A sign outside of John Rauscher’s property on North Stark Highway used to tell motorists to watch their speed. Now, the same sign celebrates a grassroots victory.

“I’m elated,” Rauscher said upon learning the portion of Route 114 outside his home will soon be reduced in speed from 45 mph to 35 mph.

The area between Route 77 and Center Road contains nine houses and two businesses, as well as Center Woods Elementary School and the public safety building, Rauscher wrote in a petition to the state Department of Transportation in July.

With the stretch of road only about a half-mile long, Rauscher said many motorists speed up when the limit increases to 45, but fail to obey the next speed limit sign.

“People have no problem speeding up to 45 (mph), but then they forget to slow back down” to 35 mph, Rauscher said.

A total of 14 people from all the houses signed the petition, Rauscher said. The petition was addressed to New Hampshire DOT District Engineer Hiram Morrill, dated July 7. Rauscher’s home, as well as his store, Boomer’s Books, are both on the stretch of road in question.

Rauscher’s petition cited one serious accident involving a car and a motorcycle and two animal deaths in the area as reasons to reduce the speed limit.

“I ... believe this very short span of highway is unsafe and the posted speed of 45 mph is a hazard not only for our town police officers and safety officers, but for the children who attend Center Woods Elementary School and the residents and their pets who reside within that preposterously short section of highway,” Rauscher wrote.

Weare Police Chief Greg Begin informed Rauscher on Oct. 30 that the state would be reducing the speed limit, Rauscher said.

“I do take some credit for this, because it was my petition that got the speed limit changed,” Rauscher said. “It shows that grassroots movements can be effective, and just a handful of families can make a difference.”