OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford The speed limit near Fredonia Central School would get lowered to 20 miles per hour under a proposal now on the table.

The state Department of Transportation has approved Fredonia’s request for lower speed limits on Main Street.

Mayor Douglas Essek read a letter to the village from a DOT traffic engineer, Michael Roach, Monday at a Board of Trustees meeting.

“I wanted to inform you that my staff has completed our speed reduction study along Route 20 through the village of Fredonia. Based on our analysis and our speed zone evaluation criteria, we have determined that we will establish a 30 mile per hour speed limit along Route 20 within the village limits,” Roach wrote.

The limit is currently 40 miles per hour on a stretch from Clinton Avenue to near the Fredonia Central School District. There is a 30 miles per hour school speed zone adjacent to the district property.

That’s going down, too — and its hours will also get changed, Roach wrote.

“Consequently, the school speed limit will also be reduced to 20 miles an hour. My staff had discussions with school district officials, and everyone agreed the school speed limit will be in effect between the hours of 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. instead of the current 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. time frame. This change should promote improve motorist compliance and respect for the school speed limit. We’ve found that motorist compliance with the school speed limit in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. wanes over the school days.”