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Council discusses lower speed limits on East Washington, Bridge, South Market and North Market streets
Summary
Monticello officials spent a large portion of the July 28 meeting discussing proposed speed-limit reductions on four corridors to improve safety near schools, parks and commercial areas; no ordinances were adopted and staff was asked to prepare ordinances and further study recommendations.
City staff, the police chief and council members on July 28 discussed proposals to lower posted speeds on East Washington Street, Bridge Street, South Market Street and North Market Street to address congestion, sight-distance concerns and several recent crashes. The discussion was a council-level policy review; no ordinance votes were taken.
Why it matters: changes would affect enforcement, vehicle flow and eligibility for golf-cart traffic on local streets, and some changes require coordination with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) or Pike County because portions of the routes are under state or county jurisdiction.
East Washington Street Police and staff proposed moving the 30-mph sign farther west so the reduced speed would take effect earlier, enabling enforcement near the middle school and school pickup areas. "Due to state law, we have to wait 500 feet past that sign to the west before we can enforce any sort of speed limit by electronic means radar," Police Chief Rob Ross said, noting the 500-foot rule prevents immediate enforcement at the current sign location. Chief Ross described routine enforcement as an education period followed by citations if compliance does not improve.
Bridge Street Council members discussed making a longer stretch 35 mph to reduce speeds on a downhill approach and at a blind spot near Old Route 47. Chief Ross said there were four accidents at the Old Route 47/Bridge Street area in the past two years and described sight-distance problems. Officials also noted that lowering a segment to 35 mph could open it to limited golf-cart use (state rules permit golf carts on roads posted 35 mph or less), although the council could restrict carts by ordinance if desired.
South Market Street Staff proposed moving the reduced limit south of the athletic fields and school-zone areas to better encompass school facilities and nearby walking routes. Chief Ross cited two accidents near Margaret and Crats in the last two years and noted increased traffic expected from new development and Innovation Parkway.
North Market Street Council members reviewed accident data and traffic patterns for North Market Street; staff reported eight accidents in the last two years in the corridor near businesses and day-care facilities. Previously, after the city reduced local limits, IDOT changed its adjacent segment from 50 mph to 45 mph. Several council members suggested budgeting for an engineering traffic study in the 2026 budget to evaluate intersection control and signalization options, including a possible third traffic signal or other controls at the Route 47 intersection.
Next steps and coordination Council members were supportive of drafting individual ordinances for the four streets rather than tying them together. Staff indicated the council would need to pass separate ordinances for each street and asked the council to confirm interest so ordinances could be prepared. Officials emphasized outreach and an initial education period with slow-speed trailers and warnings before issuing citations.
No formal votes were taken on speed changes during the meeting; council members asked staff to prepare ordinances, to coordinate where IDOT or county jurisdiction applies, and to consider a traffic study and potential budget request for 2026.
