WASHINGTON, DC – 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:

“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.