SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — An Illinois Senate committee approved a bill Wednesday to help local governments lower their default speed limit to enhance safety, as communities would be able to adopt lower speed limits through resolutions or ordinances.

The statutory speed limit in Illinois is 30 miles per hour in urban districts, but many people frequently speed into or through cities.

IDOT wants to give local governments the ability to lower the default speed limit from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour without conducting speed studies that cost roughly $20,000.

"A target speed is a method of setting speed limits that takes into account the context of the area, things like land use, multimodal activity and car traffic," said Sen. Mike Porfirio (D-Burbank). "A target speed is not just about changing a number on a sign. It's about looking at the infrastructure on the road and around to cue drivers to the appropriate speed."

The plan could also allow communities to lower the speed limits in residential areas to 20 miles per hour and 10 miles per hour for alleys. 

House Bill 5081 passed out of the Senate Executive Committee on a 10-2 vote. The measure now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration. 

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