County officials aren’t asked often to post higher speed limits in Butte-Silver Bow County, but some residents near rural Buxton Road want to drive a little faster without fear of being pulled over.
It’s among several traffic matters pending before commissioners through requests that often take months to resolve because of studies or government red tape.
The newest one is from Larry Driscoll, principal at East Middle School, 2600 Grand St., who wants a traffic study done on several intersections near the school on the Flat without stop signs. It’s a safety matter for pedestrians – mostly school kids.
“In the past there were some empty lots in the area that have been replaced – quite nicely – by some brand new rental buildings and I think it’s going to be a little more busy,” Driscoll said Tuesday. “There are a lot of streets in that part of town that don’t have stop signs and I think there will be more traffic.”
Other pending matters include:
- a request by residents to lower the speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph along the 300 to 600 blocks of West Iron Street, a stretch used by motorists leaving Butte heading west and those heading east coming off of Interstate 90.
There are numerous residents with children living on the south side of Iron Street and there is also a school bus stop along that stretch, but many people still drive well in excess of 35 mph.
That section of Iron Street is under jurisdiction of the Montana Department of Transportation, which is conducting a traffic analysis of the area, said Commissioner Dave Palmer, chairman of the council’s Public Works Committee.
- a request by Commissioner Mark Moodry to do a safety analysis at the intersections of Meadowlark Drive and Tranquility Lane and East Lake and Albany Street on the Flat. There may be a need to put up stop signs in the area because of increased traffic, Palmer said.
After weeks of consideration, the request for higher limits on Buxton Road is before the full council as an ordinance change.
Buxton Road is west of Interstate 15, a few miles southwest of Butte. The speed limit is 25 mph.