New 20 mph speed limit signs installed across Madison neighborhoods

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) – More residential streets across Madison will soon have lower speed limits. 

The 20 is Plenty initiative launched in 2021. City officials said lowering speed limits in neighborhoods to 20 miles per hour makes everyone safer. The idea is to impact residential roads, not busy thoroughfares. 

It’s part of Vision Zero, the city’s goal to have zero traffic deaths. 

“We are seeing progress because of Vision Zero and 20 is Plenty,” said Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. “There were 11 traffic fatalities on city-owned and controlled roads in 2020. And in 2024, there were only 5 traffic fatalities, which is a 55% decrease.” 

At the end of 2024, a pilot program lowered speed limits in two Madison neighborhoods. 

Now, the effort is launching citywide. That means about two thirds of Madison streets will have a 20 mile per hour speed limit. 

Staff are working to install nearly 2,500 new speed limit signs. They expect to be finished by the end of July.