Speed Limit Lowered To 25 MPH On Major Alexandria Roadway

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The City of Alexandria announced the speed limit on a portion of one of its major highways will be lowered from 35 mph to 25 mph beginning Monday, Aug. 20. The change applies to the Jefferson Davis Highway portion of U.S. Route 1 (between Four Mile Run and Slaters Lane).

The decision is part of the city's Vision Zero Action Plan, which identifies reducing the speed limit on a high crash corridor as a goal. The city says lower speed limits on King Street, Seminary Road and Quaker Lane have reduced crashes by 53 percent, 40 percent and 33 percent, respectively on the roads.

At a July meeting, the Traffic and Parking Board recommended to the City Manager that the speed limit be reduced on the portion of Route 1. Two people spoke in opposition of the proposal at the meeting.

Between 2015 and 2017, there were 106 crashes on this section of Route 1. In these crashes, 25 people were hurt, which includes three seriously injured.

Around 37 injuries result from crashes every year in Alexandria. The city especially urges residents to use caution on roads as the school year starts up.

The city adopted the Vision Zero Action plan last year with guidance to eradicate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2028.

What do you think of the speed limit reduction? Let us know in the comments.

Image via Emily Leayman/Patch