How fast is traffic?

NATIONAL MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION

Massachusetts Page

Ever notice that a lot of people seem to be driving faster than the speed limit?

It might surprise you to learn that if speed limits were set based on traffic engineering standards, as required by federal law, this would never happen. Most drivers choose safe speeds on their own, so the engineering standard is to set a speed limit near the 85^th percentile speed of free flowing traffic. That means the violation rate should be 15% or less. A majority of speeding cars is proof that the speed limit is too low.

This table compares 85^th percentile speeds to actual speed limits at a number of locations in the Boston area.

"Limit" means the current speed limit.
"50^th" means the 50^th percentile (median) speed.
"85^th" means the 85^th percentile speed.
"%" means percent of drivers voluntarily obeying the speed limit (i.e. not following behind a slower car).

Roads are grouped by agency in control. Jump to: MDC, MassHighway, Turnpike, cities and towns.

Massachusetts SPEEDS AND SPEED LIMITS
Metropolitan District Commission

Road City Location Limit 50^th 85^th %

Charles River Road Watertown E. of Watertown Square 30 39 44 1

Greenough Blvd. Watertown N. of Arsenal Street 40 45 50 17

S. of Arsenal Street 30 38 44 5

Hammond Pond Parkway Newton S. of Beacon Street 30 44 50 0

Brookline S. of Route 9 40 45 50 22

VFW Parkway Boston St. Josephs Cemetary 35 41 45 8

Brookline South Street 35 40 46 20

Boston E. of West Roxbury Parkway 35 42 48 9

Centre Streeet Boston Westchester Road 30 38 43 4

Jamaicaway Boston Parkwood Terrace 25 36 39 0

West Roxbury Parkway Boston Bellevue Hill Road 40 42 46 36

Storrow Drive Boston EB at Clarendon Street 40 52 59 0

WB at Clarendon Street 40 49 57 9

BU Bridge 40 53 59 1

Soldiers Field Road Boston Western Ave. Bridge 40 50 56 4

W. of Eliot Bridge 35 42 49 11

EB E. of Beacon Street 30 42 46 4

WB E. of Beacon Street 35 46 52 3

Nonantum Road Boston W. of N. Beacon Street 40 45 49 19

Memorial Drive Cambridge EB E. of Mass. Ave. 35 42 48 12

WB E. of Mass. Ave. 35 39 42 22

BU Bridge 35 42 47 9

Fresh Pond Parkway Cambridge Fresh Pond Lane 30 36 40 6

Longfellow Bridge Cambridge Memorial Drive ramp 30 40 47 6

Turnpike Authority

Road City Location Limit 50^th 85^th %

Turnpike extension Boston Mass. Ave. 55 61 67 20

Market Street 55 67 73 4

Newton Walnut Street 55 65 71 5

Woodland Street 55 63 69 11

Turnpike Weston Winter Street 65 69 75 23

Westborough Spring Road 65 71 78 19

Oxford Merriam Road 65 71 77 22

Warren Little Bemis Road 65 71 77 16

Stockbridge Route 102 65 71 77 15

MassHighway

Road City Location Limit 50^th 85^th %

Route 1 Newbury S. of Hanover 55 52 57 80

Danvers Peabody C.L. 50 50 58 50

Saugus Route 129 50 52 58 42

Plainville S. of 152 55 49 56 85

Route 2 Belmont Route 60 55 66 71 5

Lexington W. of Pleasant St. 55 67 74 4

Lincoln Page Road 45 55 62 6

Concord Sandy Pond Road 45 55 61 6

Acton Wetherbee St. 45 61 67 1

Acton W. of 27 55 64 72 11

Lancaster Exit 36 55 65 71 11

Templeton Otter River Road 55 65 72 3

Phillipston Highland Ave. 55 59 63 26

Route 2A Lexington Emerson Gardens Road 35 37 42 34

Lexington Tufts Road 30 38 42 2

Lincoln Bedford Lane 40 44 49 17

Route 3 Bedford Old Billerica Road 55 66 73 2

Weymouth Middle Street 60 64 68 36

Norwell River Street 60 66 72 19

Route 6 Yarmouth West Yarmouth Road 55 65 73 3

Route 7 Sheffield S. of Great Barrington T.L. 55 52 57 83

Wiliamstown S. of Route 2 45 45 50 53

Route 8 Sandisfield S. of 57 55 57 63 41

Route 9 Newton Parker Street 50 50 55 50

Wellesley Emerson Road 50 54 60 29

Williamsburg Post Office 25 33 37 3

Williamsburg E. of South Street 25 34 39 4

Windsor E. of 8A 55 58 63 35

Route 10 Bernardston E. of I-91 55 53 58 61

Route 20 Watertown Emerson Road 35 37 41 38

Waltham Summit Avenue 35 37 42 32

Weston Crescent Street 40 41 44 49

Weston Linwood Avenue 45 44 47 72

Brimfield 2.8 mi. W. of Sturbridge 55 57 64 40

Lenox S of 7A 55 55 62 51

Route 24 Berkley Bryant Street 65 71 77 20

Route 28 Milton Ridgewood Street 45 50 56 24

Quincy Skyline Trail 50 47 53 71

Route 88 Westport S. of Old County Rd. 55 58 67 32

I-91 West Springfield N. of Route 5 65 67 73 46

Northampton S. of Route 5&10 65 67 73 46

I-93 Milton Exit 3 55 68 76 4

Milton Pleasant Street 55 61 67 24

Medford Exit 33 (NB) 55 66 72 13

Medford Exit 33 (SB) 55 71 77 4

Medford Exit 31 (SB) 55 65 74 10

Wilmington N. of Route 62 65 69 77 31

I-95 Boxford near Route 133 65 72 78 18

Route 112 Goshen S. of Ashfield T.L. 55 58 64 37

Route 125 Andover S. of 28 50 54 59 21

Route 128 Gloucester S. of Concord St. 55 62 69 24

Waltham Route 117 55 67 73 6

Needham Kendrick Street 55 66 71 5

Needham N. of Great Plain Ave. 55 65 73 7

Route 135 Wellesley Bacon Street 45 48 53 31

Route 138 Milton Canton T.L. 40 41 46 46

Route 146 Millbury Route 122A 50 61 68 5

I-195 Mattapoisett W. of North St. 65 68 76 36

Fall River Route 24 55 62 69 22

I-290 Worcester East Central St. 50 57 64 14

I-495 Bolton N. of 62 65 68 74 36

Amesbury S. of I-95 65 69 75 26

Cities and towns

Road City Location Limit 50^th 85^th %

Route 126 Bellingham Fox Run Road 35* 42 45 8

Commonwealth Avenue Brighton W. of Harvard Street 30* 36 41 16

Evergreen Cemetery 30* 37 42 9

Jewish War Veterans Drive Dorchester Franklin Park 25* 37 41 2

Washington Street West Roxbury Cowing Street 25* 40 47 0

Middlesex Turnpike Burlington Terrace Hall Ave. 35 41 46 14

Route 109 Millis Dover Road 40* 45 50 17

Spring Street Lexington Underwood Ave. 30* 37 41 3

Greendale Avenue Needham Highgate Street 40 42 46 35

Auburn Street Newton W. of Washington Street 25 34 38 1

Chestnut Street Newton Kodaya Road 25* 34 38 4

Lexington Street Newton N. of Auburndale Ave. 30 36 40 8

Commonwealth Avenue Newton E. of 128 35 38 42 14

E. of 16 35 41 45 9

E. of Walnut 35 36 40 48

Washington Street Newton E. of 30 35 37 41 27

W. of 30 35 36 41 39

Route 181 Palmer South High Street 40 40 44 51

Route 16 Watertown Derby Road 30* 32 37 28

Walnut Street 30* 34 38 20

Route 30 Weston Ware Street 45 42 46 81

**Massachusetts SPEEDS AND SPEED LIMITS**
Metropolitan District Commission
Road	City	Location	Limit	50^th	85^th	%
Charles River Road	Watertown	E. of Watertown Square	30	39	44	1
Greenough Blvd.	Watertown	N. of Arsenal Street	40	45	50	17
S. of Arsenal Street	30	38	44	5
Hammond Pond Parkway	Newton	S. of Beacon Street	30	44	50	0
Brookline	S. of Route 9	40	45	50	22
VFW Parkway	Boston	St. Josephs Cemetary	35	41	45	8
Brookline	South Street	35	40	46	20
Boston	E. of West Roxbury Parkway	35	42	48	9
Centre Streeet	Boston	Westchester Road	30	38	43	4
Jamaicaway	Boston	Parkwood Terrace	25	36	39	0
West Roxbury Parkway	Boston	Bellevue Hill Road	40	42	46	36
Storrow Drive	Boston	EB at Clarendon Street	40	52	59	0
WB at Clarendon Street	40	49	57	9
BU Bridge	40	53	59	1
Soldiers Field Road	Boston	Western Ave. Bridge	40	50	56	4
W. of Eliot Bridge	35	42	49	11
EB E. of Beacon Street	30	42	46	4
WB E. of Beacon Street	35	46	52	3
Nonantum Road	Boston	W. of N. Beacon Street	40	45	49	19
Memorial Drive	Cambridge	EB E. of Mass. Ave.	35	42	48	12
WB E. of Mass. Ave.	35	39	42	22
BU Bridge	35	42	47	9
Fresh Pond Parkway	Cambridge	Fresh Pond Lane	30	36	40	6
Longfellow Bridge	Cambridge	Memorial Drive ramp	30	40	47	6
Turnpike Authority
Road	City	Location	Limit	50^th	85^th	%
Turnpike extension	Boston	Mass. Ave.	55	61	67	20
Market Street	55	67	73	4
Newton	Walnut Street	55	65	71	5
Woodland Street	55	63	69	11
Turnpike	Weston	Winter Street	65	69	75	23
Westborough	Spring Road	65	71	78	19
Oxford	Merriam Road	65	71	77	22
Warren	Little Bemis Road	65	71	77	16
Stockbridge	Route 102	65	71	77	15
MassHighway
Road	City	Location	Limit	50^th	85^th	%
Route 1	Newbury	S. of Hanover	55	52	57	80
Danvers	Peabody C.L.	50	50	58	50
Saugus	Route 129	50	52	58	42
Plainville	S. of 152	55	49	56	85
Route 2	Belmont	Route 60	55	66	71	5
Lexington	W. of Pleasant St.	55	67	74	4
Lincoln	Page Road	45	55	62	6
Concord	Sandy Pond Road	45	55	61	6
Acton	Wetherbee St.	45	61	67	1
Acton	W. of 27	55	64	72	11
Lancaster	Exit 36	55	65	71	11
Templeton	Otter River Road	55	65	72	3
Phillipston	Highland Ave.	55	59	63	26
Route 2A	Lexington	Emerson Gardens Road	35	37	42	34
Lexington	Tufts Road	30	38	42	2
Lincoln	Bedford Lane	40	44	49	17
Route 3	Bedford	Old Billerica Road	55	66	73	2
Weymouth	Middle Street	60	64	68	36
Norwell	River Street	60	66	72	19
Route 6	Yarmouth	West Yarmouth Road	55	65	73	3
Route 7	Sheffield	S. of Great Barrington T.L.	55	52	57	83
Wiliamstown	S. of Route 2	45	45	50	53
Route 8	Sandisfield	S. of 57	55	57	63	41
Route 9	Newton	Parker Street	50	50	55	50
Wellesley	Emerson Road	50	54	60	29
Williamsburg	Post Office	25	33	37	3
Williamsburg	E. of South Street	25	34	39	4
Windsor	E. of 8A	55	58	63	35
Route 10	Bernardston	E. of I-91	55	53	58	61
Route 20	Watertown	Emerson Road	35	37	41	38
Waltham	Summit Avenue	35	37	42	32
Weston	Crescent Street	40	41	44	49
Weston	Linwood Avenue	45	44	47	72
Brimfield	2.8 mi. W. of Sturbridge	55	57	64	40
Lenox	S of 7A	55	55	62	51
Route 24	Berkley	Bryant Street	65	71	77	20
Route 28	Milton	Ridgewood Street	45	50	56	24
Quincy	Skyline Trail	50	47	53	71
Route 88	Westport	S. of Old County Rd.	55	58	67	32
I-91	West Springfield	N. of Route 5	65	67	73	46
Northampton	S. of Route 5&10	65	67	73	46
I-93	Milton	Exit 3	55	68	76	4
Milton	Pleasant Street	55	61	67	24
Medford	Exit 33 (NB)	55	66	72	13
Medford	Exit 33 (SB)	55	71	77	4
Medford	Exit 31 (SB)	55	65	74	10
Wilmington	N. of Route 62	65	69	77	31
I-95	Boxford	near Route 133	65	72	78	18
Route 112	Goshen	S. of Ashfield T.L.	55	58	64	37
Route 125	Andover	S. of 28	50	54	59	21
Route 128	Gloucester	S. of Concord St.	55	62	69	24
Waltham	Route 117	55	67	73	6
Needham	Kendrick Street	55	66	71	5
Needham	N. of Great Plain Ave.	55	65	73	7
Route 135	Wellesley	Bacon Street	45	48	53	31
Route 138	Milton	Canton T.L.	40	41	46	46
Route 146	Millbury	Route 122A	50	61	68	5
I-195	Mattapoisett	W. of North St.	65	68	76	36
Fall River	Route 24	55	62	69	22
I-290	Worcester	East Central St.	50	57	64	14
I-495	Bolton	N. of 62	65	68	74	36
Amesbury	S. of I-95	65	69	75	26
Cities and towns
Road	City	Location	Limit	50^th	85^th	%
Route 126	Bellingham	Fox Run Road	35*	42	45	8
Commonwealth Avenue	Brighton	W. of Harvard Street	30*	36	41	16
Evergreen Cemetery	30*	37	42	9
Jewish War Veterans Drive	Dorchester	Franklin Park	25*	37	41	2
Washington Street	West Roxbury	Cowing Street	25*	40	47	0
Middlesex Turnpike	Burlington	Terrace Hall Ave.	35	41	46	14
Route 109	Millis	Dover Road	40*	45	50	17
Spring Street	Lexington	Underwood Ave.	30*	37	41	3
Greendale Avenue	Needham	Highgate Street	40	42	46	35
Auburn Street	Newton	W. of Washington Street	25	34	38	1
Chestnut Street	Newton	Kodaya Road	25*	34	38	4
Lexington Street	Newton	N. of Auburndale Ave.	30	36	40	8
Commonwealth Avenue	Newton	E. of 128	35	38	42	14
E. of 16	35	41	45	9
E. of Walnut	35	36	40	48
Washington Street	Newton	E. of 30	35	37	41	27
W. of 30	35	36	41	39
Route 181	Palmer	South High Street	40	40	44	51
Route 16	Watertown	Derby Road	30*	32	37	28
Walnut Street	30*	34	38	20
Route 30	Weston	Ware Street	45	42	46	81

Speeds on the Turnpike, MDC parkways, city and town roads, and some state highways in the Boston area were measured with a LIDAR speed measuring device in 2000 and 2001. Speeds for other state highways were measured by MassHighway loop sensors in 1999 and are totals for a complete day instead of just free-flowing traffic. Traffic speeds are usually very similar in both directions. When speeds in both directions are available and differ significantly, both are listed separately. Otherwise the average is listed.

What does this mean?

The national standard is to round the 85^th percentile up to the next multiple of 5 MPH to determine a speed limit. None of the roads measured meets that standard. Only a few are within 5 MPH. All but one of these are minor state highways where engineers have been permitted to have some influence in the process of setting speed limits.

The MDC doesn't do engineering studies, and it shows. Typical speed limits are 15 MPH too low. Both Hammond Pond Parkway and Storrow Drive have speed limits 20 MPH too low.

Speed limits on major highways are set by politicians. Compliance is around 5% in 55 MPH zones (which were mostly posted 60 until 1974) and up to 25% in 65 MPH zones. Based on these measurements, speed limits should be increased from 55 and 65 to 70, 75, and 80.

The speed limit in Franklin Park, Boston is illegal because it has not been approved by the state. The Mayor, who was almost hit by a car, insists on strict enforcement of the illegal speed limit. The limit should be 40, not 25. Commonwealth Avenue is also illegally posted.

Middlesex Turnpike in Burlington was rebuilt a few years ago, widened to four lanes plus left turn lanes at intersections. The 35 MPH speed limit for the old road has been posted on the new road.

Spring Street, Lexington is illegally posted 30. The authorized limit is 35; 31% of drivers obey that limit.

Route 16, Watertown, is illegally posted 30. No speed limit is authorized; the proper speed limit would be 35.

Many other speed limits were only 5 MPH too low when they were set, but now they are much too low. Cities and towns don't like to change speed limits, and some limits have remained unchanged since the early 1950s!

Feedback to John Carr, jfc@motorists.org

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