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

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This could impose a significant burden on some communities with limited funds to allocate for such a purpose. While there will continue to be local requests far lower speed limits, Mn/DOT recommends that for the present time in Minnesota, a change to a lower speed limit would not be advisable. A mare appropriate -step to take at this time is to work for an increase in resources for stz°onger enforcement of current speed limit regulations and expanded public education efforts. The recommendation from Mn/DOT is to retavn the statutory 30 MPH speed limit for Urban Districts. Apart from the. speed limit number, another facet of the current statute is that the speed limits for Urban District and Rural Residential District are combined in one clause, and are therefore the same value. As discussed in Section 4.2 below, because of the differing characteristics of Urban Districts and Rural Residential Districts, it is recommended that speed limit text relating to the Rural Residential District be removed from the 169.14, Subd. 2(a)(1) and instead be contaizied in its own separate area. 4.1,2 Recommended Statute Text The recommended revision to the statute text addressing the urban district, 169.14 Subd. 2(a)(1), is shown below: Subd. 2. Speed limits. (a) Where no special hazard exists the fallowing speeds shall be lawful, but any speeds in excess of such limits shall be prima facie evidence that the speed is not reasonable or prudent and that it is unlawful; except that the speed limit within any municipality shall be a maximum limit and any speed in excess thereof shall be unlawful: (1) 30 miles per hour in an urban district ~ ~ +,.a,., r ~-' ~ ~' 'a +' r ..... . -~ - _.. _. 4.2 Rural Residential District 4.2.9 Rural Residential District Discussion The characteristics of an area defined as "Rural Residential District" are clearly different from an area defined as "Urban District." Therefore, the Urban District and Rural Residential District speed limits should be different aztd Statute 1 &9.14, Subd. 2(a)(1) should not eov~r both districts... The Rural Residential District should realistically carry a speed limit that is more appropriate, fox its characteristics. The Task Farce assumed that as house spacing increases, and accesses and inter-vehicle conflicts decrease, drivers would likely be comfortable and can safely manage driving faster than the speed within an Urban District. A related point is that if the speed is more realistically set to this. proper level, there would be a good chance of voluntary compliance and more consistent speeds. Page 22 -177-