By Kerri Pepoy,Staff Writer

PARIS – A recent road survey by the Maine Department of Transportation will result in little change to the town’s speed limits.

Earlier this year, the Board of Selectmen voted to reverse a policy that gave the town the authority to survey its own roads. The vote transferred the authority back to DOT, which already does road surveys for most Maine municipalities, although towns have the authority to survey their own roads if they choose.

“We didn’t have enough qualified engineers on staff,” Paris Town Manager Sharon Jackson said Tuesday.

DOT, which began surveying Paris roads last summer, sent a letter to Jackson last month with its findings. The survey was done at the request of Paris Police Chief David Verrier.

The survey findings were based on test runs, number of driveways and commercial entrances, number of intersections and road geometries.

“Ninety percent (of speed limits) will be the same,” Jackson said. Some new signs will need to be installed and will represent a minimal cost to the town of about $1,000, she said. The town of Paris pays for signs installed on town roads.

There are some changes. A half-mile stretch of Paris Hill Road beginning near Hopper Ledge Road and extending to Tremont Street will be reduced to 25 miles per hour from 30 mph.

Also, a 30 mph speed limit will be further extended on Prospect Avenue, beginning at Nichols Street and Prospect Avenue and extending northeast to High Street, a total distance of 0.40 miles.

DOT also decided to increase the speed limit to 40 miles per hour from 35 miles per hour starting at Route 26 and Park, Porter and Wheeler streets and extending north for a distance of 0.32 miles.

Since Route 26 is a state road, DOT will pay for the new speed-limit sign in that location.