Mayor Walsh's office reports a new law signed by Gov. Baker this week will let Boston reduce its default speed limit on most roads to 25 m.p.h. - and that he plans to work with the DPW and the city council to do that as speedily as possible.

The city council voted in April to ask the state for permission for a 20-m.p.h. limit on city roads.

Walsh and other officials say the reduction will mean safer roads for both pedestrians and drivers.

Previously, the city had to go through a laborious process to win state approval to reduce the speed limits on specific sections of road below 30 m.p.h.

A generic bill covering municipal finances and administration included a provision, agreed to by Baker, letting municipalities reduce the default speed limit to 25 m.p.h. on "any roadway inside a thickly settled or business district in the city or town on any way that is not a state highway."