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The majority of drivers aren’t speeding when they head down First Avenue. And those that do are just barely going over the speed limit. That was the result of a traffic study Farmville Town Manager Dr. Scott Davis shared with the council during their Wednesday, Oct. 9 meeting. Earlier this fall, a resident had come before council, complaining about the First Avenue traffic and asking staff to see what could be done to slow things down. 

“There’s no one going, the majority of the time (more than) 10 mph over (the speed limit),” Davis told council. 

Based on the data he shared, nothing much has changed since the last round of speed monitoring back in August. During that earlier period, speed monitoring was set up in the 500 and 800 block of First Avenue from Aug. 15 to 22 in the 500 block and Aug. 18 to 24 in the 800 block. Town officials found that in both cases, the majority of drivers were either under or less than 10 mph over the speed limit. The town staff tested it again in September, with speed monitoring set up at the same two sections of First Avenue from Sept. 12 to Sept. 19.

During that time in September, they found 2,026 vehicles traveling in the 800 block, with the majority of First Avenue traffic traveling at below 35 mph. In the 500 block of First Avenue, there were 4,734 vehicles traveling on the road during that time period. Out of that number, only 104 were close to 10 mph over the speed limit. Davis told the council while the number of vehicles recorded in September might be higher than August in both places, the lack of speeding remains. He felt it wouldn’t help by putting up stop signs or anything to change the flow of traffic. Instead, he just suggested that the police get involved. 

“We don’t believe that (anything), other than just enforcement action, is really needed,” Davis told the council.