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The Southampton County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on May 28 to adopt a resolution requesting a speed study to consider lowering the speed limit on U.S. 58 in the Courtland Commercial Area from 50 mph to 45 mph.

“This has been a hot topic for a long time,” said Central District Supervisor and Board Chairman Dr. Alan W. Edwards as he introduced the agenda item at the board’s May 28 meeting.

Southampton County Administrator Brian S. Thrower stated in a Monday, June 3, email interview that the speed study area referenced in the resolution is on U.S. 58 in Courtland within the area where the speed limit currently reduces from 60 to 50 mph.

The resolution, which Edwards read aloud during the May 28 meeting, is written as follows:

“Whereas, the current speed limit on U.S. 58 in the Courtland Commercial Area is 50 mph; and,

“Whereas, the Board of Supervisors has received numerous concerns from citizens regarding the speed limit on U.S. 58 in the Courtland Commercial Area; and,

“Whereas, the board deems the current 50 mph speed limit on U.S. 58 in the Courtland Commercial Area as being too high and unnecessarily causes safety hazards for the citizens of and visitors to Southampton County; and,

“Whereas, the board believes reducing the speed limit on U.S. 58 in the Courtland Commercial Area would provide a safer environment for all persons traveling on U.S. 58 in the Courtland Commercial Area;

“Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Southampton County Board of Supervisors requests that (Virginia Department of Transportation) conduct a speed study on U.S. 58 in the Courtland Commercial Area in order to consider lowering the speed limit from 50 mph to 45 mph with the goal of improving the safety and welfare of its citizens and visitors to the county.”

After reading the resolution in the wake of the board’s 5-0 vote, Edwards said, “We’ve been looking at that for a long time.”

Northwest District Supervisor and Board Vice Chairman William Hart Gillette said, “Ought to see a few smiles out there somewhere.”

Southwest District Supervisor Lynda T. Updike offered some applause for the board’s decision.

Six votes were not cast on the matter because Southeast District Supervisor Robert T. White was not present for the May 28 meeting.

In a June 3 phone interview, Edwards provided some background information on what contributed to the board’s request for a speed study in the Courtland Commercial Area.

“VDOT has been very reluctant to decrease the speed limit anywhere, and I think this is an area where we’ve got our commercial development, and I’d like to see it lower than 45,” he said. “If you look at it, most people coming through there are (driving) 60 and 62 (mph) in a 50, and it’s a safety issue, and I think the bottom line is it’s more of a political issue from them getting things from the port of Virginia to (U.S. Routes) 85 and 95 without being held up. I think that’s what most people feel also.”

He added that when a governing body adopts a resolution like the one the board did on May 28, VDOT is “going to do a study, and that pushes them to do a study, and then hopefully we can get that reduced.”