Alexandria’s Traffic and Parking Board approved changes to major streets, including Eisenhower Avenue, that safety advocates hope can save lives.
On Monday, the Traffic and Parking Board approved changes to Eisenhower Avenue that would reduce the speed limit, implement no turn on red restrictions, and several other changes — particularly near the Van Dorn Metro station.
In addition to reducing the posted speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph from Van Dorn to the Telegraph/Van Dorn Bridge, the changes also include:
• Remove the southbound left-turn lane on southbound Van Dorn Street at Eisenhower Avenue
• Remove the westbound left-turn lanes on westbound Eisenhower Avenue at Van Dorn Street
• Remove one eastbound Eisenhower Avenue travel lane between Van Dorn Street and Metro Road
• Remove the westbound Eisenhower Avenue right-turn lane and travel lane between Metro Road and Van Dorn Street Metro
• Remove one general purpose travel lane in each direction between Van Dorn Metro and Holmes Run Trail
• Add up to 200 metered parking spaces on Eisenhower Avenue between Van Dorn Metro and Holmes Run Trail
• Remove one westbound left-turn lane at intersection of Eisenhower Avenue and Clermont Connector
• Implement No Turn on Red restrictions for all signalized intersection approaches
During the meeting, several community members — many of them from a group called Alexandria Families for Safe Streets — spoke in favor of the changes.
“It’s a great way to improve safety,” said Dane Lauritzen. “It’s absolutely awful that we have maps prepared by city staff saying here are where all the severe crashes, here’s where someone’s been hurt, here’s where someone was killed at this intersection — and yet, people still have to bike along this section because it’s the only east-west area that connects the west end to Old Town or Eisenhower or Carlyle.”
Mike Doyle, President of the group, said the change down to 25 miles per hour should be implemented as soon as possible.
“This could reduce speed, which will save lives,” said Doyle. “We’re talking about one if not two, fatalities or serious injuries. That can happen right away.”
The Traffic and Parking Board unanimously voted to recommend the changes.
The Board also approved a series of other changes, including the same speed limit reduction on South Pickett Street between Duke Street and Edsall Road and the removal of one travel lane on Holland Lane in each direction.
“We think it’s a great idea to implement this as quickly as possible,” Lauritzen said about the traffic calming on Eisenhower. “Hopefully it will save a life.”
Image via Google Maps
