survey does not reflect all the factors in a community.?
For example, a traffic survey is completed in the summer, school traffic patterns are not part of the data or new growth areas in the township, ‘traffic data does not keep pace with the over all growth of the area,? added Bertram.
In 2002, Gov. John Engler vetoed similar bills saying, ’emotionally charged decisions regarding changes in speed limits most often result in speed limits set unreasonably low. This tends to undermine legitimate speed limits and enforcement of traffic safety law,? according to Michigan Senate records.