City council members may vote on whether to close another block of King Street to vehicular traffic.
The pedestrian zone in the 100 block and unit block of King Street has largely been a success, since it closed permanently in 2021.
Now, Mayor Justin Wilson and Council Member John Taylor Chapman are pushing forward with their proposal to also close the 200 block of King Street, between Fairfax and Lee streets. City council had asked city staff to explore the option in September of this year.
The Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board has recommended to city council that the city move forward with the pedestrian zone plan. The block includes restaurants, retail and residences, including the Alexandria Visitor's Center. There are 17 parking spaces on the block, including one reserved for 15-minute Visitor's Center parking.
A pilot program closure would start during the holiday season. According to information from the Traffic and Parking Board, "Phase 1 will cover the upcoming holiday season and run from November 22, 2024, to January 6, 2025. The block would be reopened for the remainder of January and February during colder weather to allow for tweaks to the closure and address issues that arose during this first phase. The second phase closure would begin in the spring and run through early January 2026. This would allow time for more robust community engagement and if a permanent closure was supported, Council could take official action in Fall 2025 prior to expiration of Phase 2."
City staff would evaluate how the closure affects traffic and parking on nearby streets. While the Traffic and Parking Board recommended the garage under city hall as a parking solution, that garage is set for major renovations in 2026.
