Huntersville sets consistent 35 mph limit on Stumptown Road and North Cross; school zones set to 25 mph

The Huntersville Board of Commissioners voted April 1 to set a consistent 35-mph speed limit along Stumptown Road and North Cross Drive and to set affected school zones at 25 mph.

Town transportation staff presented maps showing that parts of the corridor are state-maintained and parts are town-maintained; current posted speeds on different segments ranged from 35 to 45 mph. A town speed evaluation had identified 40 mph as a reasonable speed for the town-maintained portion, while North Carolina Department of Transportation staff recommended 35 mph for the entire corridor after their review.

Town staff noted the route includes two existing school zones and that an additional school site is owned by the school system nearby. Commissioners discussed pedestrian activity and school pick-up/pick-up patterns on the route; staff and commissioners said sidewalks exist on portions of the route and the town is pursuing sidewalk completion where possible.

A motion to set a consistent 35-mph speed limit on Stumptown Road and North Cross Drive, with 25-mph school zones, passed by voice vote. The motion text in the record was: "I make a motion to change the speed limits to a consistent speed limit of 35 miles per hour for the road, the Stumptown Road, and 25 miles per hour school zone in the school zones." The board recorded the motion as carried with no opposition; the transcript does not list individual roll-call votes.

Why it matters: The corridor includes several schools and pedestrian routes; a uniform speed limit simplifies enforcement and signage and aligns state and local approaches in portions of the corridor the state reviewed.

What’s next: Town and state staff will coordinate signage changes and revise school-zone signage as appropriate. The board and staff noted planned DOT projects in the corridor that may change the road’s character in coming years, including an NC 73 interchange project.

Direct quote: "If it was 35 in their section that they would drop the school zone to 25," a town presenter said when describing DOT's recommendation on school-zone speeds.