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Notes: Alexandria traffic board to review Jordan Street safety changes, new taxicab company

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Monday, Sept. 15, the 258th day of 2025. There are 107 days left in the year.

🌤️ Today’s weather: Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Light northeast wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph. Mostly cloudy tonight, with a low around 63. Northeast wind around 8 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

🚨 You need to know

The Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board will consider significant changes to Jordan Street corridor safety measures and evaluate a new taxicab company application during its public hearing Monday evening.

The 7 p.m. meeting at City Hall Council Chambers will address proposed modifications to Jordan Street between Holmes Run Parkway and North Howard Street, including the removal of up to 16 parking spaces and the addition of bike lanes and pedestrian safety features.

The Jordan Street project, developed after community safety requests, would establish stop-control at South Jordan Street and Venable Avenue and add pedestrian refuge islands at key intersections. Over 60 crashes have occurred on the corridor since 2017, with nearly a third resulting in injury and one fatality, according to city data.

“The 85th percentile speed is between 26-28 MPH,” with top speeds reaching 40-44 MPH on the 25 MPH corridor, staff reported. Community feedback ranked safer crossings, lower speeds, and dedicated bike facilities as top priorities.

The board will also review an application from City Cab LLC for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to operate 180 taxicabs throughout the city. The driver-owned cooperative would be the fifth taxicab company in Alexandria.

Existing companies have raised concerns about the new application, with King Cab Company arguing it could harm established services and noting the proposed black-and-blue color scheme too closely resembles their black-and-yellow vehicles.

Additional agenda items include:

Street modifications:

  • Travel lane changes on Franklin and Gibbon streets at South Patrick Street
  • Intersection improvements at King Street and North Beauregard Street
  • Parking removal for pedestrian safety on Jamieson Avenue

City Code amendments:

  • Enhanced food truck enforcement with higher fines for violations outside designated zones
  • Reduced taxicab company requirements, lowering minimum affiliated vehicles from 40 to 10

The meeting will be held in person at 301 King Street and virtually via Zoom. Public registration is required at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_igAHaBzzQduiYQQoYzt15w.

Comments can be submitted at the meeting or emailed to [email protected] by 3 p.m. Monday. The full docket is available on the city website.

What else to know

Pupatella opens today: Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza opens its doors today at 700 Slaters Lane in Old Town North after more than two years of planning and redevelopment. The Alexandria location marks the 12th for the pizza chain founded by Naples native Enzo Algarme, joining nine Virginia locations, one in Maryland, and two in Washington, D.C.

King Street closure approved: Alexandria City Council unanimously voted Saturday to permanently close the 200 block of King Street to vehicular traffic, extending the city’s pedestrian zone after a successful pilot program. The 7-0 vote makes the closure effective immediately, eliminating 16 metered parking spaces.

Historic marker unveiled: The City of Alexandria unveiled a Virginia State Historic marker Saturday commemorating Colored Rosemont, a thriving African American neighborhood that existed from 1926 until it was dismantled in the mid-20th century through discriminatory housing policies. The ceremony took place near the intersection of Wythe and West streets.

📈 Weekend’s most read

The following were the most-read ALXnow articles over the weekend (Sept. 13-14).

  1. Alexandria-based defense contractor to add 1,200 jobs in $46.9M expansion
  2. Youngkin orders election security changes one week before early voting begins
  3. Teen charged with armed robbery on Metro train in Alexandria
  4. Alexandria City Council approves permanent closure of 200 block of King Street
  5. Ken Burns to preview ‘American Revolution’ documentary at Mount Vernon Oct. 29

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  • 6-7 p.m.: Horror Fans Unite! – A horror club! at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
  • 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Yoga At The Library – with Human Kind Yoga Collective at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library (This event is full)

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About the Author

  • Ryan Belmore is a journalist based in Alexandria, Virginia. He served as Publisher of ALXnow from March to October 2025. He can be reached at [email protected].