Q: Can someone please explain to me the speed limit increase on Bell Avenue in Perkins to 40 mph? The road has a fire station on one end, a police and sheriff station on the other, and now a ball park where children play. Should this not be a 20-25 mph street (with caution lights!)? –Steve in Perkins

A: I called Eric Dodrill, superintendent of the Perkins Township Highway Department, who told me a bit about Bell Avenue's history and what you might expect in the future. The speed limit there was 25 mph until about ten years ago when a traffic study was performed and submitted to the Ohio Department of Transportation, which makes the final recommendations on "enforceable" speed limits, Dodrill said. An interesting note is that a violation of a speed limit not evaluated by traffic studies and, ultimately, ODOT, would not hold up in court, he said. The 40-mph mark came as the result of Perkins officials submitting their study to ODOT and obtaining an enforceable limit. Dodrill said it's likely the area will be reevaluated given the development there, including that new ball field at Strickfaden Park. That may occur next year, he said.

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