Wrightsville Beach hits brakes on speed limit reduction [Star-News, Wilmington, N.C.]

Aug. 27--While several residents spoke at a public hearing Thursday night to encourage Wrightsville Beach officials to reduce the speed limit on West Salisbury Street, all but the mayor were hesitant to move forward.

Some residents said the street, which has a 45 mph limit and the only town road not 35 mph, reminded them of a NASCAR race.

But town officials agreed with Alderman Lisa Weeks suggestion to wait to move forward with a decision until N.C. Department of Transportation officials could meet with town officials on a comprehensive list of traffic concerns.

The proposal is to lower the speed limit to 35 mph from 1,600 feet west of the Banks Channel bridge to the street's intersection with Causeway Drive.

Alderman Susan Collins said she was concerned about the impact reducing the speed limit would have on traffic safely moving out of town.

But residents who spoke Thursday night said the speed limit was dangerous.

"People on the loop, runners and walkers, come out into the road often. I think it's dangerous," said Tara Deppert, a Wrightsville Beach resident who spoke on behalf of the Lee's Cut Homeowners' and Boatowners' Association, which initiated request to reduce the speed limit.

Neal Briggi, who rides bicycles with his two grandsons on West Salisbury Street, said he doesn't think the speed limit is enforced.

"The fact is it's dangerous, but let's enforce it. Let's let people really know it's a town," he said. "You come here to slow down, so slow down."

Mayor David Cignotti said he is already in favor of a speed limit change, but he supported the notion to put off a decision until transportation officials could meet with the town and traffic counts could be done in a peak season.

Also Thursday night, the town board changed the board of aldermen meeting schedule to one meeting per month instead of two meetings. The new meeting schedule will start the second Thursday of September with the fourth Thursday reserved in the event town business would need to be continued.

Town Manager Bob Simpson said the town could save $5,000 a year with the change.

Shannan Bowen: 343-2016

On Twitter: @Shanbow

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