Mark Segraves, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – The District of Columbia Department of Transportation will announce a change in speed limits on several major roads.
Sources tell WTOP the District is preparing to increase the speed limit on at least two roads and possibly more over time. The announcement could come as soon as Friday.
Mayor Vincent Gray had said he would look at raising speed limits when he announced recent changes to speeding fines.
Several major roads including the Southeast Southwest Freeway and Interstate 395 currently have posted speed limits of 40 mph and both have speed cameras that generate thousands of tickets.
Residents and several council members had complained the speed limits were too low. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson called the camera on the southeast portion of the freeway “a very bad speed trap.”
The D.C. Council is considering legislation that would require DDOT to review speed limits across the city. Because some of the major roads receive federal funding, the city may need federal approval before changing those speed limits.
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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
