City proposes three solutions for Rice Road speeding concerns

The City of Columbia has proposed three solutions to help fix speeding problems on Rice Road and Kelsey Drive.

The three proposed solutions include a speed bump, speed table, or bulb out.

A speed table is larger than a speed hump, allowing the wheels to be raised, reducing the speed of the vehicle. A bulb out, or otherwise known as a curb extension, which extends the curb.

Residents in the area say these solutions are much needed. Gloria Logan has been living on Rice road for 18 years, and says this meeting was an answer to her prayers. “I’m concerned about the kids running around in the street.”

More than a dozen residents showed up at the Hanover blvd clubhouse to hear the city’s solution on how to solve the speeding problem. Resident’s responses were positive, and supportive.

One solution that was not brought up? Installing a stop sign. Lee White with Columbia Public Works says the reason for not putting a stop sign in was if there isn’t enough traffic going by, people begin to feel that the stop sign is unnecessary and then the compliance with that stop sign reduces.”

Logan says, “the proposed solutions are a definite improvement from what we have now.”

The city says the next step is a public hearing, then the city council will make a decision, and if that decision is passed construction would begin.

The funding money is coming from the approved capital sales improvement tax.