Ability To Reduce Speed Limits Below 25 Mph Sought In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — On Tuesday, Alexandria City Council will have a first reading of an ordinance allowing the city manager to reduce speed limits from 25 mph to no lower than 15 mph. A public hearing and final approval will be scheduled for Saturday.

While the city already has authority to lower speed limits, Virginia code previously did not allow speed limits below 25 mph. State legislation in 2021 amended the Virginia code, allowing localities to reduce speed limits below 25 mph in a business or residential district. The reduced speed limit can be no lower than 15 mph.

The ordinance headed to City Council would utilize the new authority from the state to reduce speed limits as low as 15 mph. If the ordinance is approved, there would be no immediate impact on existing speed limits. The city plans to conduct a pilot program on slow zones, a combination of lower speed limits and traffic calming measures. The Vision Zero plan adopted by City Council in 2017, which seeks to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from crashes by 2028, includes a slow zone recommendation.

The city would continue its regular process of evaluating speed limit changes: an engineering study, Traffic and Parking Board review, city manager approval, and installation of new speed limit signs. According to the city staff report, "staff will not immediately consider individual requests outside of slow zone areas for speed limit reductions on neighborhood streets to less than 25 mph."