County officials have no problem with signs posted on private property along McKinley Parkway in the Town of Hamburg asking people to drive at 35 mph -- but say the speed limit is going to stay at 55 mph.
Public Works Commissioner John C. Loffredo, while saying he admires the persistence of residents campaigning for a lower speed limit, noted that the county is bound by state law mandating use of speed studies to determine what the speed limit should be on given roadways.
And in the case of the two-mile stretch of McKinley between the Seven Corners and the fairgrounds, studies have determined 55 mph is a safe speed, he said.
For the county to arbitrarily lower the speed limit contrary to the results of the studies might subject it to lawsuits in case of accidents, he said.
Residents have been trying for years to get the speed limit lowered. On Wednesday evening, they installed 20 sequential signs along both sides of the parkway asking motorists to drive 35 mph.
Loffredo said county officials have no problem with the signs since they are posted on private property.
Frank Parlato Jr., spokesman for the residents, said the signs seem to be working "to a certain extent" and traffic is at least somewhat slower.
"One old lady went by about 60 mph and gave us the finger, but a fair percentage of people seem to have respect for the cause," Parlato said.
Several signs have disappeared and vandals changed a 35 to an 85, but that was corrected, Parlato said.
He said residents also plan to attend the Oct. 25 Hamburg Town Board meeting to seek the town's help.