Slow down: Fredericksburg lowers speed limit in downtown business district

The Fredericksburg City Council decided to decrease the speed limit in its downtown business district from 25 miles per hour to 20.

The City Council held a first reading of the resolution that would lower the speed limit to 20 mph in business districts; the authority to make such a change is codified in the Virginia Code. Fredericksburg has also been focused on making its downtown business district as an attraction, with a the newly opened Riverfront Park.

The affected areas for the reduced speed limit would include Sophia Street between Lafayette Boulevard and Amelia Street, Caroline Street between Lafayette Boulevard and Lewis Street, William Street between Washington Avenue and Sophia Street and Lafayette Street between Sophia Street and Prince Edward Street.

Members of the City Council, such as Ward 1 Councilor Jason Graham and Ward 2 Councilor Jon Gerlach, voiced approval for the speed reduction citing pedestrian safety concerns. Gerlach added that a lower speed limit would lower the threshold for accidents.

At-Large Councilor Matt Kelly also voiced his approval for the resolution but was also concerned about the city having a plan to enforce the new speed limit reductions. "We should have an enforcement plan for when we reduce the speed limits and not have to wait a few years for such a plan", said Kelly.

Kelly also wants to have a presentation for the public to explain why and how the reduced speed limits will be enforced.

The Fredericksburg City Council had made pedestrian safety a top priority as shown by the recent increase in speeding citations made by the police which was revealed at its April 26 meeting. An example of these efforts include the installation of new bump out crossings at the Lewis Street Bicycle Boulevard's intersection with Caroline and Princess Anne streets.

Other efforts that are in the planning stages include the transition of one-way streets into two way streets. Those streets include Washington Avenue, Fall Hill Avenue, and Maury Street. The street conversions are listed in the Capital Improvement Plans for Fiscal Year 2023. Construction is scheduled to take place in 2023.

Fredericksburg also commissioned an engineering study that looked at other potential options such as converting more one-way streets such as William and Amelia Streets into two-way streets. The study is also included in the improvement plans listed for FY 2023.

The new speed limits go into effect on July 1, 2022.