Read about it here. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/15/AR2005061502481.html)

Since the two Councilmembers pursuing this are both At-Large, any Washingtonian can call and register their disgust at the idea of cars barrelling down our roads any faster. (Just because everyone speeds, does that mean we should change the rules to accommodate?)

Here's the contacts you can call:
Andrew Grist in Carol Schwartz's office - 202-724-8105
Sonya Bertalo in Phil Mendelson's office - 202-724-8064

It's not an official comment period right now, but these folks are supposed to work for us, and need to know that it's not OK do pursue changes that would hurt Washingtonians.

My city just lowered speed limits on many of the arterial roads.
Many 45mph limits are now 40mph.
Its great, but long term enforcement is gonna be key.
I noticed that with the new 40mph signs that have orange flags on them to make people see them, that more drivers are keeping between 40-45mph. Once the newness/awareness wears off I imagine folks will go back to their 50-55mph ways. Thats when enforcement needs to kick in.

I'd do what you can to fight higher speed limits.

Al

US DOT motivation behind speed limits and changing such:

http://www.ibiblio.org/rdu/sl-irrel.html

Call up WAMU at noon tomorrow and bring it up on the "DC Politics Hour".
202-885-8850 http://www.wamu.org/programs/kn/05/06/17.php
The mayor, the DC councilmembers, DOT director, congressmen, etc show up as guests, and most of the DC political establishment listens in.

DO IT. Don't miss your chance. If I'm done with my meeting in time, I'll be listening too.

US DOT motivation behind speed limits and changing such:

http://www.ibiblio.org/rdu/sl-irrel.html

That's an interesting study -- it basically says that people's speed is particularly affected by the speed limit. There is a complicating factor in DC, which is that the city has adopted photo radar, which does seem to have a dramatic impact on how fast people drive, because the speed limit is enforced with mechanical precision. The initial reaction of most drivers was to blame the cameras and squawk about them being a violation of some imaginary right; now people are realizing that the cameras are not going to go away, and that the real issue is whether the speed limit is set realistically. That's what's driving the current Council action.

At heart, this is a city vs. suburbs issue. The people who live in the neighborhoods want low speed limits; it's never in your interest to have your neighborhood be a good place to drive through. The people who drive through the neighborhoods want to do it as quickly as possible. What's sad is that the at-large councilmembers are taking the side of the suburbanites rather than the people they represent.