TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION

Issues

Nan's Notes

2013-03-14 Bob Garbacz from the City Transportation Department gave a presentation about possible changes to the lane configuration at the intersection of Seminary Road and Quaker Lane. This generated an emotional discussion about the negative impact of the increased traffic on our neighborhoods. Since no solution would “fix” all of the problems, SHA will have a subcommittee develop a plan/response. First meeting will be a 7pm on April 3 in the parish hall of Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill.

2013-02 The Board of Directors considered a suggestion that the entrance to the Virginia Theological Seminary on Seminary Road be moved so that it is across from Fort Williams Parkway. SHA’s Area 9 and VTS representatives queried and reported in March that moving the driveway that far was not planned; some residents were opposed because it would encourage cut through traffic from Duke Street to use Fort Williams Parkway. VTS did not see a need for it nor the added expense of a traffic light that City staff proposed would be warranted.

2012-09 Without explanation or SHA resident input, the City raised the speed limits on Quaker Lane to 35 mph in the residential areas and 30 mph in the business section between King Street and Shirlington.

2012-06 Twice this spring SHA members have asked the Board of Directors to discuss problems at the Seminary-Quaker-Janney’s Lane intersection because drivers are making crazy turning movements; for example, using the left turn lane from Seminary onto Quaker to go straight or to turn right on Quaker. City staff has yet to engage on this problem. The police are monitoring and will present information at a future meeting.

2012-06-16 The City’s plan for Corridor B Duke Street was approved by the High Capacity Transit Corridor Working Group, Transportation Commission, Planning Commission, and City Council. It will add another lane for cars in each direction in the stretch by Alexandria Commons shopping center (between Quaker Lane and Cambridge/Roth Street) but leave the rest of Duke Street as it is with maybe some bike facilities. No mention of improving pedestrian access, especially where needed at Taylor Run Parkway and Duke Street. The City is not planning to design this project until at least 2017.

2012-06-16 The City’s plan for Corridor A in Old Town was approved by the High Capacity Transit Corridor Working Group, Transportation Commission, Planning Commission, and City Council. It will add another lane for cars in each direction only between Potomac Yards and the Braddock Metro Station. A circulator bus/trolley is under study for the rest of the route between Braddock Metro Station and south to Fairfax County. The High Capacity Transit Working Group and the Transportation Commission will meet to rewrite the Master Transportation Plan to that effect.

2012-05-10 Poul Hertel gave his perspective on streetscapes and the inadequacy of the City’s concept of “complete streets” championed by Transportation Director Rich Baier. Poul is opposed to removing trees and green space to make additional lanes for car traffic. He advocates providing green space and trees to protect pedestrians from cars speeding by and to narrow the distance a pedestrian must navigate to cross a roadway. He also supports separate roadways for bikers not shared roadways with pedestrians.

2012-03 The City is proposing to change the speed limit on Quaker Lane, which could impact residents trying to get out of their driveways. The proposal is to change the speed limit on Quaker between King and Shirlington to 30 mph and to change the speed limit on the other side from King to Duke so that the whole stretch is 35 mph (near Lindsay Cadillac it is now 25 mph). Lots of confusion about who made the request, why the City would designate part of Quaker at 30 mph when the City does not use this number on any other road it owns, etc. Bob Garbacz of the City Transportation staff is the contact: 703-746-4143 and Bob.Garbacz@alexandriava.gov.

2012-03-08 SHA was briefed on the City’s proposal to add more lanes at the Braddock-King-Quaker intersection (dysfunction junction). Bob Garbacz from the Alexandria Office of Transportation and Environmental Services noted that staff, citizens, and a consultant had looked at six alternatives to see if any improved flow in the intersection. Staff chose one that involves minimal change; only dual left lanes from King Street east onto Braddock Road (between Apple House and the Shell gas station) and from King Street west onto Quaker Lane. The proposal also calls for a partial closure of the King Street service road at Quaker Lane—by the Sunoco gas station—as well as another traffic signal at the entrance to the Bradlee Shopping Center (on the service road that is now a three-way stop sign intersection). Construction may start in January 2015 and would take 12 months.

2012-03-15 The High Capacity Transit Corridor Working Group approved a recommendation for Corridor B (Duke Street) that includes widening Duke Street between Cambridge and Quaker Lane and completing bike facilities. This recommendation and the one on Corridor A may be heard by the Planning Commission on June 5. The working group will no longer meet.

2012-02-09 The City is proposing improvements to the Braddock-King-Quaker intersection and staff will present the plans at SHA’s March meeting.

2012-02-09 The High Capacity Transit Corridor Working Group continues to discuss the widening of Duke Street between Cambridge and Quaker Lane. Residents have written asking for pedestrian improvements to cross Duke Street and measures to prevent cut-through traffic on neighborhood streets. The Working Group will likely make a decision on this corridor in March.

2012-01-19 The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group discussed further the widening Duke Street between Cambridge and Quaker Lane. Residents wanted pedestrian improvements to cross Duke Street and measures to prevent cut-through traffic on neighborhood streets. The need for a center turn lane between Wheeler and Jordan was mentioned but no one appeared willing to give up their service roads. Connectivity at the ends of Duke Street—in Fairfax County or to Old Town—is undetermined.

2012-01-12 A number of Representatives for Areas 1, 4, and 9 all complained about the increase in traffic on Quaker Lane and the difficulty of getting out of driveways onto the roadway.

2011-12-15 The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group passed a resolution on Corridor A in Old Town so that the residents will NOT have a high capacity transit way. Circulator busses to the Metro stops were deemed the best way to meet transportation needs. The process for the approval of nothing will be spread out over several months instead of four meetings in one month as was done for the approval of Corridor C. The non-plan for Corridor A will be approved with whatever plan is chosen for Corridor B so that the City has a comprehensive plan providing connectivity for all. Both Councilman Paul Smedberg and Rob Krupicka attended and voted.

2011-11-17 The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group meeting on Corridor B not contentious. Surprisingly, the consultant said widening Duke Street to take away the service roads would not improve flow. The group did discuss widening Duke Street between King Street and Quaker Lane. Not clear what that would do to traffic on Quaker—perhaps bring more in the morning and move it faster in the evening. Both Council Members Del Pepper and Frank Fannon attended.

2011-12 An Area 4 resident complained about cars blocking the box on Quaker Lane at Sterling Avenue. Abi Lerner, in the City’s Transportation & Environmental Services Department was contacted but has not reported back.

2011-09-15 The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group looked at Corridor A in Old Town and heard from residents.

2011-09 Despite public opposition and without really knowing what they were approving, the Transportation Commission (Sep 7), Planning Commission (Sep 8), and City Council (Sep 17) approved the implementation of the High Capacity Transit Corridor on Van Dorn and Beauregard Streets. This means bus rapid transit in dedicated lanes on Beauregard and Van Dorn Streets that might become streetcars some day. Yet to be determined: where it starts and ends and whether it is 6 or 8 lanes (see complete streets graphic). Nan sent her concerns about the faulty methodology that came up with this plan to the commissions and Council. No origin destination studies were done and no busses actually run on Corridor C today!

2011-08-08 The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group appears to have lost its focus and is rushing to finish. The Group spent seven months looking at one corridor and now plans to finish the other two in about three months, meanwhile moving the plans for the first corridor forward without knowing what will be done in the other two corridors. This piecemeal process contradicts once of the work group overall goals to build a new system to transport citizens around their City. The Beauregard/Van Dorn Corridor may get a street car while Old Town may get trolleys or circulator busses. Nan Jennings reiterated her concerns about the faulty methodology of the process that will result in faulty plans, especially since no origin destination studies were done on the Beauregard/Van Dorn route and no busses actually run on that route today!

2011-07-21 The recommendation of the High Capacity Transit Corridor Working Group for Corridor C (Beauregard and Van Dorn) bus rapid transit in designated lanes is scheduled to go to City Council on September 17. The Working Group is now looking at options for Corridor B (Duke Street and/or Eisenhower Avenue) and Corridor A (somewhere in Old Town). Nan is concerned that:

City staff is using a faulty methodology that cannot result in good recommendations. No origin destination studies were done of any of the transit routes.
The purview of the Working Group is changing; for example, the Working Group was only allowed to discuss the mode of transportation for Corridor C—not the route—but for Corridors B and A, the routes are to be determined as well as the modes. The City will not get a unified transit system by this piecemeal process.

2011-07 Plans to add additional left turn lanes at the intersection of Beauregard and King Streets are moving forward despite complaints by local merchants (in particular Five Guys and a doctor’s office) that they will lose all of their parking spaces.

2011-05-19 The High Capacity Transit Working Group passed a recommendation to City Council that Beauregard Street be widened—which means 1.7 miles of trees will be cut down—to build dedicated lanes for busses. Since City Council voted against cutting down less than a half mile of trees so a road/ramp could be built into the Mark Center from I-395, why will they even consider this? Note: the main gridlock problems in the corridor are caused by the configuration of Seminary Road and the limited number of accesses into Mark Center not traffic trying to pass through Beauregard. Stop the madness!

2011-04-14 The City has no one engaged on traffic calming for helicopters. Report any complaints so to the FAA at (703) 413-0333.

2011-03-17 The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group discussed four options for transit on Beauregard and Van Dorn Streets. The information given by the consultant about cost was minimal and incomplete. The Working Group continues to ask for information about trip origin-destination (who will ride this new system) and cost. Council Member Rob Krupicka urged the group to choose one of these options at the next meeting and move on to discussions about another corridor. Public comments were generally opposed to any of the options.

2011-02-10 A resident of Area 6 asked for information about helicopter traffic over Seminary Hill; both volume and how close the vehicles are flying. City T&ES staff Julius Holmes investigated and said to report complaints to the FAA at (703) 413-0333.

2011-02-10 Area 6 Rep Glenn Eugster said a number of Marlboro Estates residents had concerns about the speed and volume of traffic on West Braddock Road and that it was difficult to turn out of the neighborhood onto Wests Braddock Road. Deputy Police Chief Hassan Aden will work with the neighborhood.

2011-01-20 The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group is discussing plans for a streetcar on Beauregard. The Working Group was given a planned route that the developers and City staff have agreed on and was not allowed to change the route. The Working Group had to choose three modes for further study before it had additional information, such as the total cost of each mode including operation and acquisition. The Working Group continues to ask for information about trip origin-destination (who will ride this new system) and how this system would impact current and future levels of traffic in the corridor. Both Council Member Paul Smedberg and Transportation & Environmental Services head Rich Baier spoke in favor of pressing the process forward regardless of the dearth of information. Staff and contractor findings are posted on the City website http://alexandriava.gov/HighCapacityTransit. The next meeting is on March17, 7pm, at the John Adams Elementary School cafeteria.

2010-12 The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group has met twice and is exploring the concept of putting streetcars in the main transportation corridors as defined by the City’s Master Transportation Plan. The next meeting of the group is on January 20 at 7 pm in the Magnolia Room of the Hilton Alexandria Hotel at Mark Center.

2010-12-06 The City is still studying plans to institute a Residential Permit Parking Program in the West End and has asked for comments on four proposals found at the City website http://www1.alexandriava.gov/tes/info/default.aspx?id=42458. These proposals would impact Seminary Hill residents in Areas 5 and 8 (Seminary Road and south between the Hospital and I-395). The City is asking for opinions about the boundaries of the permit parking zones, the day and time it applies, and what is required for a vehicle to be eligible to park in the zone. Currently, the City charges $30 annually for one sticker, $40 for two, and $100 for each additional parking sticker. Visitor stickers can be purchased at City Hall.

2010-12-06 The President of Clover-College Park Civic Association, Ann Tucker, asked SHA to support a traffic calming petition for Trinity Drive. The SHA Board voted to support a study of traffic problems on Trinity to determine what if any traffic calming measures were warranted.

2010-12-06 After a traffic study, City staff concluded that the intersection at Fort Williams Parkway and Duke Street did not merit a traffic light.

2010-09-23 The City is studying a request from one citizen to put a traffic light at the intersection of Fort Williams Parkway and Duke Street. Bob Garbacz of the City’s T&ES reported back that the volume of traffic did not warrant a light. Deputy Chief Aden will review the six reported accidents there to see what the problem might be. In the past, residents in Areas 4 and 9 have opposed traffic lights on Fort Williams Parkway because it would encourage cut-through traffic. A petition against a traffic light there may be circulating in those areas.

2010-08 Police have been very busy on W. Braddock Road between Quaker Lane and N. Van Dorn Street this summer. They have staffed several weeks of intense speed enforcement resulting in numerous traffic tickets. They will continue this enforcement as school begins and periodically throughout the year.

2010-05-26 SPEAK UP ABOUT TRAFFIC--The Commonwealth Transportation Board is asking for citizen input on their 6-year plan. It will hold an open house in northern Virginia on May 26 from 6-7 p.m. with a chance to speak at 7 at Fairfax Hall, 10455 Armstrong Street. Also, send recommendations by June 11 to drptpr@drpt.virginia.gov.

2010-04-22 The Northern VA Streetcar Coalition met chaired by Tim Lovaine held a panel including speakers from the area: Steve Daljudis says Arlington plans to build the Columbia Pike 2016 and Crystal City 2010 lines in 5 years with federal funding, Rich Baier & Abi Lerner said Alexandria is talking with Congress Moran about funding a feasibility study focused on Potomac Yard and then West End, Leonard Wolfenstein reported that Fairfax has no plans for street cars and sees the Metro silver line, HOT Lanes, and toll roads as the solution. The current economic/political situation now favors street cars over BRT per Tim Lovaine.

2010-03-31 The City must prepare a Transportation Demand Management plan for the State of Virginia, so the City’s Department of Transportation & Environmental Services hired Cambridge Systematics in Bethesda MD for $100,000 to survey citizens and civic groups. Project manager is Agnes Muszynska amuszynska@camsys.com.

2010-01-14: The Episcopal High School CFO Boota de Butts reported to the SHA Board of Directors that the City denied the school’s request to have cross walks at its West Braddock pedestrian gate. It has applied for a blinking light and considering moving its pedestrian access to the stoplight at Marlee Way and West Braddock Road.

Links

Braddock-King-Quaker study http://alexandriava.gov/tes/info/default.aspx?id=6568

Mark Center (BRAC) study http://alexandriava.gov/tes/info/default.aspx?id=6568

VDOT 6-Year Plan http://www.virginiadot.org/newsroom/statewide/2010/commonwealth_seeks_input_on46344.asp

2008 Transportation Master Plan http://alexandriava.gov/tes/info/default.aspx?id=3088