Rural Roads Committee directs staff to explore countywide 45 mph rural speed limit
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Summary
The Coffee County Rural Roads and Bridges Committee voted to have staff and counsel research whether a countywide resolution setting rural roads to 45 mph (unless posted otherwise) is legally permissible and practical; the motion passed by voice vote.
The Coffee County Rural Roads and Bridges Committee voted to direct staff to pursue legal and technical guidance on whether the county can adopt a countywide 45 mph speed limit for rural roads.
The action followed extended discussion about repeated resident complaints on several rural roads, past attempts to address speed on particular stretches and the cost and complexity of engineering studies. Committee member (speaker 5) moved to pursue information about changing rural speed limits and to consult the county attorney; the motion was seconded by another committee member and approved by voice vote. The committee did not record individual roll-call votes.
Why it matters: Committee members said a countywide approach could simplify requests from residents and avoid expensive road-by-road engineering studies. Commissioner (speaker 3) read an email from an engineer recommending that a statutory countywide ordinance—"all roads 45 miles per hour unless otherwise posted"—is a common approach for small jurisdictions, though he cautioned it may not suit every road.
Discussion and next steps: Members cited local trouble spots including Highway 55 near Willowbrook and other roads where residents have asked for reductions. Speaker 4 offered to circulate TDOT guidance on changing speed limits and named a TDOT contact, Tom Avery, to the group. Speaker 3 asked staff to check whether Tennessee law or other state rules would block a countywide resolution; several members agreed staff should consult the county-retained highway attorney and TDOT to confirm legal compliance before drafting any resolution.
Quotes: "If we go ahead and adopt a 45 countywide, then you can start addressing the streets people that want 30 or 35," Commissioner (speaker 3) said, urging a broad remedy for repeated requests. Speaker 4 said the committee has "a thing from TDOT" explaining the safety-study process and offered to send the document to members.
What was decided: The committee approved a motion to pursue information and legal guidance about a countywide rural speed limit and to report back; the committee did not adopt any new speed limit at the meeting. Staff will follow up with TDOT and the county attorney and return findings to the committee for further action.
The committee also postponed approval of the Dec. 16 minutes to a future meeting and scheduled its next meeting for June 30 at 4:30 p.m.
