FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 3, 2024

Mayor Noble Proposes Citywide 25 MPH Speed Limit

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce that he has proposed a citywide 25 mile per hour speed limit to the Kingston Common Council.

“After speaking with our staff, various City commissions, and many concerned community members, I am recommending that the City of Kingston adopt a 25 mile per hour area-wide speed limit,” said Mayor Noble. “In the three ward meetings that I’ve had so far, the number one concern has been speeding in neighborhoods. I want Kingston residents to know that I share this concern. The proposed speed limit reduction is one of many steps we are taking to reduce crashes and increase safety, while working to improve our infrastructure.” 

A study released by the Governors Highway Safety Association shows that there was a 29.3% decline in the odds of speeding for vehicles traveling faster than 35mph, with an 8.5% drop for vehicles going faster than 30mph, and a 2.9% drop for vehicles driving over 25mph. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25mph has a 25% risk of sustaining a serious or fatal injury, which jumps to 50% at 33mph, and 75% at 4l mph, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

City Engineer John Schultheis said, “I look forward to applying evidence and the newly-granted authority contained in NYS law and the guidance in the recently updated Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) to set logical and appropriate speed limits in the City of Kingston.”

Mayor Noble’s proposal will go to the Public Safety & General Government Committee of the Common Council in July.

The City of Kingston is participating in Ulster County's Safe Start to Summer, a road safety campaign. Safe Start to Summer is aimed at awareness about the dangers of speeding and distracted driving and promotes a culture of safety and respect on roadways in an effort to save lives. As part of this initiative, the Kingston Police Department will be doing additional patrols along places like Washington Avenue near GW school, Broadway, and many other high traffic and high pedestrian and cyclist areas. More at https://participate.ulstercountyny.gov/road-safety.

Mayor Noble’s efforts to create a safe, walkable and bikeable City include the creation of a Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, a strategy document that builds upon completed projects that include safety features such as improved intersections, signals and sidewalks. Completed projects include the Broadway Streetscape Project, Broadway Grand Intersection Improvements Project, the Franklin Street Complete Streets Project,  and the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan Intersection Project, among many others. Current or upcoming road safety projects include the Henry Street Safe Routes to School Project, ADA curb ramp replacements across the City, Safe and Accessible Flatbush & Foxhall, the Uptown Transportation Improvements Projects, and many more to come. Under Mayor Noble’s administration, the Kingston Point Rail Trail Phase 1 (Phase 2 is under design) and the Midtown Linear Park have been created, both of which provide off-street paths and connections for walking and biking. The Kingston Greenline is a network of urban trails, complete streets, improved sidewalks, bike lanes, and linear parks in the City of Kingston. More information on Kingston’s Be a Road Hero safety campaign can be found at https://engagekingston.com/be-a-road-hero.