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Waukesha council rejects proposal to lower Silver Nail Road speed limit, approves hidden‑driveway sign
Summary
The Waukesha City Common Council voted down a motion to reduce a 45 mph section of Silver Nail Road to 35 mph for about 0.6 miles, 4–8, after hearing a speed study showing 85th‑percentile speeds near 43–44 mph. Council approved placement of a hidden‑driveway sign as a compromise.
The Waukesha City Common Council voted against reducing the posted speed limit on a roughly 0.6‑mile stretch of Silver Nail Road, declining a motion to lower the 45 mph section to 35 mph by a 4–8 margin.
Alderman Van Trieste moved to change the limit to 35 mph in both directions from about 100 feet west of Sussex Lane to Meadowbrook Lane, saying the change would improve safety for nearby residents and address an odd sequence of 25–35–45–25 speed zones. "I’d like to make a motion to have the common council vote in favor of reducing it to 35 both directions," Van Trieste said during debate.
Public works staff and police urged the council to keep the posted limit consistent with measured traffic speeds. Alex, a city staff member who presented the study, said, "The speed data that was collected showed an 85th‑percentile speed of 44 and 43 miles per hour," and noted that engineering practice generally sets limits near that percentile.
Opponents cited that engineering guidance and driver behavior as reasons to retain the higher limit. Alderman Rick Lemke said he "doesn't ever see speeding as being a problem on this street," and that "the PD said that it's at the 85th percentile now, 45 miles per hour, and that's where I believe it should stay." Other members urged more data or another study once monitoring equipment is fully operational.
The motion to change the speed limit failed, 4–8. As a compromise, council approved a separate resolution to install a hidden‑driveway sign on westbound Silver Nail Road near the curve where a resident reported being rear‑ended; staff estimated sign installation at roughly $100–$200 each, about $300–$400 for multiple signs, and said funds are available in the budget.
The council recorded the vote on the speed motion as 4 in favor, 8 opposed. The driveway‑sign resolution passed unanimously. The Buildings and Grounds committee had previously reviewed the speed study and recommended adding signage rather than changing the posted limit.
The council moved on to other business after the vote; no further speed‑limit amendments were approved at the meeting.
