Debate Arises Over Number Of Speed Limit Signs In Waltham

WALTHAM, MA — A debate over whether or not Waltham needs more speed limit signs has arisen after a resident was cited for going 40 mph in an area without a posted speed limit.

Hoang Nguyen said he was pulled over in September at the intersection of Main Street and Fisk Street and cited for speeding and a Mark Lane Violation. He went to court on Oct. 20 to challenge the citations and emerged half victorious, as the court magistrate dismissed the speeding ticket.

However, Nguyen said it doesn't matter that the ticket was dismissed because it didn't solve any long-term problems and he remains concerned about the lack of clear traffic signage in the city.

"The crazy thing is on Main Street in Waltham there is not a single speed limit sign and the last speeding limit sign you see is at the Waltham/Watertown line and that sign says 35," said Nguyen in an email.

According to the Waltham Police Department, the speed limit on an unmarked city street "inside a thickly settled or business district" is automatically 30 mph. Although Watertown decided to change their speed limit on Route 20 to 35 mph and were required to put up a sign, Waltham did not make the same decision.

"All streets in Waltham are 30 MPH unless otherwise posted," said Captain of the Community Services Division Jeffrey Rodley in an email. "That is the norm throughout the Commonwealth. Some cities and towns have opted to lower that to 25 mph but those towns post that as you enter their jurisdiction."

Rodley said that in order to have a white speed limit sign with black lettering posted on a roadway, a speed study would need to be conducted. This would require the traffic commission to measure and record the speeds of vehicles traveling in both directions during a specific time of day.

According to the Waltham Traffic Engineer Mike Garvin, a request for a speed limit sign in a certain area needs to be submitted via this form. The commission would then discuss the request at a regular meeting and may decide that a speed study is necessary.

"Once I report the results of a speed study, if Traffic Commission would like to seek a speed zone, including speed limit signs, they would direct me to submit the request to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation," said Garvin in an email. "Cities aren’t allowed to post any speed limits on streets without approval from the State."

MassDOT would then review the request and inform the city of what the approved speed limit would be. This is to make sure municipalities do not post unreasonable speed limits.

The Waltham Traffic Commission would have the option to accept MassDOT's decision and vote to approve a new speed zone with signs or leave it unsigned without an official speed zone.