Chicago alder will renew push to lower citywide speed limit to 25 mph

Ald. Daniel La Spata said he intends to bring his proposed ordinance to lower the citywide speed limit to 25 mph up for a vote at Wednesday’s full City Council meeting.

The ordinance passed in committee last October, but the council turned its attention to passing its 2025 budget before the end-of-the-year deadline.

Reduced speeds safer for cities

Dig deeper:

La Spata said that reducing the speed limit is "reasonable and safe," citing a traffic study published earlier this month by the city’s Department of Transportation.

CDOT stated in its study that a pedestrian hit by a car traveling 30 mph is twice as likely to be killed compared to a car traveling 25 mph.

Citywide data show that 47% of sampled drivers traveled at over 40 mph on the city’s arterial and collector streets. In 2023, 136 people were killed in traffic crashes on Chicago roadways. High speeds were a factor in at least 68% of those fatal crashes.

The agency also said that other big cities across the country have reduced their speed limits, which has resulted in both driver behavior changes and a decrease in traffic crash injuries.

Cost for sign changes

By the numbers:

If a change in speed limit was approved, the city would have to change about 10,000 signs to show the new posted limit on streets under Chicago’s jurisdiction.

Such a change would cost an estimated $2.5 million, CDOT said.

What's next:

The full Chicago City Council will hold its meeting on Wednesday starting at 10 a.m. at City Hall.

NewsChicagoChicago City CouncilTraffic