The City of Cohoes is lowering its speed limit to 25 mph from 30 mph to increase public safety, Mayor Bill Keeler said Wednesday.

The Common Council unanimously voted to approve the new speed limit, and the city will replace its existing speed limit signs over the next several weeks. Route 787 in the city will remain a 35-mph speed zone.

Keeler said the switch had been under consideration since New York state allowed municipalities to drop the limit to 25 mph a few years ago.

"Thirty miles per hour is not an appropriate speed for the narrow, densely populated streets of Cohoes – especially considering many motorists tend to drive above the limit," he said, adding that he expects less accidents to occur overall.

There have been 351 crashes involving 56 personal injuries and 13 pedestrians so far in 2024, and the city has issued 1,960 traffic tickets as of Dec. 13, including 227 for speeding and 128 for cell phone violations.

Last year, there were 344 crashes involving 51 personal injuries, 13 pedestrians and one fatality.