Marysville speed study aims to improve road safety

MARYSVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- For those living in Marysville, if you think drivers are traveling at an excessive speed in your neighborhood, the city wants to hear from you.

A couple months ago, the city’s Engineering Department released a new speed study request form. The point of the speed study is twofold. The Marysville Police Division is working alongside the Engineering Department to not only enhance the safety of motorist and residents, but also to educate the public.

While speed, overall, may not be a huge problem for the city of Marysville, there are a few problem areas.

“Professional Parkway is a newer road in the city. It's an east west kind of connector on the south side of town,” said Brian Mullaney, a transportation and mobility engineer.

According to Mullaney, Professional Parkway is one area where several speed surveys have been done. Conducting speed surveys isn’t new to Marysville, but a couple months ago, the engineering department made it easier to submit a request.

“Originally it was more of an as needed basis. So, if you felt like there was somebody speeding on your street, you would either call or come in or stop it like a city council meeting,” said Mullaney.

Now, it’s all on a form that can be filled out online within minutes. Since the form has been active, Mullaney says there’s been in uptick in requests. The department can track speeds for five different locations at a time, using Stealth Speed Counters.

“We put them out on Monday or whatever, whatever day, and we leave them out for seven days,” said Mullaney.

After the seven days are up, Mullaney collects the data and puts it in a spreadsheet. If they find there is a problem with speed, they’ll begin to enforce what they call "traffic calming measures."

"It's a way to engineer a roadway to make you feel like you can't go as fast on it," he said.

The 5th Street corridor, another problem area, has speed feedback signs up as a way to try and slow traffic. Mullaney says whenever a method like this is implemented, he sees a difference.

"On these areas that we find the problems, we will do a study before and after, and we can see that it is helping," he said.

Mullaney said the goal of this is to not reduce any speed limits within the city of Marysville. However, he did say that this is something the city plans on continuing to monitor for the foreseeable future.