Watch speed on Batavia's edges

Trying to get in or out of Batavia quickly?

You may want to ease up on the gas pedal if you want to avoid a ticket.

The city council Monday night cut the speed limits on four stretches of major roads on the edges of Batavia.

It knocked the limit down by 5 miles per hour, to 30 mph, on Hart Road from Bond Drive south to the city limits; on Main Street from Randall Road to Blair Street; on McKee Street from Randall Road to Van Nortwick Avenue; and on Wilson from Kirk to Raddant roads.

Five mph may not seem like much. But speed studies by Batavia police and engineers show that most of us are driving 40 to 45 mph on these stretches.

Speed limits on Main, McKee and Wilson vary throughout town. The police department wants one consistent speed.

"The question is, has the city become sufficiently urbanized to reduce the speed limits on all these streets?" said Alderman Jim Volk, chairman of the city services committee, which recommended the change.

The city uses two sets of criteria when establishing speed limits: the Illinois Vehicle Code, which recommends a 30 mph limit, and Illinois Department of Transportation standards, which recommend 35 mph for streets like these. Traffic volume, pedestrian access and the number of openings onto a street are taken into consideration.

The Hart change won't take place right away because part of it is controlled by Batavia Township. The city and township are negotiating control of that stretch.

The others will change as soon as the public works department can install the signs.

"So I'll have to slow down," said Alderman Alan Wolff.