Written by Amanda Coers – The Brown County Commissioners’ unanimously approved a safer speed limit for a stretch of road near the Victory Life Academy just outside of Brownwood. The process began in January with a heartfelt request from one of the school’s educators and coach, Rick Phelps.
The school, which currently enrolls over 100 students, is located in an odd position, between the Brownwood and Early city limits, and is classified as Brown County, though it has a Brownwood address. The posted speed limit for that particular stretch of road is 45 miles per hour, and drivers often travel at speeds of 60 or faster. In the past 18 months there’s been four wrecks with injuries near the drive entrance to the school.
“It’s gotten to a point now where it’s dangerous and something needs to be done,” Phelps told Brown County Commissioners on January 17th. The Commissioners agreed it was an issue that needed to be addressed.
Victory Life Academy will be getting a pair of flashing school zone safety lights, thanks to TxDOT and a generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous. Once the signs are installed the new speed limit of 35 miles per hour will be enforced on C.C. Woodson near the school from 7:30 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m. on school days.
Phelps believes it could take approximately a month for the signs to be up and running.