Rosemont Citizens Association set to expand bike lane opposition to full Braddock Road corridor
Vote would expand resolution passed by 49 of neighborhood's 4,136 residents in November
Two months after questions were raised about how the Rosemont Citizens Association represents its neighborhood, the organization is preparing to vote Thursday on expanding its opposition to the city’s Braddock Road bike lane project.
The vote would broaden the RCA’s November 19 resolution—which opposed removing parking on one segment of Braddock Road based on a vote by 59 of the neighborhood’s 4,136 residents—to encompass “the full length” of the project through Rosemont, according to the meeting agenda posted on Facebook.
The Alexandria Brief reached out to RCA President Jol Silversmith multiple times in November seeking comment on how the organization characterizes votes and whether it believes 59 voters can speak for 4,136 residents. The RCA did not respond.
The November letter
The day after The Alexandria Brief’s November story published, Silversmith sent a formal letter to the city’s Traffic and Parking Board stating “the Rosemont Citizens Association opposes the removal of parking spaces on Braddock Road between Russell Road and Commonwealth Avenue.”
The November 21 letter, addressed to Traffic and Parking Board Chair Ann Tucker, did not disclose how many people voted on the resolution. Instead, it stated that “the RCA promotes the interests and welfare of its members, which include approximately 1,800 households in the Rosemont neighborhood.”
The letter was copied to multiple city officials, including the Transportation Engineering Chief, Complete Streets Planning Manager, and Braddock Road Project Manager Bryan Hayes.
The original vote and questions it raised
At the November 19 meeting, 59 people voted 49-10 to oppose removing parking spaces for protected bike lanes on the segment between Russell Road and Commonwealth Avenue. The RCA announced the vote on Facebook, stating “the Rosemont Citizens Association voted” without disclosing attendance numbers.
The RCA’s website states: “Everyone who resides or owns a property in Rosemont is automatically a member.” Census data from 2023, published by the RCA, shows Rosemont contains 4,136 people in 1,442 households.
According to the RCA constitution, the organization requires only 15 members present to constitute a quorum for official votes. The constitution also states that “individuals living in the above-described area who are not members of the Association may vote on specified matters such as land use issues or other matters of general community concern at the discretion of the elected officers.”
The characterization raised questions about representation and transparency. In March 2024, when the RCA opposed the proposed Monumental sports arena, it explicitly stated the resolution reflected “the sense of those in attendance.” The different language used for the bike lanes vote—claiming to speak for “the Rosemont Citizens Association” rather than “those in attendance”—prompted questions about when and why the organization discloses participation levels.
What’s being proposed Thursday
According to the meeting agenda, the RCA will consider a “Motion to Expand Scope of Prior Braddock Road Resolution.” The agenda references the November 21 letter but does not specify which additional segments or design options the expanded resolution would cover.
The city’s Braddock Road Trail Access and Corridor Improvements Project includes multiple design options for different segments of the corridor. The original RCA resolution opposed Options 1A and 1B, which would create protected bike lanes by removing parking between Russell Road and Commonwealth Avenue.
Other segments of the project include the stretch between Commonwealth Avenue and Mount Vernon Avenue, and between Mount Vernon Avenue and North West Street.
The project’s status
The city announced in November that the Braddock Road project would not appear on the December 8 Traffic and Parking Board agenda as originally expected. Project Manager Bryan Hayes said the city would share an update in early 2026. The Traffic and Parking Board’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 26.
The city has continued meeting with community stakeholders, including the Del Ray Citizens Association, Rosemont PELT committee, and residents along Braddock Road.
The corridor has been identified as a safety priority by multiple entities. The Virginia Department of Transportation designated the section between Mount Vernon Avenue and North West Street as a top priority for pedestrian and bicycle safety upgrades statewide. A 2023 Safe Routes to School Walk Audit at George Washington Middle School recommended safety improvements.
Thursday’s meeting
The RCA meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, January 22, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 100 West Luray Avenue. The agenda also includes a discussion with Mayor Alyia Gaskins, police and sheriff reports, and PELT committee updates.
Questions about representation and transparency in civic associations have broader implications for Alexandria. The city gives civic associations special standing in policy debates, allowing representatives to speak for five minutes at public hearings compared to three minutes for individuals, under the rationale that they speak for all neighborhood residents.
When organizations claim automatic membership for all residents but decisions are made by small fractions of the population, questions arise about whose voices are heard in city policy debates.
The Alexandria Brief reached out to RCA President Jol Silversmith for comment. This story will be updated if a response is received.
