Amherst Sets Townwide Speed Limit at 25 MPH
Photo: amherstma.gov
Source: amherstma.gov
The Town of Amherst has reduced the statutory townwide speed limit to 25 miles per hour (mph). The adjusted speed limit is intended to make Amherst streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers by reducing the frequency of crashes and the risk of serious injury when crashes do occur. The current speed limit in these areas is 30 mph.
The Town Council voted to opt-in to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 90, Section 17C, authorizing the reduced statutory speed limit and implementation of the measure on a townwide basis. The reduced speed limit does not apply to streets with existing special speed regulations (also known as “Posted Speed Limits”). View a map of streets with posted speed limits that are not subject to the 25-mph speed limit.
“Amherst, like many communities across the commonwealth and our nation, has seen an increase in speeding along our public streets,” said Town Council President Lynn Griesemer. “By reducing the statutory townwide speed limit to 25 miles per hour, we are taking a significant step towards enhancing the safety of our community. We believe this will create a safer environment and encourage more people to walk and bike in our neighborhoods.”
The town recently installed new signs at the town’s borders and other key locations advising motorists of the new 25 mph speed restriction. Through the end of 2024, the town will conduct a public education campaign to ensure awareness of the change before the Police Department begins enforcement of the new speed limit. This campaign includes traditional media, social media, information on the town’s website, and distribution of informational materials to motorists.
More information and frequently asked questions can be found at: www.amherstma.gov/3826/Speed-Limits
Frequently Asked Questions
When will enforcement of the new speed limit begin?
The new 25 mph speed limit is effective immediately. However, the Amherst Police Department (APD) will focus on public education to make sure drivers are aware of the reduced speed limit prior to issuing tickets and enforcing the measure. APD will have directed speed patrols in various areas that are known to experience a high volume of motorists exceeding the speed limit and traveling at excessive speeds. Officers will use their discretion to issue warnings and informational materials about the new 25 mph speed limits during this initial phase of implementation. Note that motorists who violate the previous 30 mph speed limit will still be subject to speeding violations during this time.
Routine enforcement of the new 25 mph speed limits will begin in January 2025.
Why was the speed limit changed?
The adjusted speed limit is intended to make Amherst streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers by reducing the frequency of crashes and the risk of serious injury when crashes do occur.
What streets are not subject to the 25-mph speed limit?
Roads with existing, posted speed regulations are not subject to the reduced speed limit, even if they are in a thickly settled or business district. These streets can be identified by the familiar black and white speed limit signs posted on the street that post the applicable speed limit. View a map of streets with posted speed limits that are not subject to the 25-mph speed limit.
What is considered a thickly settled or business district?
MGL Chapter 90, Section 1 defines thickly settled or a business district as “the territory contiguous to any way which is built up with structures devoted to business, or the territory contiguous to any way where the dwelling houses are situated at such distances as will average less than two hundred feet between them for a distance of a quarter of a mile or over.” Under this definition, nearly all of Amherst is considered either thickly settled or a business district and is subject to the 25-mph statutory speed limit.
Can a 25-mph speed limit sign be placed on my street?
The reduced speed limit is a townwide measure. New signs are being placed at the Town’s entry points and other strategic locations. These signs clearly indicate that the speed limit applies townwide. Per state guidelines, the municipality will not be installing signs on every street where the reduced speed limit applies.
How can I report a 30-mph sign that needs to be replaced with a 25-mph sign?
If you see a yellow 30 mph advisory sign associated with a sign reading “Thickly Settled,” it may need to be updated with a 25-mph plaque. Please contact the Department of Public Works by sending an email to publicworks@amherstma.gov
The late Mary Wentworth (along with Eduardo Suarez, both representing The Commons Group) proposed 25 mile-per-hour speed limits on town-owned roads back in 2008. The Select Board voted in favor of referring the petition to several committees “for further study and recommendations” (quoted from the minutes for the Select Board meeting of 23 June 2008). I have a very clear image of what her expression would have been, and am pretty sure I know exactly what she would have said, on learning this good news.
I think it’s a joke. I can’t imagine any compliance except in a traffic jam when UMass employees check in or out. Especially on East Pleasant street when no other cars are on the road at 11a.m.
Well, the new traffic calming measures (now a 20 mph safety zone), sought for over 30 years by residents along Henry Street from Pine Street to Market Hill Road, finally got the okay after Cushman Hill Day Care parents joined forces.
Two months into the installation of static signage and one (northbound) solar speed limit monitor, residents have seen little adherence to the rule of law. Hmmm. Sound familiar?
Drivers are still motioned to slow down (many of whom have impolite, if not aggressive responses), calls continue to business owners of the speeding trucks and several of us, as always, feel unsafe being along the front of our properties.
It’s (past) time for speed humps, police vehicles actually patrolling our neighborhoods, and/or a system (as in France and other countries) which digitally captures speeding vehicles. The registered owners (or renters) are then issued costly fines with (per fine print) little recourse but to pay. Wow! Can you imagine the revenue stream for the town that would result?
In the 1990s, after seeing such town-wide limits in New York state, I got curious about the effect on travel times of reducing speed limits to 25mph on all roads in Amherst compared to the posted limits, representing it as a “delay-contour” map for travel to/from Amherst Center with 15-second contour intervals.
The result was surprising: for most residents, the delay would be less than 30 seconds, though those living at the extreme north or south might experience a delay of at most a minute or two, respectively. Although some may feel they’re saving lots of time by driving a lot faster, because the distances driven in town are quite short, reality turns out to be different!
And as the source points out: posted speed limits will not change under this proposal, so any delays will be even shorter. In fact, if good data were collected from this “experiment,” it could inform whether imposing such a limit on all town roads is reasonable, noting that state roads like Routes 9, 63 or 116 would likely remain posted at higher speeds in any event.