Council considers solar radar signs to reduce speeding on state roads
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Summary
Council discussed purchasing one or more mobile or pole-mounted radar speed-display signs (solar powered) to capture speed data and provide targeted signage on state routes and city streets; staff will coordinate with the sheriff’s office and DOT on data use and possible deployments.
Councilmembers discussed buying speed-detection signs that display vehicle speed and collect data to support enforcement or speed-limit changes on state routes and local roads.
A councilmember described observing high speeds on state Highway 81 and near City Hall and said a mobile speed-display sign previously used by the sheriff’s office was effective at slowing traffic. Staff presented options including mobile trailer-mounted units and pole-mounted radar signs, and recommended a solar-powered, battery-backed unit for reliability.
Staff said the sheriff’s office had used a larger sign costing roughly $12,000, and that similar but less expensive options are available for about $6,000–$10,000 depending on features and connectivity. A mobile or moveable sign that collects cloud-based speed data would allow staff to present objective speed counts to the Georgia Department of Transportation or the sheriff’s office for potential enforcement or speed-limit studies.
Council discussion focused on deployment priorities (state highways versus neighborhood streets), how often mobile signs should be rotated, maintenance and storage, and whether to seek grant or sheriff cooperation for placement. Several councilmembers favored starting with a single, solar-powered mobile sign and partnering with the sheriff’s office to collect comparative data before a larger purchase.
What’s next: Staff will get additional vendor quotes, check DOT and sheriff expectations for deployment and data-sharing, and return a recommendation to council for purchase and placement.
