Salt Lake City swaps first 20 mph speed limit sign in initiative for safer streets

With the twist of a couple of bolts Wednesday morning, Salt Lake City swapped the first of hundreds of speed limit signs in an initiative to slow down traffic across Utah’s capital.

The City Council voted unanimously in May to lower the residential area speed limit from 25 mph to 20 mph. The decision affects about 70% of the city’s streets — more than 400 miles of roadway. The city will change out 575 speed limit signs.

Sweet Streets Salt Lake City, the driving force behind the initiative, argued a 20 mph speed limit saves lives and promotes walking, biking and transit.

Mayor Erin Mendenhall emerged from quarantine to attend the Wednesday event after revealing publicly last week that she had tested positive for COVID-19. She also attended a news conference Tuesday marking the opening of a new TRAX station.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Mayor Erin Mendenhall swaps out a 25 mph speed limit sign for a new 20 mph sign in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Trent Nelson/)

from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/dhzk8NG