Crews begin installing 20 mph speed limit signs at gateways in Minneapolis, St. Paul

Speed limit signs indicating the new citywide speed limit of 20 mph are being installed at gateways to the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

According to a statement, the new speed limits for the cities will be 20 mph for local residential streets, 25 mph for larger arterial city-owned streets and 30-plus mph for a few city-owned streets.

The statement also addresses that cities do not have the authority to change speed limits on county and Minnesota Department of Transportation roads. Speed limits on those streets in Minneapolis and St. Paul won’t change.

Cities of St. Paul, Minneapolis to lower speed limits for safer streets

The goal of lowering traffic speeds is to reduce the likelihood of crashes and reduce the severity of crashes, the statement goes on to say.

A person hit at 35 mph is three times as likely to die as someone hit at 25 mph, the city of Minneapolis said.

Once all gateway signs are installed, the 20 mph speed limit will be in effect.

It will take about six weeks for all gateway signs to be installed in Minneapolis. St. Paul expects to finish installing gateway signs by the end of the year.