City Street Committee weighs Prairie Avenue speed options

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WILMINGTON — Discussions on the safety of Prairie Avenue continued during the Street Committee meeting on Wednesday.

Safety Service Director Brian Shidaker addressed concerns that people had involving the speed limit on Prairie Avenue, which is currently 25.

“I did have Kleingers from West Chester do an analysis. I just wanted to provide the information and let the committee digest it and then we can go into further details later,” said Shidaker.

According to him, the report suggested that the speed limit be changed to 35 and moved up to Jenny Lane.

Street Committee chairmen Joe Spicer said that he did not agree with the report’s suggestion. He also said that he is not “particularly hung up” on which way the decision goes, but it had been that way.

Committee member Jonathan McKay said he had received phone calls about this.

“They do not want 35 through there,” McKay said. “They are most in favor of 25; a majority of them want it that way.

Others in the meeting pointed out that, as a driver goes toward the city limits on Prairie, it doesn’t feature many residential homes.

Shidaker reiterated concerns that Police Chief Duane Weyand — that people will see the proposed 35 speed limit sign on Jenny Lane and increase their speed before reaching it, and while in the residential areas.

“But the flip side of it is, I talked to a lot of cab drivers and they follow the 25 mph and they tell me they have a line of cars behind them,” said Shidaker.

Marian Miller, Executive Assistant to the Mayor, stated that she felt like it would be showing that this would make it legal for them to go 35, since some go that speed already. Other concerns include whether or not it would become a speed trap or that motorists would go faster than the speed limit.

Discusiion on the issue will continue at a future committee meeting.

By John Hamilton

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Reach John Hamilton at 937-382-2574

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