Speed Limit Change On Weston Street, 1 Declined

WESTON, MA—The results of a speed zone study resulted in speed limit changes for two streets in Weston.

A commissioned study in 2016 for school zones located on Wellesley Street and School Street resulted in a vote by the Board of Selectmen to approve recommendations that the speed limit be reduced from 40 mph to 35 mph for the middle and high school area, and from 35 mph down to 25 mph in the Case Campus area).

According to an announcement from the town, the request was submitted to the Mass. Department of Transportation (MassDOT) for review. MassDOT conducted its procedural speed zone study and upon conclusion of the study, approved the speed limit reduction for Wellesley Street but declined the request for School Street.

The Traffic & Sidewalk Committee is considering its options to appeal to MassDOT for reconsideration of the School Street zone, said town officials.This process would include a review and then another recommendation to the board.

The Department of Public Works will submit the request to MassDOT for its procedural speed zone study, which consists of driving trial runs, spot speed checks, traffic counts, and crash data review. The state then either approves or declines the Town's request. The School Street request was declined after MassDOT's driving trial run study showed that 100 percent of the drivers in this area would be in violation of the requested speed reduction.

Photo via town of Weston