Government
Town To Designate New ‘School Zone’; Changes To Speed Limits During Drop-Off and Pickup Hours
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Town officials are seeking state approval to designate parts of four roads in New Canaan as part of a new “School Zone” and to reduce the speed limit on three of those roads. Specifically, the proposed School Zone will encompass parts of South Avenue, Farm Road, Gower Road and Putnam Road, covering South School, Saxe Middle School, the New Canaan YMCA and New Canaan High School, according to Gina Musinksi of Fuss & O’Neill, a Hartford-based engineering firm that is working with the town. Gower and Farm Roads would see a reduction from 30 to 25 mph during two blocks of time on school days—7:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.—while South Avenue (roughly between Surrey Road and Crystal Street) would see a reduction from 35 to 30 mph during the same time, Musinski said. “And then on Putnam Road, the speed limit would be maintained, but it would be published as a school zone,” she said during the appointed body’s meeting, held at police headquarters and via videoconference. The changes would involve new flashing signage to alert motorists to the speed limits when the School Zone is active, and also would allow police to double the fines for exceeding speed limits within the newly designated area, according to Public Works Director Tiger Mann.