Laserfiche WebLink
Ct Z,.e G [:K„S' <br />~CSG~~ <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />This report documents a series of recommendations developed by the Minnesota Department of <br />Transportation for speed limits on local roads. The report also describes the process Mn/DOT <br />utilized to reach these recommendations. This process benefited from the participation of several <br />local government engineers in a Task Force convened by Mn/DOT. Mn/DOT has conducted the <br />speed limit study and prepared this report to meet the requirements of Laws of Minnesota 2008, <br />Chapter 287, Section 119, STUDY AND REPORT ON SPEED LIMITS. The input of all of the <br />Task Force members was valuable and informative and helped to form a consensus for the <br />group's recommendations. <br />Implementation of speed limit statutes involves an overlap of two principles: <br />• Definitions:.what type of roadway the motorist is driving on, and <br />• Speed Limits: what the appropriate speed is for that roadway. <br />The direction.from the Legislature to Mn/DOT acknowledged these two principles. Mn/DOT <br />was specifically tasked to study and report. on the following topics: <br />-- --• Are the definitions of urban district, rural residential district and residential roadway- --. . <br />appropriate? <br />• Is 3Q 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 SS MPH in rural residential districts within a city appropriate? <br />• Are there rural residential district locations within cities where 30 MPH is appropriate? . <br />In response to these questions, Mn/DOT 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 recommendationsdeveloped by Mn/DOT. <br />Recommendations on Definitions <br />Urban District <br />The current definition of Urban District was found to be acceptable; however some agencies <br />interpret the term "streets" to include highways and others do not. The Task Force concluded ail <br />similar types of roadways regardless of ownership should uniformly apply the Urban District <br />criteria. Consequently, the Task Force recommends that highways should be specified to clarify <br />the matter, <br />Rural Residential Disfrict <br />In the current statute text, this definition only applies for township roads; it does not apply within <br />cities ox for county roads. The definition is confusing and outdated. It does not reflect certain. . <br />types of modern, large-tot, subdivision designs along roadways (in cities and townships) or well- <br />managed access roadways through commercial or residential areas. The recommended change <br />Page i <br />-153- <br />