TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Michael Gibson, Interim Assistant City Manager
FROM: Sheila Thomas-Ambat, PE, CCM, CFM, Public Services Director
Brian McGill, PE, PTOE, Assistant Public Services Director - Traffic Services
DATE: August 3, 2026
RE:Title
Blanton Road Speed Limit Reduction Request Response
Title
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COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
District 4 - CM Haire
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal I: The City of Fayetteville will be a safe and secure community.
Objective 1.2: To ensure traffic and pedestrian safety.
Goal IV: The City of Fayetteville will be a highly desirable place to live, work and recreate.
Objective 4.5: To ensure a place for people to live in great neighborhoods
Executive Summary:
City Council unanimously passed the motion at the April 06, 2026, Council Work Session to request Public Services staff to consider a Speed Limit reduction for Blanton Road from 35 mph to 25 mph. Public Services staff provided an administrative report at the June 08, 2026 City Council Regular Session. City Council moved that administrative report to the August 03, 2026 Work Session.
Should this speed limit reduction proceed, it would apply from south of Galleria Drive to the intersection of Blanton Road and Johnson Street.
This speed limit reduction does not meet the requirements established under Council Policy 160.3 Request for Speed Limit Changes, specifically the requirement of a petition and the holding of a public hearing to consider the request.
Staff recommend keeping Blanton Road’s speed limit at 35 mph for the following reasons:
• The request does not meet the requirements established under Council Policy 160.3 for speed limit modifications
• Per a memo issued on 05/08/2026 in response to this request, the proposed speed limit change on Blanton Road is not supported by the police department.
• A crash review of Blanton Road does not indicate a roadway deficiency or recurring crash pattern within the corridor.
• Engineering Industry Studies, NCDOT studies, and the City’s recent speed limit reductions at other locations in the City, have shown that reducing speed limits do not lead to significant changes in vehicle speeds.
• Based on NCDOT standards, above-standard signage is currently provided on Blanton Road regarding speeds on curves.
Background:
The current speed limit for Blanton Road is 35 mph, and it is posted with 35 mph speed limit signs. Blanton Road is a City-maintained two-lane road and is approximately 4,575 feet long, or 0.87 miles long. It has no sidewalk, and NCDOT defines it as a “local” road. The land-use abutting the road is primarily residential along Blanton Road, with an institutional land use near the intersection of Blanton Road and Lauren McNeill Loop, and commercial and institutional land use at the intersection of Blanton Road and US 401 (Pamalee Drive). The institutional land use near Lauren McNeill Loop is the Roy G. Turner Park. The intersection of Blanton Road and US 401 (Pamalee Drive) has a church and convenience store.
The requested speed limit reduction would apply for the entirety of the road, from south of Galleria Drive to its intersection with Johnson Street. Should Blanton Road’s speed limit be reduced, all roadways that branch off from or intersect Blanton Road would remain their current respective speed limits.
Based on City Council Policy 160.3 Request for Speed Limit Changes, a petition should be submitted by residents of Blanton Road for a reduction or increase of the speed limit, with a public hearing to follow. To-date, staff have not received a petition to reduce the speed limit for Blanton Road, nor have knowledge of one being started.
City Council unanimously passed the motion at the April 06, 2026, Council Work Session to request Public Services staff to consider a Speed Limit reduction for Blanton Road from 35 mph to 25 mph.
Public Services staff provided an administrative report on this subject at the June 08, 2026 City Council Regular Session. That report was moved to the August 03, 2026 Work Session for presentation.
Issues/Analysis:
Literature Review
NCDOT’s “S-40_Brochure” says the following with regard to lowering speed limits in an effort to reduce speeding:
“Many people believe that lowering speed limits will reduce motorist speed. However, changing the speed limit is not always the best option…Engineering studies have shown that there are often no significant changes in vehicle speeds following the posting of an artificially reduced speed limit. This information shows that most motorists drive at the speed they consider to be comfortable and safe…Lowering the speed limit by itself cannot guarantee motorists will obey the new regulation.”
Speed Study
In preparation for the speed limit reduction analysis, staff have performed two speed studies. These studies were performed over the days of March 23 - 27 and March 30 - May 3. The average daily traffic (ADT), average speed, and 85th percentile speed for historic information as well as those dates are shown in the following table:
Blanton Road
|
Date Study Began |
ADT |
85th % Speed |
Avg. Speed |
|
11/27/23 |
1,680 |
46 mph |
38 mph |
|
03/23/26 |
1,827 |
45 mph |
37 mph |
|
03/30/26 |
1,341 |
42 mph |
36 mph |
85th percentile speed is the term used to reflect the speed at or below which 85 percent of traffic is moving.
As advised by NCDOT’s S-40 brochure, by reducing the speed limit with no other enforcement or changes to the physical roadway in the area, staff expect “…no significant changes in vehicle speeds following the posting of an artificially reduced speed limit.”
The following presents data averaged over one week on roads which have experienced speed limit reductions recently.
Ruritan Drive
|
Date Study Began |
ADT |
85th % Speed |
Avg. Speed |
|
09/18/25 - Area 1 |
3,658 |
40 mph |
34 mph |
|
09/18/25 - Area 2 |
3,692 |
40 mph |
34 mph |
|
09/18/25 - Area 3 |
3,720 |
40 mph |
34 mph |
|
Speed Limit Reduced from 35 mph to 25 mph |
|
10/13/25 - Area 1 |
3,779 |
42 mph |
37 mph |
|
10/13/25 - Area 2 |
3,770 |
39 mph |
39 mph |
|
10/13/25 - Area 3 |
3,732 |
38 mph |
38 mph |
West Rowan Street
|
Date Study Began |
ADT |
85th % Speed |
Avg. Speed |
|
11/01/22 - Area 1 |
1,787 |
36 mph |
30 mph |
|
11/01/22 - Area 2 |
1,112 |
36 mph |
27 mph |
|
Speed Limit Reduced from 35 mph to 25 mph |
|
12/01/25 - Area 1 |
1,420 |
34 mph |
29 mph |
|
12/01/25 - Area 2 |
1,100 |
36 mph |
27 mph |
As shown from the tables above, reducing the speed limit, by itself, is not expected to reduce speeds on Blanton Road.
Blanton Road Crash Review
Attached to this agenda item is a crash review memo for Blanton Road. This review analyzed 65 crashes on Blanton Road and noted that 63 of those crashes were due to failing to yield, failing to reduce speed, or failing to maintain lane. The 2 other crashes were related to deer running into the road. From reviewing the historic crash data for this road, no patterns are observed. As no patterns are observed, no recommendations for safety improvements or countermeasures are made at this time.
Should the speed limit be reduced, an increase in crashes due to failing to reduce speed may be experienced due to those maintaining their current travel habits of 42 mph - 46 mph, versus those traveling the slower speed limit of 25 mph.
Blanton Road Ball-Bank Indicator Testing
To determine an advisory speed for a curve, the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) recommends various tests, one of which is the ball-bank indicator test. From that test, all identified curves on this road can be navigated at the posted speed limit of 35 mph safely; Drivers who obey the speed limit will be able to navigate the road comfortably.
What staff have noted as Horizontal Curve 3, or “HC3” on the worksheet, currently has an advisory speed of 25 mph posted. Following the MUTCD thresholds, the advisory speed plaque is not necessary at that location. While staff could remove it, because public engagement regarding safety on this road has not occurred, staff recommend that the advisory speed plaque remain in place and be removed should a vehicle strike it, or if the sign naturally ages to the time it would normally be replaced.
Other Items of Note
As this item is being presented to Council, please note a memo from the Fayetteville Police Department dated 05/08/2026, attached to this agenda item as “Police Memo - Proposed Speed Limit Change on Blanton Road”. This memo states the Fayetteville Police Department does not support changing the speed limit on Blanton Road. For additional details, please refer to the memo.
Staff’s Position On the Speed Limit Reduction of Blanton Road
Staff recommend keeping Blanton Road at 35 mph.
Budget Impact:
As this is a presentation, there is no budget impact at this time.
Options:
For information only unless Council directs staff to place this on an upcoming Council Meeting Agenda for vote.
Recommended Action::Recommended Action
For information only unless Council directs staff to place this on an upcoming Council Meeting Agenda for vote.
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Attachments:
Blanton Road - Speed Limit Reduction Presentation
Blanton Road - Crash Review Memo
Blanton Road - Ball-bank indicator test
Blanton Road - Police Memo on Speed Reduction
City Council Policy 160.3
S-40_Brochure