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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A plan to lower speed limits on most Rochester roads will be the subject of a public hearing before the Rochester City Council this afternoon.

The council previously voted in favor of an ordinance that would grant the city engineer to set speed limits, but the elected officials also decided to hold a public hearing on the issue before giving it a second reading and a final vote. During a study session of the city council last month, the city engineer presented plans for dropping the speed limit to 20 miles-per-hour in residential areas and downtown Rochester. Arterial streets that currently have a 30 mph speed limit would drop to 25 mph.

Rochester Mayor Kim Norton has said the Council is expected to consider a modified plan that would lower the speed limit to 25 mph on the residential streets while sticking with the plan for a 20 mph limit in the downtown area. The alternate plan also calls for using a 20 mph limit on newly constructed streets that would be designed with features aimed at encouraging motorists to slow down.

Because of the pandemic, City Council meetings are being held remotely. Citizens wishing to participate in the public hearing are instructed to call in by dialing 1-347-352-4853 and then entering Conference ID: 403 810 286#.
(Please mute your phone until it is your turn to speak by pressing *6 to mute or unmute.

The City Council meeting is scheduled to start at 3:30 PM.

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