State mandates speed limit reduction on Texas 29 in Burnet
One of the current speed limit signs located near the intersection of Texas 29 and Coke Street in Burnet. Staff photo by Caden Senn
A portion of Texas 29 in Burnet will soon see its speed limit reduced after an engineering study conducted by the Texas Department of Transportation deemed the corridor’s current speed unsafe.
The portion of Texas 29, between Coke Street and 180 feet west of CR 250, will see its current speed limit of 55 miles per hour reduced to 50 mph. This section spans approximately a quarter mile of the highway.
An exact timeframe for the speed limit change was not shared.
During a recent city council meeting on June 9, Burnet Police Chief Tony Hefferin told councilors he believed the changes were due to the ongoing construction of Texas 29 east of Burnet, but that the indication was for the speed limit reduction to be permanent.
“In our conversation, we talked about the construction that’s going on down 29,” he said. “I think that they’re wanting to slow people down so it’s more safe.”
Councilors also approved a resolution to allow the Burnet Police Department to enforce the new speed limit. Chief Hefferin told the council that, while the reduction was mandated by TxDOT, the city was required to allow enforcement before any changes could occur.
“It’s not a recommendation and it’s (TxDOT’s) highway so they can do it,” he said. “They’ve already decided that this is going to happen… But we can’t technically enforce it through our courts without there being an ordinance modifying this language.”