Years after the city of Alexandria reduced the speed limit on Quaker Lane as a safety measure, city officials are following suit on other roads.
The Alexandria City Council unanimously approved the safety-oriented measure this week, which will drop speed limits on numerous roads by 10 mph.
The changes will impact roadways that have been the setting for more than 500 crashes — accounting for 250 injuries and 20 fatalities — since 2015, the City Council announced. Most recently, there was a fatal crash on North Beauregard Street in August.
Roads with speed limits subject to change include:
North Beauregard Street. Speeds will drop to 25 mph from 35 mph. Speed limits in school zones will drop to 15 mph.
West Braddock Road. The section of Braddock Road that runs from North Beauregard Street to Quaker Lane will see speeds reduced from 35 mph to 25 mph. School zones will also drop to 15 mph.
Seminary Road. The corridor running from Kenmore Avenue to North Pickett Street will drop the school zone speed limit from 25 mph to 15 mph.
King Street. The stretch of King Street from Radford Street to Quincy Street will now include a 15-mph school zone.
North Howard Street. Adjacent to Fort Ward Park, the North Howard Street section near Braddock Road and the Lynn House will drop the school zone speed limit to 15 mph.
“The likelihood of a person being killed or seriously injured when struck at 35 miles per hour is significantly higher than if that person is struck at 25 miles per hour or 15 miles per hour,” Alexandria City Council officials wrote. “Slower speed limits can save lives.”
New speed limits are expected to go into effect later this fall.
Feature image, riehlsnaps/stock.adobe.com
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