City recommends protected bike lanes for Braddock Road corridor
Traffic & Parking Board to consider design Feb. 23; RCA has opposed parking removal with votes by 59 and 76 residents
Alexandria transportation officials are recommending protected bike lanes along Braddock Road between Russell Road and West Street, setting up a potential showdown with the Rosemont Citizens Association at a February 23 public hearing.
The city announced Friday that its preferred design includes continuous bike lanes along the corridor, including a two-way protected bike lane next to the Braddock Road Metro station, along with safer pedestrian crossings and shorter crossing distances at major intersections.
The recommendations will be presented to the Traffic and Parking Board at its February 23 meeting.
The announcement comes two weeks after the RCA voted 61-12 to expand its opposition to parking removal across the full Braddock Road corridor. That vote built on a November 19 vote of 49-10 opposing parking removal on one segment between Russell Road and Commonwealth Avenue.
Both votes drew participation from fewer than 2% of Rosemont’s 4,136 residents, though the RCA claims all residents as automatic members.
What the city is recommending
The preferred design concept includes:
Continuous bike lanes along Braddock Road between Russell Road and West Street
A two-way protected bike lane next to the Braddock Road Metro station
New bike lane connections on Commonwealth Avenue
Safer pedestrian and bicycle crossings between nearby trails and the Metro station
Shorter crossing distances at Mount Vernon Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, and Russell Road intersections
City officials said the recommendations “respond to documented safety concerns and community feedback by encouraging safer vehicle speeds, improving visibility, and providing dedicated space for people walking and biking.”
The design “also aims to maintain efficient traffic flow and minimize delays for people driving,” according to the announcement.
Safety concerns and community input
The city developed the recommendations after evaluating existing conditions, analyzing traffic patterns, and gathering community input through multiple public engagement periods in 2025.
The corridor has been identified as a safety priority by the Virginia Department of Transportation. A 2023 Safe Routes to School Walk Audit at George Washington Middle School also recommended safety improvements along Braddock Road.
The city’s Alexandria Mobility Plan, adopted by City Council, identified improving trail access and creating safer conditions for all users as priorities for the corridor.
RCA opposition
The RCA has opposed options that would remove parking to create protected bike lanes.
After the November 19 vote, RCA President Jol Silversmith sent a letter to the Traffic and Parking Board stating “the Rosemont Citizens Association opposes the removal of parking spaces” without disclosing the 49-10 vote count or that only 59 of 4,136 residents participated.
On January 22, the RCA voted to expand that opposition to the full length of Braddock Road through Rosemont. The 61-12 vote (with 3 abstentions) was disclosed by the RCA on social media three days later.
The RCA characterized the vote as “the membership voted,” though 76 voters represented 1.8% of the neighborhood’s population.
Mayor Alyia Gaskins, who attended the January 22 meeting, told residents the project does not require City Council approval unless there is an appeal.
“For this particular project, it actually doesn’t necessarily come to the Council unless it’s on an appeal,” Gaskins said.
About the Traffic and Parking Board
The Traffic and Parking Board is a seven-member decision-making body of Alexandria residents appointed by the City Council. The board considers matters concerning substantial changes to traffic and on-street parking regulations.
Current members are Ann Tucker (chair), Casey Kane (vice chair), Annie Ebbers, Dane Lauritzen, Ashley Mihalik, Kursten Phelps and Mark Stout, according to the city’s website.
How to participate in February 23 hearing
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. on Monday, February 23. Residents can attend in person at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center, Room 1305, 4850 Mark Center Drive, or participate via Zoom.
Public comment will be accepted at the meeting, and written testimony can be submitted until 3 p.m. on February 23 to TrafficandParkingBoard@alexandriava.gov.
More information is available on the project webpage.
The project has been in planning since early 2025, with the city conducting two phases of community outreach—one in March focused on existing conditions and another in September-October on design options.
This is a developing story.