Drivers cutting through Decatur are getting dialed back a notch this week, as the city rolls out lower speed limits on five state routes close to downtown. Scott Boulevard will drop from 40 to 35 mph, while College Avenue, South Candler Street, Clairemont Avenue and Commerce Drive will shift from 35 to 30 mph. City officials say Georgia Department of Transportation crews are in the process of putting up new signs and are urging motorists to follow the updated limits as soon as they appear.
Which roads are affected
The changes cover Scott Boulevard (SR 8) and four key stretches on SR 10 and SR 155: College Avenue (SR 10) plus South Candler Street, Clairemont Avenue and Commerce Drive (all SR 155). Each corridor will see a five-miles-per-hour reduction, with Scott Boulevard moving from 40 to 35 mph and the others from 35 to 30 mph. The city has posted a full schedule for the rollout and guidance for drivers on what to expect as signs are swapped out, according to the City of Decatur.
Why city leaders say it matters
City staff have tied the lower limits to the Decatur Safe Streets Safety Action Plan, highlighting the changes in a Facebook post that walks through the new signs and timing. Independent research backs up the push to slow things down. A literature review cited in a National Academies report finds that a pedestrian hit at 40 mph faces roughly a 73 percent chance of severe injury, which is why engineers and planners often stress even modest speed reductions on busy corridors where people are walking and biking, according to the National Academies Press.
Neighbors and enforcement
On the ground, neighbors are not exactly in lockstep. Some residents told reporters the lower limits are overdue, while others questioned whether a new number on a sign will matter for drivers who already speed. CBS Atlanta captured both viewpoints in recent coverage. The Decatur City Commission had already signed off on the change, voting last September to support the Georgia Department of Transportation recommendations to lower posted speeds on the identified routes, a move reported by Atlanta News First. Officials say there will be an education-first enforcement window while the new signs go up.
What to expect and what's next
The city is also looking beyond this initial round of changes. A request for proposals is out for a comprehensive 2026 Decatur Speed Study that would include 72-hour speed and volume counts, engineering investigations and corridor recommendations. The RFP lists a March 11, 2026 proposal deadline and a planned selection date in mid-March. Details on the study and its scope are posted on the city's procurement page, which notes that the work will support GDOT justification packages and possible future policy or design changes, according to the City of Decatur procurement page.
In the coming weeks, drivers can expect new posted limits, message boards and a public-information push as crews finish replacing signs. City planners say the speed cuts are just one part of a broader safety strategy that combines engineering, enforcement and education, all aimed at making the High Risk Network safer for people walking, biking and rolling.
