1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to traffic regulations; modifying definition
1.3 	of residential roadway; authorizing local authorities
1.4 	to establish speed limits on residential roadways;
1.5 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 169.01,
1.6 	subdivision 81; 169.14, subdivisions 2, 5, by adding a
1.7 	subdivision.
1.8 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.9 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.01,
1.10 	subdivision 81, is amended to read:
1.11 		Subd. 81.Residential roadway.  "Residential roadway"
1.12 	means a street or portion of a street that is less than one-half
1.13 	mile in length and is functionally classified as a local street
1.14 	by the road authority having jurisdiction.

1.15 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.14,
1.16 	subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.17 		Subd. 2.Speed limits.  (a) Where no special hazard
1.18 	exists the following speeds shall be lawful, but any speeds in
1.19 	excess of such limits shall be prima facie evidence that the
1.20 	speed is not reasonable or prudent and that it is unlawful;
1.21 	except that the speed limit within any municipality shall be a
1.22 	maximum limit and any speed in excess thereof shall be unlawful:
1.23 	(1) 30 miles per hour in an urban district or on a town
1.24 	road in a rural residential district;
1.25 	(2) 65 miles per hour on noninterstate freeways and
1.26 	expressways, as defined in section 160.02, subdivision 19;
2.1 	(3) 55 miles per hour in locations other than those
2.2 	specified in this section;
2.3 	(4) 70 miles per hour on interstate highways outside the
2.4 	limits of any urbanized area with a population of greater than
2.5 	50,000 as defined by order of the commissioner of
2.6 	transportation;
2.7 	(5) 65 miles per hour on interstate highways inside the
2.8 	limits of any urbanized area with a population of greater than
2.9 	50,000 as defined by order of the commissioner of
2.10 	transportation; and 
2.11 	(6) ten miles per hour in alleys; and 
2.12 	(7) 25 miles per hour in residential roadways if adopted by
2.13 	the road authority having jurisdiction over the residential
2.14 	roadway.
2.15 	(b) A speed limit adopted under paragraph (a), clause (7),
2.16 	is not effective unless the road authority has erected signs
2.17 	designating the speed limit and indicating the beginning and end
2.18 	of the residential roadway on which the speed limit applies.
2.19 	(c) For purposes of this subdivision, "rural residential
2.20 	district" means the territory contiguous to and including any
2.21 	town road within a subdivision or plat of land that is built up
2.22 	with dwelling houses at intervals of less than 300 feet for a
2.23 	distance of one-quarter mile or more.

2.24 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.14,
2.25 	subdivision 5, is amended to read:
2.26 		Subd. 5.Zoning within local area. Except as otherwise
2.27 	provided in subdivision 5f for residential roadways,when local
2.28 	authorities believe that the existing speed limit upon any
2.29 	street or highway, or part thereof, within their respective
2.30 	jurisdictions and not a part of the trunk highway system is
2.31 	greater or less than is reasonable or safe under existing
2.32 	conditions, they may request the commissioner to authorize, upon
2.33 	the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, the
2.34 	erection of appropriate signs designating what speed is
2.35 	reasonable and safe, and the commissioner may authorize the
2.36 	erection of appropriate signs designating a reasonable and safe
3.1 	speed limit thereat, which speed limit shall be effective when
3.2 	such signs are erected.  Any speeds in excess of these speed
3.3 	limits shall be prima facie evidence that the speed is not
3.4 	reasonable or prudent and that it is unlawful; except that any
3.5 	speed limit within any municipality shall be a maximum limit and
3.6 	any speed in excess thereof shall be unlawful.  Alteration of
3.7 	speed limits on streets and highways shall be made only upon
3.8 	authority of the commissioner except as provided in subdivision
3.9 	5a.

3.10 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.14, is
3.11 	amended by adding a subdivision to read:
3.12 		Subd. 5f.Residential roadway zoning. When a road
3.13 	authority believes that the existing speed limit upon any
3.14 	residential roadway, or part thereof, within its jurisdiction,
3.15 	is greater than is reasonable or safe under existing conditions,
3.16 	it may:
3.17 	(1) adopt a speed limit of 25 miles per hour; or 
3.18 	(2) establish and adopt a speed limit that is reasonable
3.19 	and safe, taking into account the results of an engineering and
3.20 	traffic investigation conducted by the road authority.
3.21 	The speed limit on the residential roadway is effective
3.22 	when the road authority erects appropriate signs designating the
3.23 	speed limit and indicating the beginning and end of the portion
3.24 	of the residential roadway to which the speed limit applies.
3.25 	Any speed in excess of this speed limit is prima facie evidence
3.26 	that the speed is not reasonable and prudent and that it is
3.27 	unlawful; except that any speed limit within any municipality
3.28 	shall be a maximum limit and any speed in excess of the speed
3.29 	limit is unlawful.