Acme Street to stay at 25 mph
Since the completion of the Acme, Pike and Jefferson streets project in 2014, traffic has been steadily increasing but an increase in the speed limit won’t be happening any time soon.
The Ohio Department of Transportation, which implemented the project to improve safety and traffic flow at the busy intersection, sent a letter to city council in 2014 informing them that the area of Acme Street from Pike to Greene would become the designated state route, part of Ohio 26, and should be increased to 35 mph. It currently remains at 25 mph.
“It is the city’s decision whether to change the speed limit there,” said Ashley Rittenhouse, public information officer for ODOT.
At-large councilwoman Kathy Downer, chair of the streets and transportation committee, said there hasn’t been any action on the part of the city but they would need to conduct a study in order to keep the limit at 25 mph if there is a push from the state or businesses to increase it to 35 mph.
“I’m not sure the residents there even had any idea that it could change (with the completion of the project),” Downer said.
From Phillips Street to Greene, there are residences on both sides of the street. From Pike to Phillips, it is mostly businesses.
Phillips Street resident Rick Nicholson, who has lived in Norwood for 33 years, was pumping gas at Kroger on Tuesday and indicated that he would prefer the speed limit to stay 25 mph.
“Look up through here, there are at least six points of entry into these businesses and residential areas. I think it needs to stay 25,” he said. “There are children, handicapped and we will see more accidents and fender benders because if you increase it to 35, people will drive 40 … it’s harder to stop at that speed.”
Laura Thompson, who works at her family’s business Bird Watcher’s Digest at 149 Acme St., said they have seen an increase in traffic, especially truck traffic since Acme became a state route, but she isn’t sure increasing the speed limit by 10 miles per hour would make much of a difference.
“I’m conflicted because there are a lot of people doing business in this area but there are also children who get off at the bus stop near here,” she said.
Thompson said she has noticed an increased presence by the Ohio Highway Patrol but the timing of the lights helps to deter speeding.
“We have seen a few texting-related accidents, though, because people sit so long at the light there at Kroger,” she said.
Sgt. Eric Knowlton with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, said the traffic lights do play a role in decreasing the incidences of speeding through the area.
“We do sit on that road because it is a main thoroughfare through town, but it is within the city limits and is still a city street,” he said. “I don’t have any information on the number of traffic stops but I would just say that people have to be real diligent in that area.”
Jeremy Harmon is a resident of Third Street who drives Acme Street regularly to get to his job at Kroger. As someone who uses the street as a means to an end, Harmon said he would appreciate an increase.
“I think it would be great to make it 35. It would get people moving and there probably would be fewer people getting pulled over,” he said.
With Acme Street being designated a state route, Thompson and Nicholson both said that they would also like to see additional funding for repairs to the road caused by the increase in heavy traffic.
Rittenhouse said there would “probably be additional opportunities for additional funding.”
Ohio speed limits
¯ School zones are 20 mph while children are coming to and from school, and during recess. If there are speed limit beacons then this only applies when the lights are flashing.
¯ Alleys have a speed limit of 15 mph.
¯ Highways outside of business districts have a speed limit of 35 mph.
¯ Inside business districts the speed limit is 25mph.
¯ Residential districts are 35 mph maximum.
¯ Undivided roads are 55 mph.
¯ The limit is 65 mph on urban freeways and divided roads.
¯ 70 mph is allowed on rural freeways.
Source: speed-limits.com