Traffic and Parking Board unanimously approves Braddock Road corridor improvements
Protected bike lanes, parking removal backed 7-0 after 6-hour hearing with 66 speakers
The Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board unanimously approved the Braddock Road Corridor Improvements Project early Tuesday morning after a marathon public hearing that stretched past 1 a.m. and drew 66 speakers.
More residents spoke in favor of the project than against it—approximately 37 in support and 29 opposed—during nearly three hours of public comment on the plan to add protected bike lanes and remove most parking between Mount Vernon Avenue and Russell Road.
The 6-0 vote came at 1:18 a.m., more than six hours after the meeting began. The board approved the city’s full recommendation without modifications, after defeating an amendment that would have retained parking on one side of the street west of Commonwealth Avenue.
Board member Mark Stout moved to amend the proposal to not remove parking west of Commonwealth Avenue. Vice Chair Casey Kane seconded but modified the amendment to remove parking on only one side. The amendment was defeated, and the board then unanimously approved the staff recommendation as presented.
Voting members present: Vice Chair Casey Kane, Annie Ebbers, Dane Lauritzen, Ashley Mihalik, Kursten Phelps, and Mark Stout. Members absent: Chairperson Ann Tucker.
What was approved
The Traffic and Parking Board approved the city’s full recommendation for the Braddock Road Corridor Improvements Project, which includes:
Bike lanes:
Protected bike lanes along the entire corridor from Russell Road to West Street
Two-way protected bike lane on the north side between the Metro station and trails
One-way separated bike lane on the south side
Parking removal:
Remove most on-street parking between Mount Vernon Avenue and Russell Road
Retain approximately 100 feet of parking on the unit block of East Braddock Road and 60 feet on the 200 block
Remove parking on Commonwealth Avenue between Braddock Road and Spring Street
Traffic changes:
Remove one travel lane in each direction between Yates Corner and West Street (near Metro)
Consolidate turn lanes at Russell, Commonwealth, and Mount Vernon intersections
Add commercial loading zone near Yates Corner
Other improvements:
Relocate one disability parking space; add two new disability spaces on Hancock Avenue and Luray Avenue at Braddock Road
Shorter crossing distances at major intersections
Safer pedestrian crossings between trails and the Metro station
The project stems from a 2023 Safe Routes to School audit at George Washington Middle School and the Virginia Department of Transportation’s designation of the corridor as a statewide priority for pedestrian and bicycle safety. Between 2019 and 2023, there were 17 crashes in the project area, resulting in 8 injuries. A pedestrian was killed at the intersection of Braddock Road and Commonwealth Avenue in 2015.
What happens next
Opponents now have 15 days to file an appeal to the City Council. Under Alexandria city code, a petition signed by at least 25 property owners or residents can appeal the board’s decision to the City Council, which would then hold its own public hearing.
Mayor Alyia Gaskins told residents at a January Rosemont Citizens Association meeting that the project would not come to City Council unless appealed.
“For this particular project, it actually doesn’t necessarily come to the Council unless it’s on an appeal,” Gaskins said.
The Rosemont Citizens Association, which says it represents all residents of Rosemont, voted 61-12 in January to oppose parking removal on the corridor. Both that vote and a November vote represented fewer than 2% of the neighborhood’s 4,136 residents.
It remains unclear whether the RCA or other opponents will appeal the decision.
The hearing
The meeting began at 7 p.m. on Monday. Discussion of the Braddock Road project—item #9 on the agenda—began at 8:10 p.m.
Complete Streets Program Manager Alexandria Carroll presented the city’s recommendation for 71 minutes, finishing at 9:21 p.m. The board then took a 10-minute break.
Public comment began at 9:52 p.m. and continued until 12:47 a.m.—nearly three hours of testimony from 66 speakers. The board then discussed the project for approximately 31 minutes before voting.
Board member Annie Ebbers moved to approve the full staff recommendation. After the failed amendment attempt, the motion passed unanimously at 1:18 a.m.
Reactions
Ken Notis, chair of the Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, praised the board’s decision.
“We are delighted by the Board’s decision to support this project without compromise,” Notis said in a statement. “The hearing demonstrated the project has significant public support as reflected by the majority of speakers.”
This is a developing story. This story will be updated.