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Midlothian council denies TxDOT speed‑limit reduction for US‑287 after divided debate
Summary
The Midlothian City Council rejected a proposed ordinance to lower the posted speed limit on U.S. Highway 287 from 65 mph to 60 mph after heated debate over whether a five‑mile reduction would improve safety; the council voted 3‑1 to deny the measure and urged TxDOT to pursue more substantial infrastructure changes.
City staff presented a TxDOT speed study recommending the posted speed limit along U.S. Highway 287 within Midlothian be reduced from 65 miles per hour to 60 mph, citing measured 80th‑percentile speeds, increasing development along the corridor and a rise in crash activity.
Council members sharply disagreed about the measure’s likely effectiveness. Several said a five‑mile‑per‑hour reduction would be largely symbolic without wider roadway improvements such as service roads and separated crossings; others said the city should take any available step if it could save lives.
After an initial vote resulted in a 2‑2 tie, councilman Weaver moved to deny the ordinance and asked that the city formally recommend that TxDOT pursue more substantive changes. That motion passed 3‑1.
Mike, a city staff member who presented the study, told the council TxDOT’s recommendation used 80th‑percentile speeds as the primary metric and that some roadway segments showed speeds exceeding current posted limits. Staff said TxDOT’s data were a snapshot taken at selected times of day and reflected local conditions where speeds varied.
Council discussion touched on enforcement resources, the sample size and timing of TxDOT’s observations, and whether a reduced posted speed would lead to better outcomes without complementary engineering changes. One council member urged expanded enforcement of existing limits while another said service roads and larger capital improvements are the long‑term solutions.
The council’s formal action was to deny the ordinance to lower the posted speed limit; the motion to deny passed 3‑1. Council members also directed staff to convey to TxDOT the city’s strong interest in more effective, longer‑term measures to improve safety along the 287 corridor.
