Village sets 25 mph speed limit on local roads

The village is in the process of installing 134 signs reflecting the new speed limit on all of its roads.

By MARTIN WILBUR

Mount Kisco’s village-wide 25 mph speed limit is in effect as officials hope the reduction will slow down drivers and make it safer for pedestrians but there are concerns about effective enforcement.

On Oct. 24, the speed was reduced from 30 mph on all local roads, Village Manager Ed Brancati said. That does not include the state roads, including the portions of routes 117, 128 133 and 172 within the village and the county-owned Lexington Avenue.

The village is in the process of installing 134 signs reflecting the new speed limit on all of its roads, he said. There had been several municipal streets that already had a 25 mph restriction.

Speed limit reduction is one of the actions outlined in the village’s Complete Streets study, which seeks to make Mount Kisco a safer community for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers.

Mayor J. Michael Cindrich directed Brancati to reach out to the county to see if any traffic message signs are available to help remind drivers that the speed limit has been reduced. He recommended that they be placed on the streets that have generated the most complaints, including Boltis Street, Spencer Street, Gregory Avenue, Spring Street and other roads that have served as shortcuts for drivers.

“We have to get the message out … it’s a recommendation by the Complete Streets engineers, they’re going to want enforcement so we can notify the police department,” Cindrich said.

One resident cautioned that a speed limit reduction alone will have no impact on the speeding problem in Mount Kisco. Eight-year Gregory Avenue resident Brian Stuetz said there have been numerous times when he has nearly been hit by a car speeding on his street. Also, nearby Smith Avenue is a wide street that makes it inviting for motorists to speed.

Stuetz urged the board to consider speed humps along Gregory Avenue if officials want to address the problem.

“Let’s get something straight here: nobody is doing 30 mph on Smith, alright. Maybe you, maybe us,” Stuetz said. “But there’s bad drivers out there. People on their cellphones, people texting. I can go on. It’s really bad out there.”

Brancati said the village would look to place a speed monitor sign going one way on Smith Avenue and another heading in the other direction on Gregory Avenue in hopes of collecting information that the village can show the county police.

“We want to get the speed data, traffic volume to at least, sort of, enforce, too, rather than having an officer out there 24/7, which isn’t feasible, but to target enforcement so we can identify the areas, the hours, the days of the week and the hours each day where we’re seeing the most problematic, the most egregious speeding and then try to target that enforcement detail,” Brancati said.

Deputy Mayor Theresa Flora continued to press for speed humps, the most logical solution to slow speeding. Nothing, including flashing signs, have seemed to work and police can’t be everywhere, she said.

Speed humps have appeared to be used effectively in other towns, particularly on Cherry Street in Bedford.

“I don’t know how many more times we’re going to have to ask for speed humps and move it along on some of these streets where it’s dangerous,” Flora said.

Cindrich asked Brancati to contact the New York State Department of Transportation to petition a reduction on the state roads to 25 mph as well.

New parking rates delayed again

The change in parking rates will be delayed until after Jan. 1, as the village still awaits the arrival of new equipment to reprogram the meters.

Brancati told the board that one piece of equipment will likely arrive within the next two weeks so they will be able to make the change. During the summer, the board agreed to hike parking from 50 to 75 cents an hour, or a quarter for every 20 minutes instead of a half-hour.

The new rates could be put into effect by Dec. 15, Brancati said. 

Since the free holiday season parking in the municipal lots will soon take effect, Cindrich instructed Brancati to hold off making the change until Jan. 2. Street meters still are in effect through the holidays, but the lots are free from Thanksgiving Day through New Year’s Day.