Monday evening the Texarkana, Texas City Council will have a first briefing on an ordinance that would reduce the speed limit on a stretch of U.S. 67.
According to a letter sent to the city by TxDOT traffic engineer Rebecca Wells a recent recent engineering study and traffic survey determined the appropriate speed zones on US 67. “An expedient reply is requested on passage of the city ordinance in order that the speed zones may be in compliance with state traffic law,” says Wells in the letter.
Ordinance No. 2015-003 regulating the speed of motor vehicles upon a certain section of US 67 within the corporate limits of the City of Texarkana, Texas; registering the set speed limits in the City’s Traffic Register; authorizing the Texas Department of Transportation to erect signs.
According to Wells TxDOT uses a speed study method known as the 85th percentile to set speed limits.
The proposed changes to the speed zones are as follows.
- Extend the limits of the existing forty (40) mph speed zone west of the TNER railroad track. This change would include both 7th Street and MLK Boulevard.
- Decrease the speed limit from fifty (50) mph to forty-five (45) mph from west of the TNER railroad track to west of Memorial Drive.
- Create a new fifty (50) mph speed zone west of Memorial Drive to the West City Limits of Texarkana.
If approved, these changes to the speed limits will be added and kept in the Traffic Register.
View Speed Study .pdf
View TxDOT Letter .pdf
