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<br />This could impose a significant burden on some communities with limited funds to <br />allocate for such a purpose. . . <br /> <br />While there will continue to be local requests for lower speed limits, MnlDOT <br />recomrnendsthat for the present time in Minnesota, a change to. a lower speed limit <br />..wo1,l.ld not be advisable. Amore appropriate step to take atthis time is to work for an <br />increase in resources for stronger enforcement of current speed limit regulations and <br />expanded public education efforts. The recOlnmendation from MnJDOT is to retain <br />the.statutory 30 MPE speedHmit fort!rban Districts. <br /> <br />Apartfrom $.e; speed liniifnumber, another facet of the currenfstatute is that the <br />speed limits for Urban Distri~t and Rural Residential District.arecombined in one <br />clause, and are therefore the same value. As discussed in Section 4.2 below, because <br />Qfthe differing characteristics of Urban Districts and Rural Residential Districts, it is <br />recommended that speedlhnittext relating to the Rural Residential District be <br />removed from the 169.14,~ubd. 2(a)(1) and instead be containedJn its own separate <br />area. <br /> <br />4.1.2 Recommended Statute Text <br /> <br />The recommended revision to the statute text addressing the urban district. 169,14 <br />'Subd. 2(a)(l), is shown below: <br /> <br />Subd. 2. Speed limits. (a) Where no special hazard exists the following speeds <br />shall be lawful, but any speeds in excess of such limits shall be prima. facie <br />evidence that the speed is not reasonable or prudent andthat it is unlawful; except <br />that the speed limit within any municipality shall bee. maximum limit and any <br />speed in excess thereof shall be unlawful: <br />(1) 30 miles per hourin an urban district or on a t01','/n road .it<i a rur~Ll:esidefltial <br />dlstriet; . <br /> <br />4.2 Rural Residential District <br /> <br />4.2.1 Rural Residential District Discussion <br /> <br />The characteristics of an area defined as "Rural Residential District" are clearly <br />different from an area defined as "Urban District." Therefore, the Urban District and <br />Rural Residential Districtspeed limits should be different and Statute 169.14, Subd. <br />2(a)(1) should not coverboth districts. <br /> <br />The Rural Residential District should realistically carry a speed limit that is more <br />appropriate for its characteristics. The Task Force assumed that as house spacing <br />increases, and accesses and inter-vehicle conflicts decrease, drivers would likely be <br />comfortable and can safely manage driving faster than the speed within an Urban <br />District. A related point is that if the speed is more realistically set to this proper <br />level, there would bea good. chance of voluntary compliance and more consistent <br />speeds. <br /> <br />Page 22 <br /> <br />"49 <br />