LAKEWOOD, Colo. — The City of Lakewood is considering reducing residential speed limits from 30 mph to 25 mph — or even 20 mph — after receiving feedback from residents.
Residents made their concerns known through the city’s public engagement website, LakewoodSpeaks.org . Many wondered why the speed limits don’t match residential limits in surrounding cities.
“The staff recommendation is to go to 25,” said Lakewood Transportation engineer Mike Whiteaker. “That matches a lot of the adjacent agencies. Denver and Golden have moved to 20. Denver has been 25 for decades.”
Eventually, city staff want those speed limits reduced to 20 mph. Lakewood is trying to implement a step-by-step plan to get residents adjusted to the new rules.
“What we’re trying to do is set a reasonable expectation for people that we feel good about enforcing and getting people to change their behaviors,” said Whiteaker. “It’s got to be reasonable. People have to get used to something before they move it.”