San Patricio County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a 45 mph speed limit on County Road 1876 westbound and eastbound between County Road 2095 and County Road 2221 in the Odum area, Precinct 3.

John Hernandez, the county engineer, told the court that Maldonado Parquette, a consultant for the county, conducted a speed study in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and recommended 45 mph based on the 85th percentile (referred to in the meeting as the 80 fifth percentile).

“...in accordance with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, it's recommended that the speed limit be, according to the study, be placed at 45 miles per hour,” Hernandez said.

Why it matters: The study-based limit establishes an enforceable posted speed on a county road and will be included on the agenda later for formal adoption after the public hearing concluded. No members of the public spoke at the hearing.

What happened: After the engineer's presentation and no public comment at the hearing, the court later voted to approve the requested speed limit. The motion was made by Commissioner Gillespie and seconded by Commissioner Gonzales; the motion carried.

Implementation notes: The county will post signage consistent with the county’s traffic-control procedures and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The item will be returned to the agenda for formal adoption following the public hearing timeframe referenced during the meeting.