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<br />CASE # 1 <br /> <br />UPDATE ON PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE SPEED LIMIT LAWS IN MINNESOTA <br />By: Steven Jankowski, City Engineer <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />The purpose of this case is to review the legalities regarding, the current posting of speed limits <br />and to provide an update on proposed changes to those rules. Attached to this case is a report <br />prepared bya Conimittee of transportation professionals as a result of a legislative directive to <br />review and recommend changes to the current speed limit laws. Currently, a bill to adopt the <br />recommendations of. this Committee is being considered in the Minnesota House of <br />Representative as HF No 1421. <br /> <br />Below are speed limit options related to definitions in the current state law: <br /> <br />. An" Urban District" is one with structures devoted to business, industry or dwelling <br />houses situated at intervals of less than 100 feet for a distance of a quarter mile. A 30 <br />mph speed limit can be posted by the local authority <br />. A "Rural Residential District" is one with structures spaced at less than 300 feet; A 30 <br />mph speed limit can be posted by townships only, not cities. <br />. A "Residential roadways" may be posted as 25 mph by local authorities for roads less <br />than one half mile in length. <br />. Any roadway may have its specific speed limit determined by the Commissioner of <br />Tran~portation subsequent to an engineered speed study <br /> <br />There is a significant issue that relates to the City of Ramsey in existing regulations. Most of the <br />Cities' rural subdivisions do not meet the 100 foot spacing interval to be considered urban <br />roadways. Although the spacing on these roads are well within the 300 foot rural residential road <br />spacing, the City does not qualify for the 30 mph rural residential speed limit because it is not a <br />township. The option of posting a 55 mph limit is not appropriate and having a speed study <br />performed on each of these roads is not practical. There is clearly a need to modify the speed <br />limit statutes. <br /> <br />The legislation introduced proposes to modify the definition of "Rural Residential District" to <br />extend to cities. It also proposes that the allowed posted speed limit in this district be 35 mph. <br />The option of declaring a "Residential Roadway", eligible for a 25 mph limit, would be further <br />limited to only streets less than one half mile in length by striking the words "or portions of a <br />street" from the current statute. <br /> <br />23 <br />