In a move toward safer neighborhood streets, the City of Bloomington has decreased the speed limit on local roads to a steady 25 miles per hour unless otherwise stated—a step in what many believe, the right direction. According to an article in the City's briefing, this decision comes as part of an ongoing effort to protect residents, with the change purporting to lessen the likelihood of traffic accidents and mitigate the severity of those that do occur, all while bolstering the safety of pedestrians and cyclists sharing the streets.
The catalyst for these local adjustments was a legislative change in 2019, which granted municipalities the authority to regulate speed limits within their jurisdictions—a power previously held exclusively by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Bloomington has not been shy in exercising this newfound autonomy, taking the initiative to infuse its thoroughfares with a more deliberate pace, a decision that aligns with the increasingly vocal community calls for safer roads, especially as urban areas grapple with the multifaceted implications of traffic and transit policies.
While the reduced speed limits have been enacted on most roads managed by the City, Hennepin County-operated roads remain an exception; counties were not afforded the same legislative authority to set speed limits. Nonetheless, the bulk of Bloomington's streets have been marked by the change, and residents are encouraged to learn more about the benefits of slower speeds on residential roads at the City's resource page.
To amplify awareness about the new 25 mph speed ordinance, the City is distributing yard signals at no cost to citizens—these signs serve as both a reminder and an emblem for a community prioritizing safety. Interested locals can snag their sign from the Civic Plaza's Information Desk or at various community happenings around Bloomington, if to show solidarity, or to simply spread the word amongst neighbors and passersby, maintaining a commitment to mindfulness every time they hit the road in their daily comings and goings.
