Commission weighs lowering speed limits near new school on Munson and Rucker roads

Geary County commissioners discussed proposals to reduce speed limits and pursue safety improvements near a newly opened school on Munson and Rucker roads.

Public Works Administrator Jeremy Myers said the stretch of Munson approaching the school currently carries a 40 mph county limit that he considers too fast for the context, pointing to the school traffic and an accident where a student’s vehicle washed out when it hit gravel at higher speed. “As you turn on to Munson Road to go north, we have a 40 mile an hour speed limit there, which to me seems a little bit fast,” Myers said.

Commissioners and staff reviewed a speed‑study (TEEPS) that will return to collect data missed during a water‑main closure and discussed options such as lowering the county segment to 30 mph, creating time‑restricted school‑hour reductions, or otherwise coordinating with KDOT where State Highway 18 jurisdiction applies. Staff said KDOT would make some recommendations for the state highway portion and that the county can adopt local changes on its side.

The discussion also included potential funding routes: chip‑seal or paving would require substantial investment (one reference to roughly $2 million for about a half‑mile), but staff noted grant programs such as Safe Streets and Roads for All and Safe Routes to School might help cover improvements. The commission directed staff to prepare a map and work on a resolution and grant research, with staff planning to show the corridor to the TAC review team during an upcoming site visit.

Next steps: Public Works will gather additional on‑site data, prepare a proposed resolution or speed‑limit map for the county side, and research applicable grant opportunities to fund engineering or paving work if warranted.