Evaluation of city’s main streets recommends updated limits beginning this summer

The City of Boulder has completed a comprehensive, data-based evaluation of speed limits on the city’s arterial and collector streets — the main streets connecting the city — as part of Boulder’s Vision Zero goal to end fatal and serious-injury crashes. The evaluation recommends 5 to 10 mph reductions on parts of 13 streets, with changes beginning this month and continuing on a rolling basis through the end of September.

View locations on the project map. The city anticipates completing the evaluation changes by 2027 as part of the 2023-2027 Vision Zero Action Plan, which calls for specific actions and prioritized strategies to create safer streets. Speeding is an over-represented factor in crashes, impacting nearly one-third of fatal and serious-injury traffic crashes in the city. The evaluation reflects local context, data and national best practices. In line with the community’s Vision Zero goal, the city is not planning to raise any posted speed limits as part of this current effort.

“Speeding is one of our community’s top traffic safety concerns,” said Director of Transportation and Mobility Natalie Stiffler. “This updated framework will make sure that city speed limits are set in a way that supports safer travel, no matter how you get around.”

“Everyone has a role in keeping our community safe and they can do that by slowing down and paying attention to what’s going on around them whether they’re driving a car, walking, cycling or enjoying our great community in other ways,” Interim Police Chief Stephen Redfearn added.

Learn more about Vision Zero Action Plan or view the evaluation report on the Speed Limit Setting and Signing project webpage.

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