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Fairfax staff outline how to use new state law to lower 25 mph zones; Board favors pilots with equity and enforcement review
Summary
Vanessa Holt (FCDOT) told supervisors HB 1071 (effective July 1, 2024) allows the county to lower posted 25 mph limits (in business or residential districts) to as low as 15 mph; the Board signaled support for a cautious pilot approach, asked staff to study enforcement and RTAP interactions, and requested options in October.
Vanessa Holt, a traffic engineer in Fairfax County's traffic engineering section, briefed the Transportation Committee on the county's new authority to reduce posted 25 mph speed limits under state law.
Holt summarized the legislative history: a 2021 General Assembly authorization was interpreted by VDOT as not applying to the state highway system; subsequent Board initiatives and legislation (HB 793, later included in HB 1071) produced a final law that took effect July 1, 2024. "It states that the governing body of, you know, Fairfax County can, by ordinance, reduce speed limits on roads that are currently posted at 25 miles per hour," Holt said. The law allows reductions to less than 25 but not below 15 mph and applies to candidate roads located in business or residence districts as defined in the Code of Virginia and Fairfax County Code.
Holt said staff will present implementation examples in October and asked the Board whether to pursue a pilot program, an area approach, countywide adoption or a request'driven process. She noted practical considerations including signage and maintenance, impacts on existing programs such as RTAP (the traffic calming toolkit) and the county's school zone speed camera thresholds.
Board members broadly supported a pilot-based approach and urged equity in selecting pilot locations. Chairman McKay and others also stressed enforcement and safety caveats: enforcement resources, topography and areas with high speeds may limit where reduced limits can be safely implemented. Several supervisors suggested piloting multiple sites with varied target limits (for example, testing both 15 and 20 mph) and emphasized visible signage/striping so the reduced speed "feels" lower to drivers rather than being only a changed number on a sign.
No ordinance was introduced during the meeting. Staff was asked to return in October with implementation options, resource implications, potential pilot locations and outreach strategies.
