Myrtle Beach aims to crack down on Market Common speeding with new traffic measures

The City of Myrtle Beach is working on a crackdown of Market Common traffic violations, including speeding.

A new motion introduced by Myrtle Beach City Council on Tuesday would develop a plan to introduce traffic calming measures on Farrow Parkway. The move comes after some residents requested the city lower the speed limit in the heart of the Market Common to 25 mph.

“The idea here is the residents, more than a year ago, about a year ago, asked for the speed limit to be lowered in the downtown area of the Market Common on Farrow Parkway. The city dropped the speed limit to 30, and yet speeding still continues,” said new Mayor Mark Kruea.

The motion, which garnered unanimous Council support, says city staff will have recommendations for the February workshop. Traffic calming could include measures like installing larger signs announcing the 30-mph speed limit.

Could increasing tickets to deter speeding?

Several members of council also expressed support for increasing tickets in the area to deter speeding.

“If you want to change somebody’s attitude, you want to change somebody practicing the way they do things, get in their pocketbook, and they will change how they do things,” Councilman Mike Lowder said.

What about lowering the speed limit?

After a two-month evaluation and feedback period, City Council could consider a motion to lower the speed limit.

Although Tuesday’s motion focuses on the Market Common, Council may broaden traffic-calming efforts in the future.

“This is not just Market Common. It is not just Farrow Parkway. I think this is something that we really need to look at and address citywide,” said Lowder. “Another area in the city that we really need to look at is Marina Parkway within the Grande Dunes PUD.”