The fight over the future of S. Pickett Street will rage on tonight (Thursday).
A virtual open house allowing attendees to “ask questions and talk with the project team” has been scheduled for 7 p.m., according to the city’s Department of Transportation and Environmental Services.
The information session comes nearly three months after the city’s Traffic and Parking Board supported recommendations for the project, which would impact S. Pickett Street from Duke Street down to Edsall Road.
One lane traveling in each direction on the roadway would be removed to “create space for other important roadway features,” according to the plan — such as bike lanes and curb extensions, among others.
Other changes recommended by the board include:
- Add new median space to be used as a left-turn lane or a pedestrian refuge at various points along the corridor to simplify left turns, calm traffic, improve pedestrian safety, and provide opportunities for green space
- Preserve travel lanes at the approaches to Duke Street and Edsall Road to minimize vehicle delay
- Convert the through-left lane to a left-only lane on the eastbound approach of South Pickett Street and Edsall Road
- Add new crosswalks at key locations to improve access for people walking and wheeling
- Install protected bicycle lanes to provide a dedicated space for people biking and scooting and to calm traffic
- Install bus boarding islands to improve bus boarding and alighting and mitigate conflicts between people biking and people riding the bus
- Install painted curb extensions at key locations to reduce pedestrian crossing distance, improve sightlines, and reduce turning speeds.
- Reduce up to 10 on-street parking spaces at select locations to allow appropriate sight distance for a new crosswalk, provide a continuous bike lane through the intersection of South Pickett Street and Edsall Road, and better align the travel lanes
- Implement No Turn on Red restrictions at all signalized intersections to reduce conflicts between users and allow for Leading Pedestrian Intervals to be installed to enhance pedestrian safety
- Reduce the speed limit from 35 MPH to 25 MPH to improve safety for all roadway users
One week after the board’s approval, however, residents held an “emergency town hall” over concerns that the changes would trigger increased traffic on Cameron Station Blvd, located nearby.
Residents also filed a petition to challenge the board’s decision with the City Council, with a decision expected at a public hearing this fall, according to the city.
Attendees can access the Zoom link for Thursday’s meeting via the city’s website.
