Unable to hit alt restriction - flight planning

[Nick Dobda 24]

Quick question, hopefully simple answer.

I have a flight from KPIT to KDCA. The transition point to the SID (FRDMM3) into DCA has a FL310 restriction (BUCKO). I can only hit that altitude at that point from Pittsburgh if I'm really gunning it. It is impossible to hit it on economy climb. 

The question... do I have to gun it and make that restriction, or can I file a plan at lower cruise and (if approved) go with it?

Anyone have background as to why theres a restriction there in the first place?

[scandinavian13 5,192]

32 minutes ago, Nick Dobda said:

Anyone have background as to why theres a restriction there in the first place?

Crossing traffic. Remember that there are arrivals AND departures going into all of DCA, IAD and BWI.

Regardless, you'd simply join at the altitude you'd filed for. The mini-jets that fly the route are usually at FL190-210, on KPIT MGW BUCKO FRDMM3. They just cross at cruise. Since that's the Prefroute, the controllers are aware that it's a non-standard use of the FRDMM3 for those arrivals.

[Nick Dobda 24]

Crossing traffic, makes sense!

Thanks for the advice. I figured the answer was simple.