Board Lowers Speed Limit to 25 MPH

The Apalachicola city commission voted unanimously at their April 7 meeting to accept the recommendation of the Franklin County Community Traffic Safety Team to lower the speed limit throughout the city.

The Traffic Safety Team met to consider the measure at the request of the city commission after commissioners received numerous complaints from residents at their March 3 meeting, concerning speeding in the residential areas of the city.

The newly adopted speed limit of 25 MPH is 5 miles per hour lower than the customary 30 MPH limit for a residential area. According to City Administrator Betty Taylor-Webb, the city will now purchase eighteen signs displaying the new speed requirement.

The Traffic Safety Team also recommended stepping up enforcement of traffic and vehicular laws paying particular attention to speeding, failing to stop at stop signs, under age drivers and overloaded golf carts.

Apalachicola Chief of Police Bobby Varnes reported that for the month of March his officers issued 35 traffic citations 19 of which were for speeding.