NYC will reduce speed limits near certain schools and in ‘slow zones’ in every borough

New York City will lower speed limits on certain streets beginning in September, after lawmakers in Albany passed legislation allowing the city to do so, city transportation officials said on Thursday.

While reducing the default citywide speed limit of 25 mph would require the City Council to pass a new law, the passage of Sammy’s Law as part of the state’s current budget empowers the city to lower the legal driving speed to 20 mph near select schools, in pedestrian-heavy areas and in new “slow zones” in all five boroughs. Speed limits in areas undergoing safety-related construction will go from 15 to 10 mph, according to the city Department of Transportation, which said it will roll out lower speed limits in 250 locations by the end of next year.

“Speeding ruins lives, and reducing vehicle speeds by even a few miles per hour could be the difference between life or death in a traffic crash,” city Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said in a statement. “The new Regional Slow Zones and other speed limit reductions announced today will save lives and keep people safe.”

According to the DOT, the first designated slow zone is planned for Lower Manhattan south of Canal Street by early next year. Other areas targeted for reduced speed limits include those with high population densities and larger shares of people of color and low-income residents. Research shows these groups are at higher risk of traffic deaths and injuries.

The DOT said it would begin notifying community boards about the proposed changes this summer, with a 60-day public comment period before new speed limits are implemented. Speed limits are also set to be lowered to 10 mph on official "Open Streets" and "Shared Streets" that have received major safety upgrades and where pedestrians, cyclists and drivers share the right of way.

A Council spokesperson said no bills to lower the citywide speed limit have been introduced yet, though some councilmembers have previously expressed support for a lower limit. Roads outside of Manhattan with three or more travel lanes for cars heading in the same direction are exempt from Sammy’s Law, according to transportation officials.

For the full list of streets targeted for speed reductions, check out the DOT’s press release.