Alexandria City Council will vote Tuesday on permanently closing the 200 block of King Street to vehicular traffic, following a pilot program that drew overwhelming public support.
The ordinance, which will receive its first reading at Tuesday’s meeting, would make the closure permanent beginning Oct. 1. A public hearing and final vote are scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13.
The proposal follows a two-phase pilot that temporarily closed the block between Lee and Fairfax streets from November 2024 to January 2025, and again from March to September 2025.
Strong public support
An online survey conducted in July drew 1,842 responses, with 87% supporting permanent pedestrianization. Among businesses on the block, 12 of 16 owners expressed support for the permanent closure.
“The pedestrianization of the Unit and 100 blocks of King Street has been well received by the community and the businesses on those blocks and the extension to the 200 block is a natural continuation of this pedestrianized space,” wrote Michael Moon, interim director of Transportation and Environmental Services, in a memo to council.
Visit Alexandria President and CEO Todd B. O’Leary also has endorsed the proposal in a letter to the council, calling the existing pedestrian areas “a defining feature of Old Town” and expressing confidence that the 200 block “will help build the critical mass needed to further energize that area of the city.”
Traffic and parking impacts minimal
Traffic studies found that closing the 200 block resulted in a 35% increase in eastbound traffic and 32% increase in westbound traffic on parallel streets, including Cameron, Prince, and Duke. However, the increases were “fairly evenly dispersed” and did not create congestion issues, according to city staff.
The closure eliminated 16 metered parking spaces and one short-term space near the Visitor Center, resulting in about $50,000 in lost annual meter revenue. Staff noted that nearby garages can accommodate the lost spaces.
Pedestrian volumes “overwhelmingly outnumbered vehicular volumes—from five to twelve times as many” at studied intersections, demonstrating an “equitable allocation of City right-of-way,” the traffic study found.
Implementation costs
If approved, the city estimates needing about $200,000 for improvements, including new bollards, uniform platforms, and traffic signal changes. A more comprehensive streetscape redesign would require additional funding through the capital improvement process.
Unlike the Unit and 100 blocks of King Street, which will receive permanent improvements as part of the Lower King Street waterfront project, the 200 block is not included in those plans.
Opposition remains
Despite broad support, three businesses and two residents on the block continue to oppose the permanent closure. Concerns include delivery difficulties, perceived lack of need for another car-free block, and increased noise from buskers and visitors.
City staff addressed some issues during the pilot, including working with Swifts Alley residents to reduce cut-through traffic and creating new loading zones around the King and Fairfax intersection.
Background
The proposed closure would extend Alexandria’s pedestrian zone that began with the Unit block closure in 2022 and the 100 block closure in 2021. Both previous closures followed similar pilot programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The city approved the 200 block pilot program in November 2024 after initial mixed reactions from local businesses.
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.
If approved on Tuesday, the ordinance would take effect immediately following final passage on Sept. 13 and the closure would be permanent beginning Oct. 1.
