Speed Limits To Be Reduced On Some Alexandria Streets

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Lower speed limits and school zone speed limits will be implemented after recommendation by the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board Monday.

City Manager Jim Parajon approved the board's recommendation to reduce speed limits on two streets as well as implement 15 mph school zone speed limits on five streets.

The changes include:

• North Beauregard Street (Entire length): Reduce speed limit from 35 to 25 miles per hour and reduce the school zone speed limit from 25 to 15 mph.
• West Braddock Road (North Beauregard Street to Quaker Lane): Reduce the speed limit from 35 to 25 miles per hour and reduce the school zone speed limit from 25 to 15 mph.
• North Howard Street (Lynn House driveway to Braddock Road): Reduce the school zone speed limit from 25 to 15 mph.
• Seminary Road (Kenmore Avenue to North Pickett Street): Reduce the school zone speed limit from 25 to 15 mph.
• King Street (Radford Street to Quincy Street): Install a new 15 mph school zone speed limit.

New speed limits will be implemented in fall 2022, and the new school zone on King Street near Alexandria City High School will be implemented in 2023. School zone speed limits are typically in effect when signage lights are flashing — as students arrive and leave school. Some school zones in Alexandria already have 15 mph school zone speed limits.

At the Traffic and Parking Board meeting, members of the public speaking in support of lower speed limits were Alexandria School Board representative Abdel Elnoubi, Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee representative Jim Durham and Alexandria Families For Safe Streets co-founder Mike Doyle.

The reduced speed limits are part of the city's Vision Zero initiative, which seeks to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from crashes by 2028. The city has tracked over 500 crashes in these major corridors since 2015, including over 20 fatal or severe crashes. The latest serious crash was in August on North Beauregard Street at Sanger Avenue, where a teen on a scooter was hit. The teen later died.

According to the city, vehicle speeds had been a concern raised through outreach in the Vision Zero Action Plan, the Alexandria Mobility Plan, Safe Routes to School Program, and Alex311. The Fiscal Year 2023 Vision Zero Work Plan includes an effort to reduce speed limits.

A speed camera program will also be implemented in some school zones after City Council approval. While the city has not finalized locations for the five speed cameras, the program is expected to launch in early 2023.