A contentious proposal to remove on-street parking between the 400 and 800 blocks of Russell Road is heading to Alexandria’s Traffic and Parking Board tonight (Monday).
The recommendations would remove on-street parking in the area around Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School (600 Russell Road) and create “painted curb extensions, high-visibility crosswalk markings, and improved ADA curb ramps at six intersections on Russell Road, and a new pedestrian crossing at West Chapman Street.”
Specifically, the board will consider:
- Removal of one on-street parking space on the 800 block of Russell Road,
- Addition of two on-street parking spaces on the 600 block of Russell Road,
- Removal of one on-street parking space on the 500 block of Russell Road, and
- Removal of two on-street parking spaces on the 400 block of Russell Road.
The recommendations were made after the city conducted a Safe Routes to School walk audit and found that two people were injured in eight traffic crashes along the corridor since 2017.
However, dozens of residents publicly complained to the city that Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School does not have a staff parking lot.
“Naomi Brooks ES is one of the few schools in the city without a staff parking lot,” one resident wrote. “Removing all on‑street parking within immediate proximity leaves teachers and support staff with no viable place to park within a 3‑block radius.”
Another commenter wrote that removing parking spaces will negatively impact teachers at the school relying on street parking, and that removing parking on Russell will force side-street parking.
“The city should ensure that any parking assessments are done during the school year and during hours when teachers are parked,” the commenter wrote.
More than seven in 10 residents expressed support for the project in the city’s public outreach from May 21 to June 17 on the conceptual designs. The Russell Road plan has the backing of the Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Washington Area Bicyclists Association.
“As a nearby resident and frequent pedestrian, I often feel uncomfortable walking on Russell Road due to the speed of traffic and the close proximity of moving vehicles,” one resident wrote. “Even when using the existing sidewalks, the corridor feels designed primarily for vehicle movement rather than for people walking to school, transit, or nearby destinations.”
The news also comes two months after a divided City Council upheld the Traffic and Parking Board’s decision to replace on-street parking with bike lanes on Braddock Road between Mount Vernon Avenue and Russell Road in 2028.
If approved, the Russell Road changes would take place in 2027 as the city will repave Russell Road.
