Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the city of Holyoke, acting by and through its city council with the approval of the mayor, may designate certain public ways or portions thereof as senior citizen safety zones. The department of public works of said city in consultation with the police department of said city shall post signs bearing such designation and establish appropriate special limits for any such safety zones. Said department shall also take such other action as may be necessary to reduce vehicular speed in any such safety zones including, but not limited to, the installation of flashing lights and the restriping of such public ways.