20 is Plenty in Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Saint Paul and Minneapolis have lower speed limits on city-owned streets. Most streets, and all of downtown is 25 mph. Residential streets are 20 mph. Both cities have gateway signs at the entrances posted: Citywide speed limit 20 mph, unless otherwise posted.

20 Is Plenty Video

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Saint Paul and Minneapolis Have New, Lower Speed Limits

Saint Paul and Minneapolis have lowered speeds on city-owned streets to support safer streets. Slower speeds on our streets make travel safer for everyone no matter how they get around. Lower traffic speeds also reduce the likelihood of a crash and make a crash less likely to lead to death or a life-changing injury.  A person hit at 35 mph is three times as likely to die as someone hit at 25 mph.

Speed limits are 20 mph for local residential streets; 25 mph for larger, arterial and collector city-owned streets; and 30-plus mph for a few city-owned streets. Per Minnesota law, cities do not have authority to change speed limits on county and MnDOT (state) roads. Speed limits on these streets in Minneapolis and Saint Paul will not change. (See Street Ownership Map at the bottom of this page.) Always follow all posted speed limits.

In 2021, Saint Paul Public Works installed or changed more than 725 speed limit signs on city-owned streets, changing streets to 25 mph. Both cities have installed new “gateway signs” at entry points in both cities, indicating the citywide speed limit is 20 mph unless otherwise posted. The cities will generally not be posting 20 mph signs on local residential streets.

Free Community "Tool Kit"

Blue image with a "20 is Plenty" speed limit sign and underneath it reads: Slower is Safer. Both Saint Paul and Minneapolis city logos are included.

Slower is safer! Saint Paul and Minneapolis teamed up to create a library of materials residents and community groups can use to help educate friends, neighbors and visitors about the lower speed limits on city-owned streets.

Why did Saint Paul change its speed limits?

As of August 1, 2019, Minnesota cities have the authority to set speed limits on streets they own. Any speed limit change must be based on a safety, engineering and traffic analysis. County and state roads are not included in this authority.

In October 2019, the Saint Paul City Council passed an ordinance to allow the City Engineer to set speed limits on city-owned streets. The City of Minneapolis and Saint Paul Public Works departments collaborated to analyze appropriate speed limits on city-owned streets. The speed limit changes follow individual studies done by the Cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Public Works departments to determine appropriate local speed limits as required by state statute.

The lower speed limits are in line with national trends toward lower urban speed limits to support safety. 

Technical Analysis

Saint Paul Public Works completed a technical evaluation to determine speed limits on city streets following new legislation enabling City governments to set the speed limits on roadways under their jurisdiction. The City's technical evaluation process achieved the following goals:

  • To support the City’s traffic safety goal of zero traffic deaths and severe injuries
  • To improve safety and comfort for people of all abilities walking, bicycling, and taking transit
  • To support the movement of people and goods
  • To be consistent, understandable, reasonable, and appropriate for an urban context

This evaluation included an examination of local policies and plans, national guidance and peer city experiences, relevant safety studies and data, and existing speeds. The completed technical evaluation is summarized in the Saint Paul Speed Limit Evaluation.