Drivers, take heed.
The speed limit on a stretch of Business 21 from Hwy. A to Hwy. B through the heart of Hillsboro has been reduced from 40 mph to 35 mph.
The change took effect Sunday (March 1). However, drivers are being given a grace period to adjust to the new speed limit, Hillsboro City Administrator Jess Wallis said.
“The Police Department will spend the next few weeks giving warnings and reminding those who are speeding about the change,” Wallis said.
He said electronic signs informing motorists about the speed limit being reduced were posted along that stretch of road two weeks prior to the change taking effect.
The Hillsboro Board of Alderpersons voted 6-0 Nov. 4, 2019, to approve the speed-limit reduction, but the change was delayed until this month, city officials said.
Ward 3 alderpersons Nancy Maxwell and Scott Gowan were absent from the meeting.
Wallis said the change was made after some Hillsboro residents approached the board about safety concerns along Business 21.
“This came about as a few citizens were concerned about the speed at which vehicles were traveling on Business 21,” he said. “Recent road projects included new sidewalks allowing more people to walk next to Business 21, which was a concern as well. There was a discussion and with these concerns, the board decided it would be reasonable to lower the speed limit by five miles an hour.”
Wallis said the change was not made to bring in more money from speeding tickets.
“There are some who claim this is just a plan to write more tickets to increase revenue,” Wallis said. “I understand this could be an initial thought, but is far from the truth. This is not about tickets or revenue; it is about slowing vehicles down on a road that has more pedestrians travel on it than in the past. We have given plenty of warning and will continue to warn drivers of the speed limit.”