Commissioners highlight local wins: Mendon speed-limit reduction and Rutland City bond vote

Commissioners used the Sept. 16 roundtable to spotlight local wins and upcoming civic items, including a successful speed-limit change in Mendon and an upcoming Rutland City bond vote.

Larry (Mendon) described a multi-year effort that resulted in the state Public Safety Board approving a reduction from 45 mph to 40 mph through the Mendon village on U.S. Route 4. He said the town worked with the RPC staff and neighboring Rutland Town, submitted a scoping study and traffic data, and that the change was adopted despite an initial engineering recommendation against lowering the limit. "The fact that it changed over an engineer's recommendation is a significant win for a town like this," Larry said.

Nut graf: The Mendon example underscores how persistent local planning, intermunicipal coordination and data can lead the state to accept speed reductions on state highways through village centers. Commissioners encouraged other towns to pursue similar packages when seeking speed-limit changes.

Separately, Lyle and other commissioners urged community support for an Oct. 7 Rutland City bond vote tied to a tax-increment financing (TIF) strategy. Lyle said the bond would support downtown infrastructure that could attract businesses and help retain tax base locally. "If you have people in Rutland City, tell them to go out on October 7 and vote yes," he said.

The roundtable also included a note of celebration for the Whoopie Pie Festival, which commissioners said drew thousands downtown and reinforced community vitality.

Ending: Commissioners framed the Mendon speed-change and the Rutland bond vote as outcomes and opportunities emerging from sustained local planning and civic engagement; no formal board action was taken during the roundtable report portion of the meeting.