Archer Lodge council considers lower center‑of‑town limits; DOT says resolution will allow new signs

Archer Lodge council members spent a large portion of their Oct. 20, 2025, work session discussing posted speeds within town limits and next steps for implementing changes.

Council reviewed a hand‑calculated “windshield” inventory that showed posted speeds ranging from 25 to 55 mph in different locations and considered a proposal to make the center of town 35 mph while keeping longer stretches at 45 mph. Council members singled out Archer Lodge Road (from Covered Bridge to the four‑way) and the area by the church, community center and park as candidates for a 25 mph zone because of frequent pedestrian activity.

Mike (staff member) told the council that the state Department of Transportation would accept a map and a council resolution and would manage sign replacements. “45 would not be an issue and definitely in center town the lower wasn't an issue either,” he said, describing DOT's guidance that lower limits in concentrated areas are acceptable and that DOT will pay to install signs if the town adopts a resolution.

Council members asked staff to prepare color‑coded maps showing a quarter‑mile and a half‑mile radius from the town center, and to investigate marked crosswalks at the four‑way intersection near the church and community center. Staff said they would also check the town’s approved bike‑ped plan to see whether that plan could support a request to DOT for pedestrian upgrades or crossings.

A council member noted that DOT had sent a separate resolution for a speed change on a local cut‑through (Archer’s Way off Windendale Road) that is expected to appear on the council’s November agenda; staff also reported DOT would replace missing signs on some neighborhood streets.

Next steps: staff will prepare the zone maps and return to council with recommended boundaries; if council approves a resolution, staff will forward it to DOT to begin the sign‑replacement process.