Tedisco Passes Public Safety Bill to Help Lower Speed Limits in Malta

Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C,I,REF-Glenville) today announced that the New York State Senate and state Assembly have passed legislation he sponsored (S.6679) to enable the Town of Malta to lower speed limits on its local roads when a higher road speed is deemed potentially hazardous to public safety.

This home rule legislation, which was requested by the Town of Malta, would require the state Department of Transportation to defer to the Malta Town Board requests for speed limit signage and signal changes. In particular, the bill authorizes the Town, in certain instances, to decrease the speed limit from 55 miles per hour to between 30 and 25 miles per hour on town roads and 15 miles per hour near school zones. 

“This bill empowers the Town of Malta, its duly elected representatives and its residents to have more control over making their local roads safer for passenger vehicles and pedestrians by giving them the power to lower speed limits when a higher road speed is deemed potentially hazardous to public safety. Under the leadership of Malta Town Supervisor Vince Delucia and the Town Board, this legislation will help make Malta children and families and those who travel on the town’s roads even safer,” said Tedisco.

This legislation now goes to the Governor for his review.

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (D-Round Lake) sponsored the bill in the Assembly.