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The City of Alexandria is asking residents to weigh in on three design concepts for bicycle and pedestrian improvements along S. Van Dorn Street between Eisenhower Avenue and McConnell Avenue, with construction not expected to begin until 2029.
The project, funded by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, aims to design and construct improvements to the S. Van Dorn Street bridges to better accommodate people walking and biking. The city is also studying the broader corridor to improve safety, comfort and connectivity for all users.
Currently, bicycles and pedestrians share a combined pathway that is primarily 8 to 10 feet wide and sits directly adjacent to vehicle travel lanes.
The city developed three concepts for community consideration:
Concept 1 maximizes separate travel spaces for bicycles and pedestrians in all segments and includes a buffer — either a planting strip with trees or a vertical barrier — between the bike lane and vehicle traffic. It would close the access ramp to Metro Road and carries the highest projected cost.
Concept 2 balances separate travel spaces for bicycles and pedestrians while minimizing construction impacts, using narrower lanes and buffers. It retains access to Metro Road with a modified design and is less costly than Concept 1.
Concept 3 provides separate spaces where space permits, but defaults to a shared-use path for bicyclists and pedestrians in two segments. It retains Metro Road access in its current configuration and has the lowest associated cost.
The concepts are divided into four segments, allowing the city to mix and match elements when selecting a preferred alternative. The project will also coordinate with nearby initiatives, including the West End Transitway and planned intersection upgrades at Eisenhower Avenue.
The online feedback form asks residents how they currently travel through the area — whether by car, bus, rail, bicycle or on foot — and why, including whether they live or work nearby, use the street to reach shops, parks or schools, or simply pass through. Respondents are also asked to rank priorities for how limited roadside space should be allocated among sidewalks, cycle tracks, landscaping and bus shelters.
The survey also asks residents to weigh in on two key tradeoffs central to the design. The first involves whether the city should close the Metro Road access ramp from northbound Van Dorn Street — a vehicle turning movement that currently crosses the path of people walking and biking — or find a balance between maintaining that access and improving conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. The second asks how the bridge over the rail tracks should be configured, given its limited space.
Detailed design is scheduled for 2026 to 2028, with construction slated for 2029.
Residents can submit feedback through an online form at alexandriava.gov/go/7969 by April 16.
The city will use responses to determine a preferred design alternative in line with recommendations from the Alexandria Mobility Plan.
