Photo by K Summerer for Visit Alexandria
King Street in Old Town Alexandria
Alexandria businesses are reporting varying impacts from the Metro shutdown this summer, with some reporting lower revenue but the majority reporting no change or an increase.
City organizations surveyed close to 150 businesses earlier this month on how Metro’s Platform Improvement Project is affecting business.
Metro has closed all rail stations south of Reagan National Airport for major repairs. The shutdown will last beyond Labor Day and is part of Metro’s campaign to get “Back to Good” after years of deferred maintenance on tracks and stations.
Visit Alexandria, the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, the Alexandria Small Business Development Center and the City of Alexandria collaborated on the survey asking businesses how the shutdown is affecting them.
The purpose of the survey was so the organizations can understand what’s working and where there are problems, so they can take action, according to Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Joe Haggerty.
“Overall, the survey results suggest that the mitigation tactics as well as new initiatives and offerings have been effective in reducing negative impact to businesses. However, certain important segments of the business community have seen more significant impacts,” according to the survey results.
The survey was administered from June 14 to June 19, and 149 businesses participated. About two-thirds of those businesses were located in Old Town.
A number of businesses have seen negative effects, with a decrease in revenue, but many have seen no change or an improvement. Geography seems to play a role.
- Overall, the majority of businesses (59%) reported that their revenue since the Metro closure began on May 25 was either up or unchanged versus the same period in 2018.
- 83% of businesses in the Lower King portion of Old Town have seen their revenue either rise or remain unchanged, with 68% reporting revenue increases of more than 5%.
- However, 38% of businesses on Upper and Middle King report revenue declines of greater than 5%, with most of those seeing declines of greater than 10%.
- 46% of retailers and 43% of restaurants report that their revenue is down more than 5%.
- The majority of hotels (57%) that responded report that their business is either up or unchanged.
There are several programs in place to encourage residents to stay local this summer and help residents and tourists get around town, including discounts at local garages and expanded hours for the King Street Trolley. Visit Alexandria is promoting its Love Your Summer hotel package, which include low hotel rates with free overnight hotel parking, two-day unlimited ride water taxi passes and a free Key to the City museum passes (learn more here).
Metro is working with Alexandria’s DASH bus service, Fairfax Connector and private contractors to provide shuttles for commuters, but traffic has increased significantly on major thoroughfares as many commuters choose to drive this summer instead of taking the buses or shuttles.
The extensive mitigation efforts and marketing efforts in place seem are receiving a positive response from businesses, according to the survey – particularly evening and weekend parking discounts, expanded cleaning and maintenance along King Street, longer trolley hours, more regional advertising and transportation initiatives such as the free shuttles for commuters, the transit options flyer and increased assistance at Metro stations.
In addition to affecting commuters and businesses, the shutdown is affecting residents – particularly in the Huntington area, where residents live close to the Metro and are complaining about major construction noise late into the night.
Residents around the Braddock Road and King Street Metro stations have similar concerns.
City officials will continue to work with businesses and residents to try to keep the negative effects of the shutdown at Bay until it ends in September.
For more information on getting around the City, go to www.alexandriava.gov/GOAlex.
Click here for more information on the Love Your Summer package.
