When it comes to transportation, Alexandrians have strong opinions. Say the words Seminary Road 'Diet' to a group of them and you’re bound to get an immediate and passionate response.
The City is attempting to improve the efficiency, equity and safety of all types of mobility with a major update to the 2008 Transportation Master Plan. This revision, called the Alexandria Mobility Plan (AMP), will incorporate the 2016 Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan along with other changes.
Following an Oct. 15 town hall, where a draft of the AMP strategies was presented, Alexandria residents were invited to provide their thoughts using an online feedback form, which closed on Nov. 9.
At a meeting of the Alexandria Mobility Plan Advisory Committee (AMPAC) Wednesday evening, Alexandria city leaders presented a summary of the feedback received. In all, 179 people submitted complete responses using the online feedback form, most of whom lived in the 22314 area code. Voluntary demographic information collected indicated that most respondents were white, middle-aged or older and made more than $75,000 a year.
While more diverse groups were reached during early engagement for the plan, prior to COVID-19, many committee members expressed concern that not only were key segments of Alexandria’s population not represented in the feedback, but that there were so few responses from the public altogether.
Some committee members were concerned that the draft plan and feedback form were intimidating to anyone without a transportation background. It was suggested that the current timeline for the AMP, which could be presented to City Council in April 2021, be delayed in light of COVID-19 and another attempt to capture more feedback.
Common themes from feedback indicated that respondents were supportive of:
- Reducing vehicular congestion
- Creating improved safety and connections for more vulnerable street users
- Upgrading capabilities of the Traffic Management Center to manage traffic in real time
- Implementing smart signal technology
- Keeping traffic on highways and reducing regional, cut-through traffic
- Looking into utilizing waterways to increase transportation options
- Establish priorities for curb uses based on location
- Better management of on-street and off-street parking
- Reconsider parking requirements for new developments
Reponses were mixed when it came to a number of other draft strategies:
- Implementation of the City's Priority Transitway Corridors and Alexandria Transit Vision which seek to expand the DASH bus network.
- Evaluation of micro-transit and paratransit options.
- Autonomous vehicles
- Uncertainty on how street guidelines could be implemented
- Efforts to encourage people to use alternate forms of transportation and end educate them on mobility options
A number of new ideas and suggestions from respondents were highlighted as part of the presentation.
When discussion turned to incorporating the 2016 Pedestrian and Bicycle plan into the AMF, committee members presented differing points. Bill Rossello, who represented 20 Civic Associations through the Federation of Civic Associations, expressed concern that it has been seven years since public input was collected on the topic which, in an area with high turnover and lots of changes, mean older feedback may not be representative.
“Civic Associations and the non-cycling community should be able to provide input on the chapter [Pedestrian and Bicycle],” Rossello argued.
He said that while some civic associations in Del Ray and Braddock Road were supportive of the Pedestrian and Bicycle plan, many others had issues with certain aspects of it. While most can agree increased safety for pedestrians and cyclists is important, the impact on car drivers should be considered.
He pointed out Seminary Road as an example of built up resentment. He mentioned that only 1 percent of commuters ride their bikes and that 90 percent of Alexandria households own a car. He hoped a compromise could be reached for all road users.
Committee member Melissa McMahon argued that there is more overlap between the pedestrian, cycling, mass transit and drivers is larger than one might think based off of the divisive language used by both sides of the argument. “We’re all a big multimodal family here in Alexandria,” she said.
Another AMPAC meeting is scheduled for Dec. 9 to discuss the plan’s compatibility with other City plans and discuss proposed changes in the strategies based off of feedback. A complete draft of the AMP is currently expected in February 2021, with endorsements from various committees being sought in March before the draft is presented to the City Council in a public hearing in April.
Find out more about the AMP here.
