By Elliot Novess
Western Herald
Two public forums will be held to educate and answer motorist’s questions about an upcoming change to the speed limits along Westnedge Avenue in Kalamazoo.
From Dunkley Street to Crosstown Parkway crossings, the speed limit will change from 30 mph to 35 mph and from Crosstown Parkway to Kilgore road, it will change from 35 mph to 40 mph. This is a result of a speed study preformed by the Michigan State Police.
“Traffic is already moving at 35 mph – 40 mph,” Michigan Department of Transportation spokesmen Nick Schirripa said. “The arbitrary number on the sign will change.”
The public forums will both start at 6 p.m. The first will be Monday, April 12 and the second Tuesday, April 13. Each will be at the Kalamazoo City Hall Commission Chambers, 241 W. South St.
State police Sgt. Jim Cambell will have a 15 minute presentation at the open forums that outlines the speed study, which he has done for 15 years.
Speed studies are conducted every few years, as budgets allow. An officer records the speed of passing cars at any given speed. Drivers will never know their speed has been recorded.
Historically, drivers do not increase their speeds after signage has been changed. This is counter intuitive, but MDOT has data to back up this claim.
“Data we have does not suggest people will go faster,” Schirripa said. “With no sign people will go at or near a safe and prudent speed 85 percent of the time.”
The reconstruction of the I-94/Westnedge interchange coupled with this speed limit adjustment has a big picture effect on the traffic flow of Westnedge, according to Schirripa.
The two projects were not planned in unison.
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