“No turn on red” restrictions are coming to all traffic signals in greater Old Town after a vote by the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board Monday (Oct. 26).
On a motion by member Dane Lauritzen, the board voted 5-1 to approve “no turn on red” restrictions between First Street to the north, the city limits to the south, the Potomac River to the east and railroad tracks to the west. There are about 100 signalized intersections within the project area, and about half already have red light turn restrictions.
The Traffic and Parking Board, which makes the final decision regarding “no turn on red” restrictions, directed the city’s Department of Transportation and Environmental Services to install signage. The board also approved the same restrictions for the Mount Vernon Avenue and Glebe Road intersection and Quaker Lane, Janney’s Lane and Seminary Road intersection.
Christopher Wilk, who frequently walks King Street, testified to the board that the area has plenty of foot traffic and drivers “in a hurry.”
“I think it would be safe to just all around have the whole area no right on red,” Wilk said. “The drivers making turns on right on red lights are always a source of unpredictability, and when we have so many people coming from all over the world, all over America to this particular place we want to be as predictable and safe as possible.”
City staff reported 121 of the city’s 318 pedestrian crashes from 2020 to 2025 happened in greater Old Town and Carlyle east of the railroad tracks. Seventy-three of these were at signalized intersections — 12% of which involved right turns on red and 56% involved left turns on green.
Alex Carroll, the city’s Complete Streets program manager, told the board the broad restrictions across Old Town are intended to be “proactive.” The board has previously approved “no turn on red” restrictions for individual intersections.
“We have taken more of a piecemeal approach to ‘no turn on reds’ in the past but at the same time … severe crashes are going up,” Carroll said. “They’re becoming a greater proportion of total crashes and so if we really want to make progress on these goals that City Council has adopted that we do have to think more holistically about how we’re improving safety rather than just trying to be reactive all the time.”
City staff did not indicate timing of installation for the Old Town “no turn on red” signage.
The board’s approval also incorporates leading pedestrian intervals for the signalized intersections. Those signals allow pedestrians to get a head start on crossing while traffic is stopped, which city staff says can improve visibility of pedestrians, reduce conflicts between drivers and pedestrians and increase likelihood of yielding to pedestrians.
Image via Julian Gentile/Unsplash
