Bill > SB424

This bill modifies Maryland's transportation laws to allow the State Highway Administration (SHA) to reduce speed limits on urban highways by 5 miles per hour without conducting a mandatory engineering and traffic investigation. Currently, the SHA must perform a detailed study to change speed limits, but this bill creates an exception specifically for urban highways, which are defined as state highways located within urban boundaries, municipal corporations, or areas with significant pedestrian traffic and specific infrastructure like curbs and storm drainage systems. The bill defines existing speed limits for different types of roads, such as 30 miles per hour on undivided highways in residential districts and 35 miles per hour on divided residential highways, and provides the SHA with flexibility to establish speed limits that can vary based on factors like time of day, vehicle type, and weather conditions. The new provision will allow the SHA to more quickly and easily adjust speed limits on urban highways by reducing them up to 5 miles per hour without extensive prior investigation, with the change set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

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https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0424?ys=2025RS