Alexandria City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance Tuesday night to permanently close the 200 block of King Street to vehicular traffic, following a pilot program that demonstrated overwhelming public support.
The ordinance, which passed 7-0, sets a public hearing and final vote for Saturday, Sept. 13. If approved, the permanent closure would take effect Oct. 1.
The proposal extends the city’s pedestrian zone from the existing car-free 100 block of King Street to include the stretch between Lee and Fairfax streets. The closure eliminates 16 metered parking spaces and one short-term visitor center space.
Strong community backing emerges
City staff conducted extensive outreach during the two-phase pilot program, which ran from November 2024 to January 2025 and again from March through September 2025.
“12 out of 16 businesses on the block now support the permanent pedestrianization of the block, up from seven last fall, and 87% of survey respondents also support doing so, up from just 55% this past winter,” said Max Devilliers, Urban Planner II with the city’s Department of Transportation & Environmental Services’ Mobility Services Division
The most recent survey drew 1,842 responses, with nearly 1,200 people saying there was nothing they disliked about the pilot program.
At the Traffic and Parking Board meeting in July, only two public speakers addressed the proposal, and both supported making the block permanently car-free.
Traffic impacts manageable
Traffic studies conducted before and during the pilot found that pedestrian volumes “overwhelmingly outnumbered vehicular volumes from 5 to 12 times as many” at the three studied intersections.
The closure resulted in a 35% increase in eastbound traffic and 32% increase in westbound traffic on parallel streets, including Cameron, Prince, and Duke. However, staff reported the increases were “fairly evenly dispersed” without creating congestion issues.
“Traffic studies conducted before and during both phases of the pilot found that pedestrian volumes overwhelmingly outnumbered vehicular volumes from 5 to 12 times as many at each of the three site intersections,” Devilliers said, calling this “an equitable allocation of city right of way.”
Addressing business concerns
Initial concerns about parking availability have diminished since the pilot began. Only 13% of survey respondents cited parking availability as a concern.
The city identified 13 publicly accessible parking garages and lots within a six-minute walk of the pedestrianized zone. Staff created a “where to park in Old Town” map to help direct drivers to available spaces.
City staff also added new and extended existing loading zones around the King and Fairfax intersection to accommodate deliveries, passenger pickup and drop-off, ride sharing, and other unloading activities.
Council discusses activation and design
Several council members emphasized the need for comprehensive planning to create a cohesive experience across all pedestrianized blocks.
“I’m going to support this. I think it is a great opportunity,” Mayor Alyia Gaskins said. “One area that concerns me, though, was the comment about not being able to do anything for the 200 block within our current plans. And I think that when you think about the experience you’re trying to create, you want it to be an experience, you want it to be cohesive.”
The city has provided bistro tables, chairs and planters for public seating and beautification. However, unlike the 100 block, the 200 block is not included in the Lower King Street waterfront improvement project, meaning any permanent streetscape design would require separate funding.
Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley suggested exploring alternative funding approaches. “This strikes me as like a really great opportunity for a public-private partnership, that this is outside of our budget for a grant-seeking opportunity,” she said.
Councilman Kirk McPike advocated for adding the 200 block to the city’s Capital Improvement Program. “I know we are loath to add things to the CIP, but we’re going to need a CIP project [for the] 200 block to do the sort of build out that we’re discussing here,” he said, noting that permanent improvements could address design issues like creating fixed seating areas.
Councilman John Chapman urged the council to seriously consider establishing a Business Improvement District to properly activate and program the expanded pedestrian area.
“I think council really needs to think deeply about how much we are interested in that,” Chapman said. “Because there is one thing that can do all of that, which is a BID… we have to think amongst our seven of us, what political will we’re willing to have, what the cost of that is going to be.”
Safety and accessibility considerations
Councilwoman Jacinta Greene raised concerns about pedestrian safety at the Fairfax and King intersection, noting she has observed near-misses involving tour groups and large buses.
“I have seen quite a few people almost get hit at the intersection of Fairfax and King, particularly when we have the large buses that drop off and the kids are barreling through that intersection,” Greene said.
Staff confirmed they are discussing additional improvements to make the pedestrian crossing “easier to understand and less confusing.”
Councilman Kirk McPike highlighted the need to address accessibility challenges, noting the 200 block has a “significantly steeper” grade than the 100 block.
Emergency access maintained
The city has coordinated with police and fire departments since the pilot’s beginning. Emergency services access the block from Lee Street, with lightweight metal barricades that can be moved if needed.
If permanent bollards are installed in the future, they would be designed with locks accessible to emergency departments, similar to other pedestrianized blocks.
Implementation timeline
The ordinance requires $200,000 for initial improvements, including new bollards, uniform platforms, and traffic signal changes. A more comprehensive streetscape redesign would need additional capital funding.
The permanent closure would result in approximately $50,000 in lost annual parking meter revenue, though staff noted nearby garages can accommodate the displaced parking demand.
Background
The proposed closure would extend Alexandria’s pedestrian zone that began with the 100 block closure in 2021, followed by the expansion to Waterfront Park in 2022. Both closures started as pilot programs during the COVID-19 pandemic before becoming permanent.
City Council first directed staff to explore the 200 block closure in September 2024, despite initial mixed reactions from local businesses.
The city approved the pilot program in November 2024, with the first phase launching during the holiday season. A second phase began in March and ran through September, with the city seeking public feedback on making the closure permanent.
The Traffic and Parking Board unanimously recommended approval at its July 28 meeting, and the Planning Commission found the closure consistent with the city’s master plan.
The full ordinance and supporting documents are available on the city’s website.
The public hearing and final vote are scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13, with the permanent closure taking effect Oct. 1 if approved.
