SECTION 1. Notwithstanding section 2 of chapter 85 of the General Laws or any other general or special law or regulation to the contrary, the City of Melrose may establish by traffic regulation, on public ways under the care and custody of Melrose, traffic safety zones, which shall be restricted to roadways within the collector street system and the local street system as described in the Federal Highway Administration Functional Classification Guidelines; and areas adjacent to a park or playground, a facility which may be publicly or privately owned and used as senior citizen housing, a hospital, nursing home or assisted living facility, a community center of which senior activities are conducted on a regular basis or a congregate elderly facility approved as a planned unit development by the city of Melrose. Traffic Safety Zone shall not begin more than 300 feet in advance of such playground or facility. SECTION 2. In a traffic safety zone, the City of Melrose may, by traffic regulation, by and through its Traffic Commission, take necessary action to reduce vehicular speed by reducing speed limits to not less than 20 miles per hour, by installing signals or appropriate signs and restriping roadways. The Traffic Commission may adopt and amend rules and regulations to carry out this act.SECTION 3. The City of Melrose shall notify the state traffic engineer upon the establishment of a traffic safety zone. The city shall notify the state traffic engineer of any reduction of speed on a functionally classified collector roadway and local roadway.

SECTION 4. This act shall not apply to any state highway, numbered route or functionally-classified arterial.

SECTION 5.The Legislature may, as it deems necessary, amend this Special Act in order to ensure that its intent and purpose are effectuated.SECTION 6. This act shall take effect upon its passage.