FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 17, 2012
Media Contact: John Lisle at 202.671.2004, john.lisle@dc.gov
Mayor Gray Announces Emergency Rulemaking to Raise Speed Limit on Additional District Roadways
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Mayor Vincent C. Gray today announced that he has ordered an emergency rulemaking to permit the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to raise the speed limit on four additional roadways In the District of Columbia. The move comes after DDOT completed a review of roadways with automated speed enforcement and determined the speed limits on select roads could be increased immediately without significantly impacting safety.
The impacted roadway sections and the related speed limits are summarized in the table below:
|
Roadway |
Current Speed Limit |
New Speed Limit |
| New York Avenue – Eastbound from Bladensburg Road to Maryland Line |
40 |
45 |
| New York Avenue – Westbound from Maryland Line to Bladensburg Road |
35 |
40 |
| Bladensburg Road – from Mt. Olivet Road/17th Street to New York Avenue |
25 |
30 |
| North Capitol Street – from Michigan Avenue to Harewood Road |
35 |
40 |
| Canal Road – from Chain Bridge to Foxhall Road
|
35 |
40 |
“I want to commend Director Bellamy and DDOT for reassessing these roadways and determining the appropriate speed limits,” Mayor Gray said. “Residents have asked us to reconsider the posted maximums in these areas and we’re confident these changes can be made without compromising safety.”
In November, at the Mayor’s direction, DDOT raised the speed limit to 35 MPH on Benning Road, NE, between Oklahoma Avenue and Kenilworth Avenue (DC 295), and to 50 MPH on DC 295.
The changes on New York Avenue, Bladensburg Road, North Capitol Street and Canal Road will take effect AT 12:01 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012.
The agency will also continue its analysis of the appropriateness of all District speed limits with the goal of completing the comprehensive review by October 1, 2014.
Bates Area Civic Association 