City Council is continuing to consider turning the last two blocks of lower King Street near the waterfront into a pedestrian-only zone, but a number of concerns have cropped up with the latest plans for the spring and summer pilot program.
City staff have been gathering input from stakeholders and presented their latest iteration to City Council earlier this month.
Some of the City Council's concerns included safety issues at the currently very busy intersection of King and Union streets. In addition, a change to the proposal from its first iteration now includes an eastbound lane for valet parking, deliveries, drop-offs, emergencies and more.
In addition, the cost of the pilot program ($190,000) put Councilmember Redella 'Del' Pepper into sticker shock. "That's a heck of a lot of money," she said. "We need to evaluate whether it's more trouble than it's worth."
Mayor Justin Wilson said he thought the new plan to add an emergency travel lane and drop-off-lane could be confusing.
Councilman John Chapman also expressed concerns that the lane might be used as "just a road," and asked how that would be enforced.
The City Council will revisit the proposal, again, on April 14.
The City of Alexandria is proposing the pilot program to convert the 100 block of King Street into a temporary pedestrian-only space during the weekends from April – October 2020. City staff has developed a draft design for the block based on input from the business community, safety restrictions, past feasibility studies, and comments from City Council and the Waterfront & Transportation Commissions.
Some retailers on the street are more supportive than others, city staff noted.
The proposed design would allow for additional outdoor dining, public space and a larger pedestrian space where vehicles normally travel. The pilot could remove parking at all times on the 100 block of King Street.
A full, seven-days-per-week closure may be tested for a portion of the pilot.
Other highlights of the plan include:
Trolley route modifications: To accommodate the closing of the 100 block of King Street, the lower King Street trolley route will be adjusted. The adjusted route will require the removal of some parking spaces necessary for turning movements. The eastbound route would turn north on Lee Street, East on Cameron Street, and South on Union Street to maintain access to the waterfront for those with mobility difficulties.
Pick-up and drop-off zones: The King Street Place pilot would provide an opportunity to test out incorporation of a Pick-Up, Drop-Off (PUDO) zone for valet, loading, ride-sharing, and third-party food deliveries. Staff would monitor the PUDO zone throughout the pilot to determine if the location or number of spaces used for the PUDO should be adjusted. The PUDO zone is for the use and benefit of all surrounding businesses, not only the businesses on the 100 block of King Street.
For more information about the project, visit https://www.alexandriava.gov/TES.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to send any questions or comments to Patricia Washington (Visit Alexandria) at patricia@visitalexva.com and Hayley Burton (City – TES) at hayley.burton@alexandriava.gov.
