Petition to Increase Speed Limit on Northpointe Gains Support

Just three months after the Zanesville City Council voted to reduce the speed limit on Northpointe Drive, opinions on the decision are all over the place.

“I feel like if it’s not in an area with a lot of population at least that it shouldn’t be 35 mph, ” said area driver Cameron Wiandt. “It should probably be back to 45 mph.”

“I think the 35 mph speed limit is fine but they need to put a stop light at the end of Military and North Pointe because pulling out there is treacherous at times,” said area driver Mary Barba.

Now those who believe it should be raised once again are taking their concerns to a petition that’s over 900 signatures strong. Some say the decision hasn’t fixed the problem and what we really need is a traffic light. Public Safety Director Fred Buck said the limit reduction has already proven to be a move in the right direction in just 90 days compared to 90 days prior to the limit change.

“Going from nine accidents to zero is pretty significant,” said Buck.

Buck said he plans to complete the six month study before making any changes.

“We want to give it as fair a look as we can,” said Buck.

When the study is complete, a traffic light isn’t out of the question but the light itself could bring it’s own problems.

“If you put a traffic signal in you might lessen your angle crashes but you’re going to raise your rear end crashes,” said Buck.

Buck agrees the wait is a pain and recommends avoiding the intersection altogether

“If you wait 12 minutes you go two minutes further north and then come across there and it takes, at 35 mph, two minutes and 34 seconds to cross the whole road,” said Buck.

As far as the speed limit itself goes, Buck said it’s just 29 seconds more on your morning commute.

But he promises those voicing their concerns are being heard.

“Well if it’s people that want to address something I truly believe you should have a vehicle to do that so no we’re not going to ignore it but we’ll listen to them and see their ideas,” said Buck.

City Council discussed the issue at a meeting on Monday evening. It seems that after the six months of data is collected and reviewed a decision about the speed limit and possible traffic light will be made. Buck expects it sometime in April.