As governed by Massachusetts General Law (MGL) c.90§17 and §18, MassDOT has the responsibility to approve the establishment of speed limits.
Massachusetts speed limits are based upon detailed engineering studies using the documented speed of vehicles, crash history, number of vehicle and non-motorized users, and the layout of the road. Additionally, MassDOT’s Speed Zoning Program provides appropriate enforceable speed limits consistent with FHWA’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), as required by MGL c.85§2 and c.90§18.
