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After residents' appeals, Southampton County asks VDOT for speed study on US 460
Summary
Following several public comments about traffic and safety, the board adopted a resolution asking VDOT to study whether to lower the speed limit on US 460 between Ivor and Zuni from 55 to 45 mph and to consider signage in residential areas.
After a string of public comments about safety on U.S. 460, the Southampton County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution requesting that the Virginia Department of Transportation conduct a speed study on the stretch of highway between Ivor and Zuni.
Resident Tonia Wellens told the board that long-term residents — including aging drivers who must enter and exit driveways — are having difficulty with traffic and speeding. “My request is that you will seriously consider the resolution for the traffic study,” she told the board, adding that the board cannot itself set speed limits but can ask VDOT to study lowering the limit and to add signage in residential areas to improve safety.
County staff read a concise resolution that asks VDOT to consider lowering the speed limit from 55 to 45 miles per hour on the stated segment, noting citizen concern about increasing accidents. The resolution was moved, seconded and adopted by unanimous voice vote.
Staff cautioned there is no firm timeline for VDOT action; the department places studies in a queue and the process could take several months.
What happens next: the county will forward the adopted resolution to VDOT and keep the citizens who requested the study apprised of any scheduling information the county receives.
