Police commission approves submission of state school‑zone application

The New Canaan Police Commission voted July 16 to authorize staff to sign and submit an application to the state to update school‑zone speed limits around multiple town schools. Traffic staff told the commission the application updates speed limits on Putnam, Town Road, Farm Road and surrounding streets to align with state school‑zone requirements and would formally seek state approval. "This is pretty much just the approval of allowing me to sign off as the LTA to submit this application to the state," the traffic staff member said during the meeting. The change would reduce certain posted limits to 25 mph during enforceable school‑zone times where allowed without a formal engineering study. Commissioners asked about an existing 3,000‑foot, 25 mph segment on Route 124 and whether the application would change the current 30 mph sections; traffic staff confirmed some 30 mph stretches would be reduced to 25 mph during school‑zone hours. The commission also confirmed that flashing beacon signals control the enforceable times and that the signs flash only during the morning and evening school time windows shown on the proposed plan. Commissioners moved, seconded and voted in favor of allowing staff to sign and submit the application. The motion passed by voice vote with all present members saying "aye." No roll‑call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript. The item originated from a town review that included a traffic study by a consultant and subsequent state feedback, the traffic staff member said. The commission did not adopt changes to any local ordinances at the meeting; the vote authorized only staff to apply to the state for the changes. The state must review and approve the application before any new signs, limits or enforceable times take effect. The commission did not set a public hearing date; next steps are the formal state review and, if approved, implementation of updated signing and timing.