RES 2022-39 Adopting a City Street Speed Limits PolicyCITY OF OTSEGO
COUNTY OF WRIGHT
STATE OF MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO: 2022-39
ADOPTING A CITY STREET SPEED LIMITS POLICY
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statues chapter 169 establishes authority for cites to designates speed limits for
public streets under their jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, the City Council directed the City Engineer to undertake a study related to establishment of
speed limits for City streets; and
WHEREAS, the City Engineer's study includes analysis of traffic safety, roadway design standards,
national urban speed limit guidance and studies, local traffic crashes, and methods to effectively
communicate the change to the public.; and
WHEREAS, City staff has drafted a policy for establishment of speed limits for local streets based upon
the recommendation of the City Engineer's study; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has met to discuss and review the City Street Speed Limits Policy.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OTSEGO, MINNESOTA THAT:
1. The City Street Speed Limits Policy is hereby adopted.
ADOPTED by the Otsego City Council this 11th day of April, 2022.
MOTION BY: Dahl
SECONDED BY: Goede
IN FAVOR: Stockamp,
OPPOSED: None
Dahl, Darkenwald, Goede and Nlbores
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CITY OF OTSEGO
ATTEST:
ity Clerk Etzel C
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CITY OF 0
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MINNESOTA
CITY STREET SPEED LIMITS
ADOPTED: April 11, 2022
A. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish background information on the current
Minnesota Statutes governing establishment of speed limits and outline criteria for
determining speed limits for City streets based upon guidance from Minnesota Statutes,
Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) policies and guidelines, Minnesota
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MnMUTCD), and engineering judgement.
B. DEFINITIONS
Comprehensive Plan: The Comprehensive Plan, including the Transportation Plan, of the
City of Otsego.
Residential Roadways: Those local streets either 1) less than one-half mile in total length,
or 21 in an area zoned exclusively for housing that is not a collector or arterial street.
Rural Residential District: A street segment at least one -quarter mile in length with
residential dwellings spaced less than 300 feet apart.
Streets, Arterial: Those streets defined by the Comprehensive Plan carrying larger
volumes of traffic and serving as links between various subareas of the City are intended
to provide for collection and distribution of traffic between highways and collector
streets; hence regulation of direct access to property is critical.
Streets, Collector: Those streets defined by the Comprehensive Plan that carry traffic
from local streets to the major system of arterials and highways and primarily provide
principal access to residential neighborhoods, including, to a lesser degree, direct land
access.
Streets, Local: Those streets defined by the Comprehensive Plan with a primary function
to provide direct access to abutting property developed with residential, commercial,
industrial, or institutional land uses.
Urban District: A street segment that is at least one -quarter mile long with structures
situated at intervals of less than 100 feet apart.
C. AUTHORITY
Minnesota Statutes Chapter 169 establishes several provisions that govern setting or
adjusting the statutory speed limits within a local jurisdiction under a variety of
circumstances, including.
■ The following statutory speed limits apply to City streets:
0 10 mph in alleys
0 25 mph on residential roadways
0 30 mph in an urban district
0 35 mph in a rural residential district
0 55 mph in locations other than those specified in this section
■ City can request MnDOT to perform an engineering and traffic investigation of a
street based upon which MnDOT, not the City, determines the safe and
reasonable speed limit.
■ The City has authority to establish a School Zone and reduce the speed limit in
accordance with Minnesota Statute 169.14, Subp. 5a by completing a traffic
engineering study.
■ Subject to various requirements, speed limits can be adjusted on other public
streets, including:
o Park streets at not less than 15 mph. and no more than 20 mph. below the
surrounding limit, and subject to a MnDOT engineering and traffic study.
o On streets that have a designated bicycle lane at no less than 25 mph.
o In mobile home parks at over 10 mph. but no more than 30 mph.
■ The Minnesota Legislature amended Statute 169.14 in 2019 that impact the City's
authority to set speed limits on City streets effective August 1, 2019:
o Section 169.14, Subp. 2:
— 25 mph. on residential streets
35 mph. in a rural residential district
2
— A speed limit adopted under this Section is not effective unless the
City has erected signs designating the speed limit and indicating the
beginning and end of the street on which the speed limit applies.
o Minnesota Statute, Section 169.141 Subp. 5ha
— The City may establish speed limits for City streets other than the
limits provided in Minnesota Statutes 169.14, Subp. 2 without
conducting an engineering and traffic investigation.
The City must develop procedures to set speed limits based on the
city's safety, engineering, and traffic analysis. At a minimum, the
safety, engineering, and traffic analysis must consider national
urban speed limit guidance and studies, local traffic crashes, and
methods to effectively communicate the change to the public.
— A City must implement speed limit changes in a consistent and
understandable manner.
— The City must erect appropriate signs to display the speed limit.
D. TRAFFIC DATA
The City Engineer compiled the following available data from the City, Wright County, and
MnDOT for analysis in determining appropriate speed limits on City streets
■ 2012 Otsego Comprehensive Plan
■ Otsego Zoning Map
■ Existing land use
■ Streets.
o Established speed limits
o Most recent and projected traffic volume data
o Existing and proposed pedestrian network
E. ANALYSIS
The City must develop procedures to set speed limits based on, at a minimum, a safety,
engineering, and traffic analysis. The following outlines the analysis used to determine
what appropriate local speed limits could be implemented in the City of Otsego.
■ National Urban Speed Limit Guidance and Studies: Several studies documenting
review and analysis of reducing speed limits include the following:
o NTSB, Reducing Speeding -Related Crashes Involving Passenger Vehicles, 2017
o NACTO, Setting safe Speeds for Urban Streets, 2020
o NCHRP, Guidance for Setting Speed Limits, 2020
3
■ Safety Review: Crashes are typically concentrated on higher -volume streets, which
typically have higher design and operating speeds. Although the majority of the
crashes are on County Roads or State Trunk Highways there are some on local City
Streets. Based on the local and national studies, lowering the speed limit in urban
areas is an effective way to improve safety for all road users.
■ Communication Plan: The City would communicate any implemented speed limit
changes through publication of ordinances as required by Statute; articles and maps
in the Otsego View; City social media, press releases; information at community
events; and announcements at City Council meetings. The message will communicate
that the lowing of speed limits will create safer roadways for both vehicles and
pedestrians.
F. SPEED LIMIT CRITERIA
The criteria for establishment of speed limits for street segments within the City is set
forth by the matrix included as Exhibit A to this policy.
G. IMPLEMENTATION
Implementation of this policy is to be accomplished by adoption of an ordinance within Title
7, Chapter 1 of the City Code establishing speed limits based on the functional classification
designation by the Comprehensive Plan or for specific street segments in accordance with
the criteria set forth herein.
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