The message sent by Clarkston-area and other county residents on gravel roadways was loud and clear: leave our speed limits alone.
The Michigan House of Representatives heard the message, and voted last week to amend the new law’Public Act 85’which mandated removal of speed limit signs and increased acceptable speeds to 55 mph along many of the county’s unpaved roads.
The law went into effect Nov. 9, and states that speed limits on those roads be determined according to the number of vehicle access points ? driveways, roads, and streets. The amendment, which now heads to the state Senate for approval, would halt the removal of speed limit signs and hand control back to local authorities, but only for the next 24 months.
‘It’s not ideal,? said Craig Bryson, RCOC public information officer. ‘But it was the best compromise we could come up with.?
The hope, he said, is that a solution is found in the meantime. None of the county’s 283 road segments with 25mph signs posted actually qualify for that limit; under the new law only those roads with 60 or more access points within a half mile may be posted at 25 mph.
Roads with 45 to 59 access points qualify for a 35 mph posting, and those with 30 to 44 access points within may be posted at 45 mph
Any gravel roads with fewer than 30 vehicle access points will have no posted speed limit, meaning drivers can travel at a maximum of 55 mph, conditions permitting. Access points are counted in half-mile segments.
In Independence Township, 19 segments of gravel road would go unposted if the law remains in effect, another three segments would be posted at 45 mph.
In Springfield Township, 23 segments would go without a speed limit sign, while another four would receive a 45 mph posting.
Springfield Township Supervisor Colin Walls said he expected a flood of calls when the signs actually started coming down, but had already heard from a number of concerned gravel road-dwellers.
‘I’ve had residents call to see what they could do about getting it changed back,? he said. ‘The ones who did contact me were very upset.?
The Road Commission for Oakland County was charged with removing the speed limit signs, and opposed the new law from the get-go.
‘We knew exactly what would happen,? Bryson said. ‘We knew people would be unhappy. Residents love having the 25 mph speed limit signs, even if the data suggests they don’t do much to slow traffic.?
If the amendment gets Senate approval, it will then land on the desk of Gov. Jennifer Granholm to await approval — or veto.