The Tempe City Council recently voted to reduce speed limits along seven busy traffic corridors.
The ordinance lowers the speed limit in all seven corridors by 5 miles per hour. That includes two stretches of Broadway Road, where speed limits will drop from 45 to 40 miles per hour.
Some opposed the reduced limits over concerns with congestion.
But others said the change is needed in high-pedestrian areas, including roads adjacent to parks, canals and Tempe schools — like a stretch of Guadalupe Road near Marcos de Niza High School.
“This is a great opportunity to bring the posted speed limit more in alignment and support setting speed limits that suit all roadway users,” said Michelle Beckley, the city’s senior civil engineer.
Based on crash data over a five-year period, the city found that “speed was a factor in over 20% of all crashes that occurred on the corridors.”
“We know that the speed of collision has a direct correlation with the severity of the crashes that occur, especially when it comes to non-motorized users, so people walking and biking” she said.
The new speed limits will go into effect in mid-June.