Chicago alder will renew push to lower citywide speed limit to 25 mph
CHICAGO - Ald. Daniel La Spata said he intends to bring his proposed ordinance to lower the citywide speed limit to 25 mph up for a vote at Wednesday’s full City Council meeting.
The ordinance passed in committee last October, but the council turned its attention to passing its 2025 budget before the end-of-the-year deadline.
Reduced speeds safer for cities
Dig deeper:
La Spata said that reducing the speed limit is "reasonable and safe," citing a traffic study published earlier this month by the city’s Department of Transportation.
CDOT stated in its study that a pedestrian hit by a car traveling 30 mph is twice as likely to be killed compared to a car traveling 25 mph.
Citywide data show that 47% of sampled drivers traveled at over 40 mph on the city’s arterial and collector streets. In 2023, 136 people were killed in traffic crashes on Chicago roadways. High speeds were a factor in at least 68% of those fatal crashes.
The agency also said that other big cities across the country have reduced their speed limits, which has resulted in both driver behavior changes and a decrease in traffic crash injuries.
Cost for sign changes
By the numbers:
If a change in speed limit was approved, the city would have to change about 10,000 signs to show the new posted limit on streets under Chicago’s jurisdiction.
Such a change would cost an estimated $2.5 million, CDOT said.
What's next:
The full Chicago City Council will hold its meeting on Wednesday starting at 10 a.m. at City Hall.