Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council weighs lowering speed limits and traffic-calming measures for downtown St. Louis Street
Summary
Lebanon council members debated lowering St. Louis Street speed limits and a range of traffic-calming options — speed humps, bumpouts, center islands and planters — while noting constraints from the downtown historic district and enforcement challenges.
Lebanon City Council discussed a proposal to reduce the posted speed limit on St. Louis Street from 25 mph to 15 mph and reviewed alternative traffic-calming measures during new business on June 23.
A council member asked colleagues to consider lowering the limit because drivers frequently travel at much higher speeds through the downtown corridor. Several council members and staff urged exploring lower-cost, low-impact calming treatments — such as speed humps (engineered humps, not removable bumps), bumpouts, center islands, planting islands, and temporary devices — rather than relying solely on signage or steeply lowering the posted speed. One council member said, "There are things we can do that are not expensive that can calm the traffic," and cited studies suggesting narrowing the roadway and lane width reductions slow vehicles.
Members also raised practical constraints: the downtown area is part of a national historic district, which limits repainting or overlaying the existing brick surface with painted crosswalks; some suggested thermal tape or removable devices may be options. The public-safety discussion included the police chief and noted theft and removal of temporary cones in past tests and a 2015 history of center sign attempts that were removed or damaged. Council members suggested pairing physical calming with enforcement as a combined approach.
Practical next steps agreed by the council were to review the existing streetscape study and engineering constraints, explore low-cost pilot measures (bumpouts, planters, or center narrowings), and consider designated farm/heavy-vehicle routes to keep oversized agricultural equipment off narrow downtown streets. A council member suggested bringing specific proposals back to a future meeting for formal consideration.
The council did not adopt a new speed limit at the June 23 meeting; it asked staff to develop feasible options and cost estimates for subsequent consideration.
