State Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly

State House

Room 416-A     

Boston, MA  02133

Re: Please support Bill H4728 for lower speed limits in urbanized areas

Dear Senator Donnelly,

The East Arlington Livable Streets (EALS) Coalition is a neighborhood-based advocacy organization founded in 2008. EALS has over 170 supporters on our e-mail list and over 400 fans on our Facebook page.  We are quickly becoming the neighborhood’s voice on transportation and livability-related issues. We are writing to let you know that we support lower speed limits in urbanized areas for improved pedestrian safety in East Arlington and across Massachusetts. We ask that you support H4728 and ask Speaker DeLeo to move H4728 forward.

As you may know, H4728 would reduce the prevailing speed limit in urbanized areas from 30 mph to 25 mph, improving pedestrian safety. Fatalities from pedestrian-automobile crashes are directly related to speed: When struck by a vehicle going 40 mph, 90% of pedestrians die, as compared to only 5% when the vehicle is going 20 mph.

Massachusetts’ prevailing speed limit of 30 mph is too fast for local roads in densely developed areas, and 25 mph is the safer standard, which has been adopted by many other states across the country. Massachusetts should join these states in protecting the safety of all our residents and visitors.

Sincerely,

Phil Goff, Co-chair      

Cc:
Representative Sean Garballey, State House of Representatives
Representative Will Brownsberger, State House of Representative