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To request that the Chief Administrative Officer cause to be conducted a citywide traffic engineering investigation to determine the impact of establishing a citywide maximum speed limit of 35 miles per hour.
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WHEREAS, according to the Vision Zero Network, a project of Community Initiatives, a California corporation, new data released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety affirms the principle that lower speed limits increase road safety; and
WHEREAS, according to the Vision Zero Network, the data released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety demonstrates that, at speeds higher than 35 miles per hour, crashes are most dangerous, especially for pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, the Council is of the belief that speed limits on highways (as defined by section 46.2-100 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended) within the city of Richmond over which the City has jurisdiction vary considerably; and
WHEREAS, the Council believes that it is in the best interests of the citizens of the City of Richmond that the Council request that the Chief Administrative Officer cause to be conducted a citywide traffic engineering investigation within the meaning of section 46.2-878 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, to determine the impact of establishing a citywide maximum speed limit of 35 miles per hour, excluding from such traffic engineering investigation (i) limited access highways with divided roadways such as Chippenham Parkway, (ii) highways with speed limits currently established at or below 35 miles per hour, and (iii) any review of speed limits that potentially may be increased;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND:
That the Council hereby requests that the Chief Administrative Officer cause to be conducted a citywide traffic investigation within the meaning of section 46.2-878 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, to determine the impact of establishing a citywide maximum speed limit of 35 miles per hour, excluding from such traffic engineering investigation (i) limited access highways with divided roadways such as Chippenham Parkway, (ii) highways with speed limits currently established at or below 35 miles per hour, and (iii) any review of speed limits that potentially may be increased, and provide to the Council the results of such and any recommendations to reduce speed limits or otherwise make highways in the city of Richmond safer by no later than 90 days after the adoption of this resolution.