Black Mountain council votes to lower speed limits on South Ridgeway and Sutton avenues

At its November meeting, the Town of Black Mountain council approved a recommendation from the Active Mobility Commission to reduce the posted speed limit on South Ridgeway Avenue and Sutton Avenue from 25 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour.

Council member (Speaker 2) moved "to lower the speed of South Ridgeway and Sutton Avenue from 25 to 20 miles per hour, as recommended." The motion was called and the council voted verbally in favor (Aye). Staff said that if signs are in stock the change will be implemented immediately; otherwise signs will be ordered and installed in a few days. The town will publish the change on its website and social channels.

Discussion before the vote touched on traffic-calming alternatives (speed humps) and the need for consistent speed zones across the downtown and central business district. Council members discussed an "education blitz" of warnings before enforcement, modeled on a previous stop-sign rollout, and asked staff to bring monitoring data (speed box) to the December meeting.

Next steps: staff will install or order signs and conduct a public education period before sustained enforcement; traffic data may be collected and presented to council for further action.