SF 578

1st Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to traffic regulations; modifying definition
of residential roadway; authorizing local authorities
to establish speed limits on residential roadways;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 169.01,
subdivision 81; 169.14, subdivisions 2, 5, by adding a
subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.01,
subdivision 81, is amended to read:

Subd. 81.

Residential roadway.

"Residential roadway"
means a street or portion of a street that is deleted text begin less than one-half
mile in length and is deleted text end functionally classified as a local street
by the road authority having jurisdiction.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.14,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Speed limits.

(a) Where no special hazard
exists the following 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 or on a town
road in a rural residential district;

(2) 65 miles per hour on noninterstate freeways and
expressways, as defined in section 160.02, subdivision 19;

(3) 55 miles per hour in locations other than those
specified in this section;

(4) 70 miles per hour on interstate highways outside the
limits of any urbanized area with a population of greater than
50,000 as defined by order of the commissioner of
transportation;

(5) 65 miles per hour on interstate highways inside the
limits of any urbanized area with a population of greater than
50,000 as defined by order of the commissioner of
transportation; new text begin and
new text end

(6) ten miles per hour in alleys deleted text begin ; and
deleted text end

deleted text begin (7) 25 miles per hour in residential roadways if adopted by
the road authority having jurisdiction over the residential
roadway deleted text end .

(b) deleted text begin A speed limit adopted under paragraph (a), clause (7),
is not effective unless the road authority has erected signs
designating the speed limit and indicating the beginning and end
of the residential roadway on which the speed limit applies.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end For purposes of this subdivision, "rural residential
district" means the territory contiguous to and including any
town road within a subdivision or plat of land that is built up
with dwelling houses at intervals of less than 300 feet for a
distance of one-quarter mile or more.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.14,
subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Zoning within local area.

new text begin Except as otherwise
provided in subdivision 5f for residential roadways, new text end when local
authorities believe that the existing speed limit upon any
street or highway, or part thereof, within their respective
jurisdictions and not a part of the trunk highway system is
greater or less than is reasonable or safe under existing
conditions, they may request the commissioner to authorize, upon
the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, the
erection of appropriate signs designating what speed is
reasonable and safe, and the commissioner may authorize the
erection of appropriate signs designating a reasonable and safe
speed limit thereat, which speed limit shall be effective when
such signs are erected. Any speeds in excess of these speed
limits shall be prima facie evidence that the speed is not
reasonable or prudent and that it is unlawful; except that any
speed limit within any municipality shall be a maximum limit and
any speed in excess thereof shall be unlawful. Alteration of
speed limits on streets and highways shall be made only upon
authority of the commissioner except as provided in subdivision
5a.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.14, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 5f. new text end

new text begin Residential roadway zoning. new text end

new text begin When a road
authority believes that the existing speed limit upon any
residential roadway, or part thereof, within its jurisdiction,
is greater than is reasonable or safe under existing conditions,
it may:
new text end

new text begin (1) adopt a speed limit of 25 miles per hour; or
new text end

new text begin (2) establish and adopt a speed limit that is reasonable
and safe, taking into account the results of an engineering and
traffic investigation conducted by the road authority.
new text end

new text begin The speed limit on the residential roadway is effective
when the road authority erects appropriate signs designating the
speed limit and indicating the beginning and end of the portion
of the residential roadway to which the speed limit applies.
Any speed in excess of this speed limit is prima facie evidence
that the speed is not reasonable and prudent and that it is
unlawful; except that any speed limit within any municipality
shall be a maximum limit and any speed in excess of the speed
limit is unlawful.
new text end