The Signal Mountain Town Council is expected to decide at its Sept. 28 agenda work session whether to lower the speed limit on a portion of James Boulevard.
Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit throughout the town is 25 mph. James is among four streets in the town with a posted speed limit of 30 mph, along with Shoal Creek Road, Timberlinks Drive and Shackleford Ridge Road.
At the Sept. 10 council meeting, councilors unanimously passed on first reading an ordinance that would lower the speed limit on James to 25 mph from the "five way," where James converges with Timberlinks Drive and Texas and Maryland avenues, into the Old Town neighborhood.
Town Manager Boyd Veal said town staff, including himself, the police chief and the public works director, recommended lowering the speed limit on that portion of James because the character of the road changes significantly as drivers pass through the five-way intersection into Old Town, where it narrows and becomes more curvy.
"It seemed like a wise move to increase safety in that area," Veal said of the change, clarifying that it was a long-term consideration rather than a change prompted by any recent occurrence. "It's something we've looked at for quite some time."
During the Sept. 10 meeting, several citizens argued that the speed limit of the entire length of James within town limits should be lowered to 25 mph. Veal said the staff's recommendation to change the speed limit for only the Old Town portion of James is not intended to discredit the argument.
"I'd like to look at this as a starting point to look at our speed limits, and we can take a look at [the rest of] James," said Councilman Dan Landrum.
The town council can vote to change the speed limit of any of its roads, with the exception of Highway 127, which is state-owned, without conducting a traffic study, said Veal.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com