Safer, healthier and stronger neighborhoods
The City of Rochester is considering an ordinance that will provide the City Engineer authority to set speed limits based on a Safe Systems approach, where safety is the primary criterion for design. This means neighborhood street speed limits could likely be reduced and some major "collectors" and "arteries" will be unchanged.
Why is this important?
Your commute will be minimally affected
it takes one (1) minute longer to travel a mile going 20 mph versus 30 mph. Also, consider that your commute through neighbrohood streets is likely minimal before getting onto a collector, like 2nd St SW, Civic Center Dr, East Circle Dr or others.
Safety
Kids can more safely visit with friends and family
Safely walk our pets
Reduced bureaucracy
By giving authority to the City Engineer, the City Council will be able to focus on the rest of the City's operational decisions. Allow expert staff set the speed limits and design the roadways with safety as the primary consideration.
Climate
We've seen how easy it is to reduce pollution amid pandemic conditions with changes in behavior
A small adjustment can make a huge impact - reduce speed limits to lower the emissions coming out of cars
Proposed & Current Speed Limits in Rochester
A growing body of research shows that speed limit changes alone can lead to measurable declines in speeds and crashes, even absent enforcement or engineering changes. The City Engineer, based on a Safe Systems approach that included a Speed Limit Study, has recommended a city-wide speed limit of 20 mph on local streets and within the Central Business district, unless otherwise signed.
This does not mean that every city-owned street will be 20 mph. For example, roads such as Elton Hills Drive, 37 Street NW, and Broadway Avenue outside of the business district will remain their current posted speed. Speed limit signs will be posted where the speed limit is something different than 20mph.
New speed limits take effect as soon as signs are installed. Signage at gateway locations to the city will inform the traveling public that the speed limit is 20 mph, unless otherwise posted. Some city-owned streets will experience a speed reduction to a speed limit that is higher than 20 mph. These speed limit changes will occur as funding allows for sign changes.
Nearly every local street in Rochester is less than 0.5 miles from a road with a proposed speed limit of 25mph or higher. The proposed 20 mph speed limits would add approximately 15-30 seconds of travel time in reaching a road with a faster speed limit. (Traveling 1/2 mile takes: 1 minute and 30 seconds at 20pmh; 1 minute and 12 seconds at 25mph, and 1 minute at 30 mph.)
These changes only apply to city-owned streets. Speed limits on county and state owned roads such as East Circle Drive, West Circle Drive and Marion Road are not proposed to change.
Open Interactive Map
What this means is safer streets where we live, work, and play. If you want to see less people barreling down your street faster than you and your family are comfortable with, there are a few simple things you can do. You can easily get involved and support the initiative in the following ways:
Sign up to have a yard sign telling your neighbors and passerbys that you support safer streets - slower is safer and 20 is plenty.
Get Your Own Yard Sign
Proposed & Current Speed Limits in Rochester - Interactive Map
See how this truly may affect your neighborhood and travel plans
Here is the detail on why this is a good idea for Rochester neighborhoods
