SF 3118

1st Engrossment - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/23/2018 08:52am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; allowing counties to increase speed limits on county
roads from 55 miles per hour to 60 miles per hour; amending Minnesota Statutes
2016, section 169.14, subdivision 5.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 169.14, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Zoning within local area.

new text begin (a) 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.

new text begin (b) At the request of a county board, the commissioner may establish a speed limit in
excess of 55 miles per hour on a county road or county state-aid highway upon the basis of
an engineering and traffic investigation. The county must erect appropriate signs and the
increased speed limit is effective when the signs are erected.
new text end

new text begin (c) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b), a county board may by resolution increase
the speed limit of any street or highway within the county's jurisdiction from 55 miles per
hour to 60 miles per hour. The county engineer must erect appropriate signs to display the
60 miles per hour speed limit.
new text end