City Council eyes roadway transformation with new Duke Street Transitway Advisory Group

After more than 10 years in development, the high-capacity Duke Street Transitway is getting the show on the road.

The Alexandria City Council, at its meeting March 8, will vote on authorizing the city manager to appoint an Ad Hoc Duke Street Transitway Advisory Group. The nine-person body will spend the next year providing recommendations for corridor design alternatives, and will endorse a preferred alternative by spring 2023.

The new advisory group will be tasked with adopting or amending the 2012 Transit Corridors Feasibility Plan, which outlines the project below:

• It would create dedicated transit lanes in existing six-lane sections of Duke Street between Landmark Mall and Jordan Street and between Roth Street and Diagonal Road
• In the remaining section of Duke Street between Jordan Street and Roth Street, transit would operate in mixed flow
• A parallel off-corridor bicycle facility should be examined to accommodate bicyclists along Duke Street and improved pedestrian facilities would be provided at intersections and near transit stations
• Preliminary implementation should prioritize enhanced pedestrian safety and improvements at Taylor Run Parkway

The advisory group will be made up of nine members:

• Transportation commissioner
• Planning Commissioner
• Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities member or designee
• DASH Bus Riders Group member or designee
• Three at-large community representatives
• Representative of the development community
• Federation of Civic Associations member or designee