A public meeting will take place tonight (January 13) in Schenectady, New York, to discuss the potential reduction of the city's speed limit from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour. The Capital Region Transportation Council conducted a study recommending this change for most city streets, with exceptions including parts of State Street, Erie Boulevard, and Maxon Road Extension.

The proposed change aims to enhance safety for drivers and pedestrians, as well as accommodate the increasing use of alternative transportation like scooters and e-bikes. City Engineer Chris Wallin emphasized that the goal is to reduce accidents and save lives, not to generate revenue through traffic tickets. "We just want people to drive slower," Wallin stated to the Times Union.

The state law passed in August 2022 allows municipalities to lower speed limits to 25 mph. Schenectady could follow Albany's lead, which recently adopted a similar change. Matthew Roe from Stantec, the firm that conducted the study, noted that national guidance suggests even lower speed limits might be appropriate for some streets due to high conflict density. "Our goal is zero fatalities or serious injuries on our streets," Roe said to the Daily Gazette.

City Councilwoman Carmel Patrick supports the change and advocates for a public awareness campaign to inform residents. The council plans to initially issue warnings before enforcing the new limit. A decision on the proposal will be made after the public hearing and subsequent review of community feedback.

Elvis Duran