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Menands commits funds for speed-limit study; trustees consider dropping village limit to 25 mph
Summary
Trustees approved commissioning a speed-limit study to explore lowering village speed limits (including possible 25 mph residential zones). The board agreed to use contingency funds and authorized work with engineering firm Craig Manning, with a study budget around $15,000.
The Menands Village Board voted Oct. 20 to commission a speed-study to evaluate lowering village speed limits, including a possible 25 mph standard in residential areas, and authorized funding for the study.
Mayor and trustees discussed the safety evidence presented in recent traffic research: a 5 mph reduction in posted speeds typically lowers average driving speeds by about 6 mph and substantially reduces the probability of severe injury in a pedestrian crash. "The difference between survivability of a major injury at 30 miles an hour...and at 25 miles an hour" informed trustee support for the study, a trustee said.
Funding and scope Village staff and trustees agreed to fund the study from contingency. The mayor proposed using about $15,000 for the work; trustees instructed staff to engage Craig Manning to produce the statutory report required for a local law that would implement new speed limits. The board also discussed a separate open work order with Craig Manning for miscellaneous engineering tasks and authorized adding funds to that account.
Why it matters Lower posted speeds can produce measurable safety benefits for pedestrians, cyclists and neighborhood traffic. Trustees cited school zones, scooter and bicycle traffic, and narrow residential streets — such as South and North Lyon — as priorities for study.
Next steps Staff will finalize a work order with Craig Manning, collect existing speed-trailer data, and return to the board with a full report and recommended local law and signage changes. Trustees also discussed sign replacement costs and targeted traffic-calming measures where appropriate.
