The speed limit in most Rock Hill neighborhoods will soon be reduced. What to know
Drivers in Rock Hill will soon need to drive slower in the city’s residential areas.
On Monday night, city council unanimously voted to approve an ordinance that would reduce the speed limit on residential roads from 35 mph to 30 mph unless otherwise posted. Council will need to vote on its second reading before the ordinance is official.
The change only would pertain to unposted roads in residential areas and neighborhoods that already have speed limits posted would not be impacted, Traffic Commission Liaison Christopher Herrmann said.
Herrmann pointed out that Rock Hill’s 35 mph speed limit in residential areas is slightly higher than ones in surrounding cities and counties.
The state of South Carolina’s speed limit in an urban district is 30 mph, he said. Fort Mill and Lancaster County have a 30 mph speed limit unless otherwise posted. And York County has a 25 mph speed limit in residential areas.
Aside from residential areas, Rock Hill’s speed limit in any business district is 20 mph and 45 mph under other conditions. Other conditions would include arterial highways, such as Celanese Road and Alright Road, Herrmann said.
Why is the city considering the change?
In recent years, the city’s traffic commission has been told of numerous concerns from residents and citizens related to speeding on residential roads with an unposted speed limit, Herrmann said. And as a result, the commission has conducted 20-plus traffic studies on those roads, he said.
A recent study on South Jones Avenue between Briarcliff Road and Midvale Avenue found that out of 276 daily trips, 85% of drivers traveled at 37 mph or below, Herrmann said. And another recent study on Friedheim Road between Heckle Boulevard and Barnes Street, which is near Sunset Park Elementary School, showed out of 1,770 daily trips, 85% of drivers traveled at 38 mph or below, he said.
Herrmann said since a majority of drivers traveled close to the unposted speed limit, the commission, historically, has recommended officials take no action or the city’s police department complete targeted enforcement in those areas.
“That being said, the overwhelming majority of citizens and residents that have brought these concerns to us, their feedback and input back to traffic commission has been they just feel rather uncomfortable with the maximum speed limit of 35 mph on these neighborhood and residential streets,” Herrmann said.
How will the city notify residents?
Council member Derrick Lindsay, who is also the chairman of the traffic commission, said the average Rock Hill driver doesn’t know now that the speed limit is 35 mph unless otherwise posted in residential areas.
And Herrmann suggested that the city post signs on major roads at the city limits detailing the new 30 mph speed limit and enact a marketing campaign that would involve the city’s planning and development staff, neighborhood services and the police department.
Council member John Black said he’s concerned drivers will be confused since some neighborhoods have speed limits posted and others don’t.
“I don’t think it’s a big deal going to 30 from 35,” Black said. “I just fear that people are going to be wanting us now to go post every neighborhood because now it’s confusing.”
Although he said he’s not necessarily opposed to that option.
“We’re going to manufacture all these posted signs, and then go around and post all these neighborhoods at the request of neighborhoods and HOAs,” he said. “If we are, that’s fine. I don’t know what the drawback of that is. ... Do you just post them and move on?”
Council member Kathy Pender said she’d encourage the city to use all available means to inform residents of the reduced speed limit.
“I don’t know if that means a certain grace period of warning tickets because what this will likely do in the short-run is increase the traffic work of the police department and I know they’ve got plenty to do,” she said. “But it makes good sense to change it.”
This story was originally published October 12, 2022 at 8:27 AM.
