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New report looks at next year in Alexandria streetscape changes

East Abingdon Drive currently vs with a bike lane (image via City of Alexandria)

A report on Alexandria’s Complete Streets program highlighted work done over the last year and a peek ahead at new bike lanes, sidewalks, trail improvements and more.

The Complete Streets presentation (starting with slide 36) is headed to the Transportation Commission on Wednesday, Oct. 18, alongside a report on the city’s Vision Zero project and Safe Routes to Schools.

The look at what’s ahead included numerous trail and intersection improvements being worked on over the next year.

Among the projects on the docket for FY 2024 is the Old Cameron Run Trail: a planned shared-use path to connect the southern part of the Carlyle neighborhood to southern Old Town.

“This project will help address a major gap in the City’s trail system and provide a key link in the bicycle and pedestrian transportation system,” the project website said. “The goal of this project is to create a more direct and conflict-free connection for people walking and biking between the Eisenhower East and Southwest Quadrant neighborhoods.”

Design for the trail has been ongoing since 2020 and is scheduled to continue into 2025, with construction starting in spring 2025 and lasting until summer 2028.

The look-ahead also includes Mount Vernon Trail improvements at East Abingdon Drive, which could include replacing one lane of the street with bike lanes. The work plan for the upcoming year also included overall Mount Vernon Trail access improvements.

The King/Callahan/Russell Intersection Improvements also made an appearance. The project aims to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety at the intersection near the George Washington Masonic Memorial. The project started last month.

More safety improvements are planned along King Street, with a new sidewalk and bike lanes considered near the Bradlee Shopping Center.

Complete Streets work plan for FY 2024 (image via City of Alexandria)

The report also provided a look back at work done in FY 2023, including:

  • 300+ linear feet of new sidewalk
  • 90+ new or upgraded crosswalks
  • 33+ intersections with added safety treatments
  • 100+ bike racks installed citywide
  • 1,800 linear feet of new or improved bike lanes

The report noted that some of that work included filling in missing sidewalk connections near George Washington Middle School and near NOVA Community College. The report said this year also saw the debut of the city’s “first contraflow bike lane” — a bike lane that runs counter to the flow of traffic.