State Rep. Bradley Slagh today introduced a plan to ensure safer neighborhood roads while also helping to save millions of dollars statewide by providing for a 25 mph basic speed on most residential streets.

Many local governments, such as the city of Holland, are impacted by new laws that require costly studies and signage to enforce a 25 mph speed on residential streets. Slagh’s plan removes that costly requirement by allowing a jurisdiction’s residential streets to have a basic 25-mile-per-hour limit unless a different speed limit is posted.

If Slagh’s plan is not enacted, all local governments will have to conduct speed and engineering studies to determine the speed limits on their residential streets.  They will then be required to place new signs on these roads.   Slagh said the city of Holland has estimated the mandates would cost nearly $200,000 — when nothing about their streets has changed.

“This plan helps keep our residential neighborhood streets safe for our families and will help communities collectively save millions of dollars,” said Slagh, of Zeeland. “We must ensure local communities have this control and flexibility.”

Slagh has worked closely with the Michigan State Police, the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Michigan Municipal League to craft his plan.

House Bill 4118 has been referred to the House Transportation Committee.

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