Slowing Things Down: Framingham Decreases City-wide Speed Limits

FRAMINGHAM, MA — In an effort to fight gridlock traffic and make roads safer, Framingham is decreasing it's speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph. The Department of Public Works will be installing new "Thickly Settled, 25 mph" speed limit signs throughout the City. The "thickly settled" designation goes for dense neighborhoods — the speed limit will also affect business districts.

In a press release sent Tuesday, city spokeswoman Kelly McFalls said most of the City is covered by the new speed limit and unless otherwise posted, people should consider the speed limit to be 25 mph.

The Traffic Commission and City Council recently voted to adopt legislation that allows cities and towns to implement a statutory 25 mph speed limit in thickly settled neighborhoods and business districts.

Traffic has been a longstanding complaint among Framingham residents and the city is no stranger to accidents. Just last month, on Mother's Day, a police officer on a detail job was hit by a speeding car on Route 9 and thrown into a mulch bed. In January, a car crashed into the back end of a truck parked in the roadway at night on Elm Street near Cameron Middle School.

Speeding and traffic issues have become primary concerns of parents and crossing guards who noticed speeding cars driving past school areas, or even fellow parents speeding through the pickup and drop-off zones at the schools. The speed limit through school zones is 20 mph.

In January, the police department detailed its only traffic patrol officer, Ken Blass, to patrol school zones. Blass has been with the Traffic and Safety division for about 5 years and in the police department for 27 years. Due to cuts around the department, the Traffic and Safety Division has shrunk from three officers to just one.

Crossing guard Linda Ferguson, posted at Cameron Middle School, told Patch in January that for some reason, this has been the worst year of traffic and speeding she's seen in her 15 years on the job.

Starting on Tuesday, DPW will install a generous number of signs to inform the public of the city's new speed limit, although, technically the signs don't have to be in place for the speed limit to be enforced. All that is required are for signs to be installed at the primary entry points to the city. Drivers are expected to know if they are traveling in a thickly settled area or business district.

The city said the Police Department will immediately begin enforcing the new 25 mph speed limit. It anticipates handing out several warnings at first, but added that will not always be the case. "Motorists can expect strict enforcement in a very short time," the press release reads.

Here's a look at the signs that will be posted throughout the city: