Fairfax County lowers speed limits to 20 mph in new pilot program

Slowing down to save lives, Fairfax County is about to lower speed limits on some highly traveled roads to 20 miles an hour. Let's get to Mel this morning out of Fairfax County with how the new program is going to work. Hey, Mel. Hey, good morning, guys. So we moved over here to McLean and I want to show you Ingleside Avenue. And this is one of those major cut through roads. This one cuts from Georgetown Pike to 123 in McLean. And, you know, Fairfax County can't put speed cameras on these roads because they're only allowed in school zones and work zones. And so lowering the speed limit to 20 miles an hour from 25 miles an hour is one way that they are really trying to just use whatever tools they have to reduce some of the crashes and incidents. So this is going to be a pilot program. The goal is making roads safer for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians. Roads were chosen based on pedestrian activity, nearby schools, presence of sidewalks, crosswalks, transit. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that the risk for serious injury is 32% at 25 miles an hour, but goes down to 18% when a vehicle is traveling at only 20 miles an hour. The speed limits right now are being lowered in three districts. First, let's talk about the Drainsville District. That's Douglas Drive from Georgetown Pike to Barron Road. This is where we are right now. Barron Road from Randolph Road to Ingleside Avenue and then Ingleside Avenue, as we mentioned, all the way up to Dolly Madison Boulevard, Route 123. Now in the Mason District, Patrick Henry Drive, another big cut through from Leesburg Pike to Beachway Drive. Peace Valley Lane on the west side of Justice High School, Beachway Drive from Patrick Henry to Nevis and Nevis back up to Leesburg Pike. Blair road also from Beachway Drive to Glencarlyn Drive. And in the Providence District, Flagpole Lane from White Granite Drive to Borge Street and Bushman Drive from Borge Street to Blake Lane. And you can see by looking at those maps how all of those routes in the red there, people just kind of use them as these thoroughfares and cut-throughs, even though they go through these residential neighborhoods. Now, the pilot program is going to run into early next year. And, you know, Fairfax County says they're going to try this before considering any of those physical traffic calming measures. One of the things they'll be doing, Fairfax County says, is they're going to start changing those signs next week. This program begins next week, and then they'll evaluate it as we go on for about maybe a few more months. And then in the early months of next year, they'll decide whether this worked or not as intended. They're also considering bringing this pilot program to other roads throughout the county. Stephen Murtha.