Commissioners Endorse Merrill Rd. Speed Limit ProposalCommissioners Endorse Merrill Rd. Speed Limit Proposal

3/6/14 - An ongoing battle for a speed limit reduction in Hamburg Township has made another step towards achievement. The Hamburg Township Board of Trustees attended the Livingston County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday night to ask for support in their 6th attempt to reduce the speed limit to 45 mph on Merrill Road. The road, which bisects Manley Bennett Park, is currently set at 55 mph. Hamburg Township’s board believe the speed is a risk for the numerous athletes who use the park on a daily basis. In response, commissioners passed a resolution recommending a speed reduction along with a traffic study for Merrill Road. While decisions about particular speed limits are set at the state level, Hamburg Township Supervisor Pat Hohl tells WHMI he believes the board’s support is necessary to make this attempt successful. The speed limit is reduced to 35 mph one time in the year currently, for the park’s Father’s Day Festival. Hohl says previous studies have shown that an indefinite speed reduction to 45 mph would cost an everyday commuter 14 seconds. Hohl says he believes this is “worth it” and local municipalities support would be greatly appreciated. (JK)