New speed limits part of safety measures approved for Austin area

Drivers face lower speed limits on roads around the Austin Center area near Interstate 75 as part of new safety measures.

Austin Landing and roads west of the I-75 interchange close to that retail development are under new restrictions, which include less access for commercial trucks.

The move aims to increase pedestrian and resident safety on all public roads in Austin Landing, as well as on Crains Run, Medlar and Shephard roads.

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Austin Landing developer VisCap Development sought the lower speed limit of 25 miles per hour as part of series of safety measures at the complex that employs about 2,500, township officials said.

“It’s gotten more dense and gotten more pedestrian traffic,” according to Miami Twp. Community Development Director Chris Snyder.

Along with the Austin Landing changes, legislation approved by Miamisburg last week lowers speed limits on the following roads:

• Shephard Road, from Dayton-Cincinnati Pike to Miamisburg-Springboro Road, from 40 to 35 mph

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• Medlar Road, from Crains Run Road to Miamisburg-Springboro, from 45 to 35 mph

• Crains Run, from Dayton-Cincinnati to Wood Road, from 45 to 35 mph

The legislation also calls for “no thru truck zones” on Crains Run, Medlar and Shephard roads.

Miamisburg made the changes after Miami Twp. requested the action as per the contract for the Austin Center Joint Economic Development District, an entity shared by those two jurisdictions and Springboro. The new restrictions took effect immediately, according to the legislation.

Residents of Crains Run — which is less than a mile from the Austin/I-75 interchange — told township officials earlier this year the road’s design, speed limit and commercial truck traffic pose hazards.

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Longtime resident Michael Wilds said he has been “run off the road” on certain parts of the “very curvy” route that’s “not a real wide.”

The township also wanted commercial truck traffic restricted on Medlar and Shephard roads because of their proximity to Crains Run, said Miami Twp. Public Works Director Dan Mayberry.

“If you’re out there and you see the trucks coming off Crains Run, they go to Medlar, which connects with Crains,” Mayberrry said.

“And we’ve also had issues on Shephard. We just haven’t had any public up to voice concern. But we’ve taken internal calls to the department about the truck traffic on Shephard.”

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