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Plain City reviews Main Street (SR-161) speed study; Council asks ODOT for lower limits in sections
Summary
Village staff presented a formal SR-161/Main Street speed study recommending reductions in some segments (50 -> 40/35 mph depending on location). The Police Chief said available speed data do not indicate current safety concerns; Council directed staff to pursue an ODOT request and continue study.
Haley Lupton, Village Administrator, presented a formal speed study for SR-161/Main Street at the Feb. 23 meeting and described proposed changes to statutory speed limits along segments of the state route through Plain City.
Ms. Lupton said the study supports lowering a 50 mph limit to 40 mph or 35 mph in certain segments but did not support a reduction from 35 mph to 25 mph. Police Chief Dale McKee told Council he has no data-supported safety concerns for the 35 mph sections near the Plain City Library and described some resident complaints as a perceived speeding issue rather than one borne out by enforcement data.
Council members discussed statutory speed-limit rules and annexation effects. Council President Tyler Harriman noted the Ohio Revised Code standard that municipal speed limits outside urban districts should be 50 mph and suggested some 55 mph segments east of the Darby Station roundabout and on US‑42 south of Village Boulevard should be 50 mph given annexations. Ms. Lupton said she will modify the Village's ODOT request to propose 40 -> 35 mph in the identified areas and will submit the change for ODOT consideration; she cautioned ODOT approval is not guaranteed.
Next steps: staff will prepare and submit the formal request to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and continue any targeted traffic studies as needed.
