Responses to the online survey regarding upcoming changes to the Duke Street corridor resulted in more questions than answers for city officials.
Throughout the late summer and early fall, city officials asked residents to attend meetings, watch an online video, provide feedback at pop-up events and answer an online survey regarding current and possible future uses of Duke Street. City officials are considering Bus Rapid Transit along the corridor from the old Landmark Mall to the King Street Metro, along with other changes such as wider, safer sidewalks and bike lanes.
The 6th Duke Street In Motion Advisory Group will take place on November 17 at 6:30 PM at Alexandria Police Department headquarters (3600 Wheeler Ave.), Room 106. This meeting will focus on discussing the October public engagement feedback. There will be a public comment period at the end of the meeting. Members of the public are welcome to attend virtually or in-person.
Feedback Results Mixed
More than 1,200 people responded to the online survey, but several groups were underrepresented in the answers, including renters, people under the age of 35, bus riders and non-English speakers. That may make results difficult to rely on going forward.
- 78% percent of respondents were white
- 51% reported an annual income of $150,000 or more
- 84% were homeowners
- 77% said they ride the bus ‘a few times a year or less’
The reported noted that few questions had truly consensus results from the public and there were significant differences in responses to each question depending on demographics.
For example, 69% of those who attended pop-up events this fall answered ‘yes’ to “Do you think it's important to make the bus faster and more reliable even if that means it take slightly longer by car?” But the online poll results showed that 53% of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement, “It is important to make buses faster and more reliable, even if it means it takes slightly more time for people in cars (a few additional minutes during rush hours).”
Still, the survey was able to make a few determinations. According to city officials who released feedback results:
People who ride the bus “sometimes or regularly” changes that favor bus speed are more in favor of over vehicle travel time or residential service roads, as well as green space and walking spaces, than those who rarely or never ride the bus.
- "Renters are more in favor of changes that improve bus speed over vehicle travel time or residential service roads, as well as green space and walking spaces than homeowners."
- "People who live on or near Duke Street are less likely to support changes that improve bus speed or add green space or walking spaces but change residential service roads or increase vehicle travel time than those who visit or travel through Duke Street."
- "More information on the project is www.alexandriava.gov/DukeInMotion. Residents can register for the virtual meeting on Nov. 16 here as well as see complete survey results."
