Slow Down: Arlington Board Reduces Speed Limit on Wilson, Clarendon Boulevards

With so many pedestrians and cyclists in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, it's always been a good idea to slow down. Now, you have to.

The Arlington County Board unanimously approved changing the speed limits on several streets Tuesday night, including the two main thoroughfares through Clarendon, Courthouse and Rosslyn.

The county will lower the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph on the following streets:

• Clarendon Boulevard, from Washington Boulevard to North Oak Street
• Wilson Boulevard, from Washington Boulevard to Route 110
• North Meade Street, from Arlington Boulevard to Marshall Drive

The county also will lower a portion of the speed limit on North Sycamore and North Roosevelt streets between 17th Street North and the Falls Church city limit so that the entire stretch is 30 mph.

The new speed limits go into effect Wednesday.

In each case, the officials studied traffic volume, pedestrian and bicycle activity, nearby land use and development patterns, according to county documents. Collision rates were analyzed and the number of bicycles and pedestrian at intersections were deemed "significant enough to be a consideration."

Clarendon resident June O'Connell asked elected officials to be sure the county could enforce the lower speed limits on Wilson and Clarendon.

"I don't believe there are existing resources in the (Rosslyn-Ballston) corridor to maintain the 30 mph speed limit; therefore I don't believe we have enough to enforce the lower limit," she said.

Police will be notified of the new speed limits and that department will make any adjustments it deems necessary for enforcement, according to county staff.

Officials said they expect drivers to take about six months to acclimate to the lower speed limit. At that point, the county will review the effects of the change, particularly on hills and other potential problem areas.

Over the next year, Arlington may add permanent traffic counting stations along the corridor, and those devices also record speeds, said Wayne Wentz, the county's Transportation, Engineering and Operations Bureau chief.

The cost of installing new speed limit signs to reflect the various changes is about $5,000, according to county documents.