Laserfiche WebLink
<br />... <br /> <br />t tw (.G.t'$ <br />f" (.J ~ c:.A. <br /> <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> <br />This report documents a series of recommendations developed by the Mil'll1esata Department of <br />Transportation for speed Lilnits 011 Local roads. The report also describes thepl'ocess MnJDOT <br />utilized to reach these recolnmendations.This process benefited from the participationo! several <br />local government engineers in a Task Force convened by Mn/DOT.MnlDOT has conducted the <br />speed limit study and prepared this report to meet the requirements of taws of Minnesota :ZOOS, <br />Chapter 287, Section 119, STUDY AND REPORT ON SPEED LIMITS. The input of all of the <br />TaskForce members wasvaluab1e and informative and helpea. to form a consensus for the. <br />group's recommendations. <br /> <br />Implementation of speed limit statutes involves an overlap of two principles: <br /> <br />. Definitions: .what type of roadway the motodst is driving on, and <br />. Speed Limits: what the appropriate speed is for that roadway. <br /> <br />The direction Jrom the Legislature to Mn/DOT acknowledged these two principles. 1\IIn/DOT <br />was specifically tasked to study and report on the following topics: <br /> <br />. ',Are the definitions of urban district, rural residential district an:d residential roadway <br />appropriate? ' <br />. Is 3.0 MPH in urban districts appropriate? <br />. Are there locations where 25 MPH is appropriate? <br />. Is 30 MPH in rural residential districts appropriate? <br />. Is 55 MPH in rural residential districts within a city approp'riate? <br />. Are there rural residential district locations within cities where 30 1v.1PH is appropriate? <br /> <br />In response to these questions, MnlDOT has developed proposed changes to the text of the <br />statutes (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 169, Traffic Regulations). The full versions of those <br />changes appear elsewhere in this report. The remainder of this section presents overviews and <br />highlights of the major recommendations developed by 11nIDOT. <br /> <br />Recommendations on Definitions <br /> <br />Urban District <br /> <br />The current definition of Urban District was found eo be acceptable; however some agencies <br />interpret the term "streets" to include highways and others do not. The Task Force concluded all <br />similar types of roadways regardless of ownership should uniformly apply the Urban District <br />criteria. Consequently, the Task Force re'commends that highways should be specified to clarify <br />the matter. <br /> <br />Rural Residential District <br /> <br />In the current statute text, this definition only applies for township roads; it does not apply within <br />cities or for county roads. The definition is confusing and outdated. It does not ret1eet certain <br />types of modem, large-lot, subdivision designs along roadways (in cities and townships) orwell- <br />managed access roadways through commercial or residential areas. The recommended change <br /> <br />Page i <br /> <br />25 <br />