Raleigh homeowners want city leaders to reduce speed limits

The speed limit on E. Whitaker Mill Road near Reaves Drive is currently 35 mph, but homeowners feel it’s too fast for the area.

“When our staff receives a speeding concern from a resident on a street, our first step is to evaluate the extent of the problem," said Julia Milstead with the City of Raleigh. "How many cars are using the street? At what speed is the majority of traffic traveling? Are there specific conflicts with pedestrians?"

City leaders are now recommending Lodestar Drive, Snow Wind Drive, and Sasser Street be reduced from 35 mph to 25 mph.

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On Whitaker Mill Road, city leaders want to reduce the speed limit by 5 mph, dropping it to 30 mph from Glenwood Avenue to Reaves Drive.

Milstead said, when it comes to homeowners requesting a speed change, there is no set timeline.

“Each applicant is given three months to complete the petition," she said. "It takes staff approximately 1-2 months to process the petition once it is returned to us and to place it on a future council agenda. The timeline can be as short as a 2-month process or as long as a 5-month process."

The city said most of the homeowners who live in the requested areas are in support of lowering the speed limit.

Milstead said Raleigh gets dozens of request per year, but many residents don’t complete and return the packet.

“Our group receives approximately 50 speed limit reduction requests per year," Milstead said. "Of the applications requests, approximately a quarter of the petition packets are completed and returned to staff. After review of the returned petition packet, staff will make recommendations to council in the form of a consent agenda item if the policy thresholds are met."

The city council is expected to vote on the current request Tuesday.