TIMELINE
December 2019-December 2020

SCOPE
The goal of Phase 1 was to develop a consistent and unified vision related to speed limits supported by cities, counties, special interests, public safety and enforcement. It included a literature search, input from technical advisory and transportation user groups, and the development of a vision for speed limits on local roads in Minnesota.

OBJECTIVES

• Document national approaches to setting speed limits
• Review Minnesota speed limit history and laws
• Gather input from technical and user groups
• Evaluate approaches to setting speed limits
• Define a supported and unified vision

OUTCOMES
By the end of December 2020, MnDOT adopted the Minnesota Statewide Speed Limit Vision, which is guided by three core values. While developing the vision, the task force also established a series of statements relating to shared values.

• Vision Statement: Speed limits are set with an emphasis on all users with key influences of safety, engineering and surrounding land use.
• Core values: Speed limits are affected by community context, land use, and road design; governed by voluntary compliance through education and accepted social norms; established through consistent technical evaluation and applied equitably across all communities.
• Shared values: In Minnesota, we believe that:
  • Promotion of safety culture, crash severity reduction, surrounding land use, and non-motorized users should be the amongst the highest considerations when determining a road’s speed limit.
  • Achieving driver compliance through the equitable application of engineering, road design, education and enforcement should be considered for all users when determining a road’s speed limit.
  • A vision for speed limits should recognize the different functions roadways provide.

TIMELINE
December 2021-December 2022

SCOPE
Use Minnesota Statewide Speed Limit Vision (which was adopted in Phase 1) to create a new speed limit setting process.  

OBJECTIVES

• Start with supported and unified statewide vision and core values
• Document and review existing MnDOT speed limit change request and speed study process
• Gather input from stakeholders on process improvements
• Develop a refined process for setting speed limits that incorporates the unified vision
• Develop targeted messaging and series of tools to inform of new process (who is the audience – is it stakeholders, public, or both?)

WHAT WILL PHASE 2 DO?

• Gather information from MnDOT and stakeholders regarding the current speed limit change and speed study process.
• Review how other states are incorporating the latest national approaches to speed limit setting.
• Develop a refined process and targeted messaging and materials to inform stakeholders and the public of the process