Boston City Council Votes to Lower City Speed Limit
As if traffic wasn’t bad enough in Boston, it’s about to get a lot slower for motorists in the city.
According to Boston.com, the City Council unanimously voted on Wednesday to lower the city speed limit from 30 mph to 20 mph in Boston. The proposal would also drop the speed limit in “municipally designated zones,” such as school zones and areas around MBTA stops, to 15 mph.
“We need to eliminate traffic fatalities in the city streets,” Councilor Frank Baker said. “Lowering the speed limit is an important step in the right direction.”
The measure coincides with the city’s adoption of the Vision Zero Boston plan, which aims to stamp out serious traffic incidents and deaths by 2030.
Data provided by the city shows that over 100 people were killed during traffic related accidents between 2010 and 2015, which includes 23 deaths last year.
According to city data, 102 motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents from 2010 to 2015, including 23 fatalities last year.
But you don’t have to change your driving habits just yet: Before it can become law, Mayor Marty Walsh will need to sign the proposal, which will also require approval by the state legislature. Though he didn’t confirm whether or not he planned to sign the proposal, Walsh did indicate some early support for the idea.
“Lowering speed limits is one of many tools we are looking at through our Vision Zero action plan to create safer streets in Boston,” Walsh said in a statement. “I look forward to reviewing Councilor Baker’s proposal.”
