Agenda - Council - 05/12/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASE # UPDATE ON PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE SPEED LIMIT LAWS IN MINNESOTA By: Steven Jankowski, City Engineer Background: The purpose of this case is to review the legalities regarding the current posting of speed limits and to provide an update on proposed changes to those rules. Attached to this case is a report prepared by a Committee of transportation professionals as a result of a legislative directive to review and recommend changes to the current speed limit laws. Currently, a bill to adopt the recommendations of this Committee is being considered in the Minnesota House of Representative as HF No 1421: Below are speed limit options related to definitions in the current state law: • An "Urban District" is one with structures devoted to business, industry or dwelling houses situated at intervals of less than 100 feet for a distance of a quarter mile. A 30 mph. speed limit can be posted by the local authority • A "Rural Residential District" is one with structures spaced at less than 300 feet; A 30 mph speed limit can be posted by townships only, not cities. • A "Residential roadways" may be posted as 25 mph by local authorities for roads less than one half mile in length. • Any roadway may have its specific speed limit determined by the Commissioner of Transportation subsequent to an engineered speed study There is a significant issue that relates to the City of Ramsey in existing regulations. Most of the Cities' rural subdivisions do not meet the 100 foot spacing interval to be considered urban roadways. Although the spacing on these roads are well within the 300 foot rural .residential road spacing, the City does not qualify for the 30 mph rural residential speed limit because it is not a township. The. option of posting a 55 mph Limit is not appropriate and having a speed study performed on each of these roads is not practical. There is clearly a need to modify the speed limit statutes. The legislation introduced proposes to modify the definition of "Rural Residential District" to extend to cities. It also proposes that the allowed posted speed limit in this district be 35 mph. The option of declaring a "Residential Roadway", eligible fora 25 mph limit, would be further limited to only streets less than one half mile in length by striking the words "or portions of a street" from the current statute. -151-