Recommendation to raise speed limit on part of Ash advances

The Ponca City Planning Commission voted Tuesday to approve a staff recommendation to raise the speed limit from 30 mph to 35 mph on Ash Street from Emporia to Hartford Avenue.

The recommendation will be heard by the Board of Commissioners at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, for final action.

The current slower speed limit is actually a violation of a state statute, Traffic Engineering Manager Mike Lane said. The state law requires that changes in speed limits on successive sections of roadways be a maximum of 10 mph. The current change from 30 mph at Emporia to 45 mph at Hartford violates that.

Lane said he believes  the 35 mph limit is reasonable for a roadway without any residential development.