Speed Limit Reductions Approved For 2 Roads In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Speed limit reductions are slated for additional roads in Alexandria after approval by the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board Monday.

The board approved lower speed limits, lane removals and other roadway changes related to the city's Eisenhower Avenue Transportation Study, South Pickett Street Corridor Improvements and Holland Lane Corridor Improvements projects. The changes appear to focus on improving safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.

For Eisenhower Avenue, the board granted permission for the city manager to reduce the speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph and implement no turn on red restrictions at signalized intersections. The speed limit on Eisenhower Avenue is 35 mph west of Mill Road and 25 mph east of Mill Road. Other recommended changes were removing the southbound left turn lane on Van Dorn Street at Eisenhower Avenue, removing westbound left turn lanes on Eisenhower Avenue at Van Dorn Street, removing a lane of Eisenhower Avenue between Van Dorn Street and Metro Road and Van Dorn Street, removing a right turn lane and lane on westbound Eisenhower Avenue between Van Dorn Street Metro and Metro Road, remove a lane in each direction and add up to 200 metered parking spaces on Eisenhower Avenue between Van Dorn Street Metro and Holmes Run Trail, remove a westbound left turn lane at Eisenhower Avenue and Clermont Connector.

For the section of South Pickett Street between Duke Street and Edsall Road, the Traffic and Parking Board approved reducing the speed limit from 35 to 25 mph. The approval also included a road diet plan to remove one lane in each direction, remove up to 10 on-street parking spaces, and implement no turn on red restrictions at traffic signals.

For Holland Lane between Duke Street and Eisenhower Avenue, the board approved removing one lane in each direction, removing one northbound right turn lane at Holland Lane and Duke Street and implementing no turn on red restrictions at traffic signals.

Speed limit reductions on select roads have been one strategy in the city's Vision Zero, a plan to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries from crashes by 2028.

The Eisenhower Avenue study, which started last summer, collected feedback and found concerns of speeding, lack of bicyclist facilities, difficult and infrequent pedestrian crossings, difficult access to the Metro and uncomfortable sidewalks. Data shows the Eisenhower Avenue and Van Dorn Street intersection experiences backups, and pedestrian crashes have been concentrated between Clermont Avenue and Van Dorn Street.

"In general we heard and what we heard from the data is speeding, cut through [traffic], the lack or poor accessibility for both pedestrians and cyclists," said Dan Scolese, a transportation engineer and project manager for the Eisenhower Avenue study. "We see speeding mostly in the off peak hours. It's a five-lane road. It's pretty easy to do west of Telegraph [Road]."

Public speakers weighed in on how they thought the proposals would affect roadway conditions.

Nicole Radshaw, a bicyclist who was hit on Seminary Road and supported the road diet there, endorsed the Eisenhower Avenue changes. She pointed to organizing a bike ride tour of breweries along the Eisenhower Avenue corridor as a benefit to road safety improvements.

"People want to bike where it's safe. Improved bike facilities on Eisenhower will bring more people to spend more money on the West End," said Radshaw. "An improved pedestrian pathway and a safe connected bike network for all ages and abilities would help create a vibrant environment for those folks and me on the West End."

Eli Goldman with the Eisenhower Partnership expressed support for the proposal and wanted to collaborate with the city to provide on-street parking.

Mike Doyle, founder of Alexandria Families for Safe Streets, said the plan is a "good step," but urged the city to implement the speed limit reduction without delay.

The South Pickett Street project found similar concerns from different roadway users. Feedback from residents found the most common concerns were speeding, lack of crosswalks, no dedicated bicycle facilities, difficulty crossing at signals, difficulty turning left without signals, and traffic delays.

"The goal of this project is that it's easy, safe and comfortable for people of all ages, modes and abilities to travel on South Pickett Street," said Alex Carroll, the city's Complete Streets program manager. "South Pickett [Street] is a very auto-dominated corridor, but it is gradually redeveloping and changing its character into a place that is more walkable and urban and intended to be pedestrian and bicycle friendly but currently the roadway design doesn't match those uses."

But while some feedback supported pedestrian and bicyclist improvements, others said a road diet would exacerbate traffic delays.

Arthur Impastato of the Cameron Station Civic Association said members supported safety measures other than a road diet on South Pickett Street.

"Surely the adoption of proven safety countermeasures such as but not limited to a speed limit reduction to 25 mph, new pedestrian crossings, curb extensions, no turn on red restrictions, a left only lane, parking reductions and new median space are sufficient to address safety," said Impastato. "Imposing a road diet on this road will result in a loss of business, unnecessary traffic congestion, and...a huge increase in cut through traffic in Cameron Station."

With the approvals, city staff plan to continue engagement with stakeholders during the design processes for the projects. Residents can find project information on the South Pickett Street Corridor Improvements, Eisenhower Avenue Transportation Study and Holland Lane Corridor Improvements project web pages.