Effectiveness of School Zone Speed Limits as a Traffic Calming Strategy
Minnesota statutes grant local road agencies the authority to establish school zone speed limits (SZSLs). However, there is limited research as to the actual impacts of these SZSLs on driver speeds in school zones. This has resulted in the implementation of SZSLs without a clear understanding of the likely effects on travel speeds or the resultant impacts on pedestrian and bicyclist safety. To that end, this project will examine the effectiveness of SZSLs as a traffic calming strategy across various roadway contexts in Minnesota. The study will also examine the role of supplemental measures, which may include law enforcement and various types of traffic control devices, such as flashing beacons and enhanced signage/pavement markings. Field data collection will deploy radar sensors to collect speed data during different times of day at a diverse cross-section of schools throughout Minnesota, including those with and without SZSLs. These data will enable the research team to quantify speed reductions and to determine the effectiveness of SZSL and the supplementary measures in reducing travel speeds. The research will also synthesize current practices to clarify how school zones are defined and applied across jurisdictions. The results will provide evidence-based recommendations to help Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and local agencies implement SZSLs more effectively and consistently, thereby enhancing safety for children walking and biking to school.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $190,505.34
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Contract Numbers:
1058101 WO#4
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Sponsor Organizations:
395 John Ireland Boulevard
St. Paul, Minnesota United States 55155-1899 -
Managing Organizations:
Minnesota Department of Transportation
395 John Ireland Blvd
St. Paul, Minnesota United States 55155 -
Performing Organizations:
Michigan State University, East Lansing
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Institute for Community Development
East Lansing, MI United States 48824-1226 -
Principal Investigators:
Savolainen, Peter
- Start Date: 20260715
- Expected Completion Date: 20280630
- Actual Completion Date: 0
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Operating speed; Pedestrian safety; Schools; Speed limits; Speed zones; Traffic calming; Traffic control devices; Traffic law enforcement
- Geographic Terms: Minnesota
- Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01999937
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Minnesota Department of Transportation
- Contract Numbers: 1058101 WO#4
- Files: RIP, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Aug 19 2026 4:30PM