New 25 mph school zones, mix of faster and slower speeds aim to improve traffic

Speed limits are changing on some of Pflugerville's busier roads, including Heatherwilde Boulevard, Immanuel Road and North Railroad Avenue.

Pflugerville's ballooning population has pushed city staff to re-evaluate speed limits throughout town. City Council approved new speed limits on portions of the three roads Aug. 12.

Assistant City Manager Tom Word said because of changes in traffic, officials are re-evaluating speed limits throughout the city and making sure they fit area development and traffic volume as well as pedestrian activity.

More speed limit changes could be on the horizon, City Manager Brandon Wade said.

"We actually have quite a bit of requests that have piled up on us," Wade said about speed limit evaluation.

Wade said they focused primarily on the school-zone areas because the academic year was about to start.

The changes include new 25 mph school zones that are only active when a school-zone signal is flashing.

Pflugerville resident and cyclist Anita Janke said traffic in town already makes road cycling difficult. Increasing the speed limits will not make road cycling safer, she said.

Janke also said the higher speed limits seem to signal changes in the fabric of the city.

"Pflugerville was a small city," Janke said. "Increasing the speed limit just makes me aware that we are losing that smallness."

The city concluded the speed limits needed to change after conducting studies on the roads.

Speed zoning theory is based on the assumption most people will drive at the speed they feel most comfortable and safe, Word said.

The city studied traffic and established the proper limit at or within 5 mph of the speed that 85 percent of motorists maintained on a given stretch of road.

Setting the speed limit too low or high can cause traffic to move at widely varying speeds, which is dangerous, Word said.

"Artificially setting [the speed limit] low, even a few miles per hour, can have a significant impact on how many people are violating the law," Word said. "Because most people will drive the roadway at [the speed] they feel is safe to do."

Councilman Wayne Cooper said the city should consider warning drivers that the speed limits have changed to avoid unnecessary ticketing.

City employees placed orange warning flags above the new speed limit signs. The city also posted news of the speed limit changes on its website.