Complete Streets

Alexandria’s Complete Streets Program sparks debate at Agenda: Alexandria forum

Published March 24, 2025 at 9:10PM | Updated March 25, 2025 at 10:30AM

Dane Lauritzen, Alex Carroll, Kanti Srikanth, Carter Flemming, and Rod Kuckro. (Photo by Ryan Belmore)

Alexandria’s Complete Streets program continues to spark debate among residents, with some praising its safety benefits while others criticize its impact on traffic flow. The issue took center stage at the Lyceum during an Agenda: Alexandria forum on Monday, March 24, where panelists representing various perspectives discussed the merits and challenges of the city’s approach to street design.

Complete Streets is a national movement adopted by over 1,500 communities across the United States, including Alexandria. The concept aims to design roadways that safely accommodate all users – pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and transit riders.

News

Pedestrian improvements proposed for four intersections along Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria

By James Cullum

Published April 26, 2024 at 1:30PM

Proposed roadway changes along Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria (via City of Alexandria)

Medians, reduced crossing distances and curb extensions are just a few of the roadway changes being proposed for four intersections with Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria.

The preferred design options are meant to improve mobility, safety and access issues at the intersections of Mount Vernon Avenue at Glebe Road, Russell Road, Executive Avenue, and Four Mile Road. The options will be presented at the Traffic and Parking Board’s April 29 public hearing.

News

New report looks at next year in Alexandria streetscape changes

By Vernon Miles

Published October 16, 2023 at 3:55PM

East Abingdon Drive currently vs with a bike lane (image via City of Alexandria)

A report on Alexandria’s Complete Streets program highlighted work done over the last year and a peek ahead at new bike lanes, sidewalks, trail improvements and more.

The Complete Streets presentation (starting with slide 36) is headed to the Transportation Commission on Wednesday, Oct. 18, alongside a report on the city’s Vision Zero project and Safe Routes to Schools.

News

City emphasizes ‘targeted feedback’ on Complete Streets program

By Vernon Miles

Published November 22, 2021 at 1:15PM

In a meeting with the Transportation Commission, city staff said earlier reporting about the city axing the city-wide feedback form for the Complete Streets program sounded “scary”, emphasizing instead that the city will be focusing on feedback more local to the affected areas.

Quick refresher: Complete Streets is an Alexandria program that aims to redesign roadways for the benefit of all users, with pedestrians and cyclists in mind along with motorists. The program stirred up some local controversy over plans to reduce travel lanes on Seminary Road in favor of bike lanes.

News

City considers axing Complete Streets feedback form

By Vernon Miles

Published November 16, 2021 at 1:15PM

In the midst of everything else that’s happened over the last year, the Seminary Road debate can feel like a relic of another age, but there was a time when the Complete Streets program was at the center of a community-wide debate.

Complete Streets is an Alexandria program that aims to redesign roadways for the benefit of all users, with pedestrians and cyclists in mind along with motorists. The program stirred up some local controversy over plans to reduce travel lanes on Seminary Road in favor of bike lanes. A form put out by the city allowed locals to weigh in on street resurfacing.

News

Alexandria looking for feedback on proposed North Beauregard Street repaving

By Vernon Miles

Published March 11, 2021 at 11:30AM | Updated March 11, 2021 at 8:11PM

Update at 4:50 p.m. — A spokesperson for the City of Alexandria said the city is not “proposing” bike lanes, but that bike lanes are one of several options being considered for North Beauregard Street.

T&ES feels the article is still misleading and not providing accurate information. We request you change the headline to reflect the actual input we are asking from the community.

News

Public Meeting Planned to Discuss ‘Complete Streets’ Changes on King Street

By Vernon Miles

Published February 4, 2020 at 2:20PM | Updated February 4, 2020 at 2:38PM

The Rosemont community is planning to meet on Thursday to discuss complete streets and traffic issues in the neighborhood.

The meeting is scheduled to include a discussion of the city’s plans for pedestrian safety and congestion problems at some busy local intersections. It’s scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Commonwealth Baptist Church (700 Commonwealth Avenue).

News

City Starts to Eye New Roads for Complete Streets Transformation

By Vernon Miles

Published January 22, 2020 at 11:35AM

Even while the debate still rages on over the Seminary Road diet, the City of Alexandria is looking at other locations that could be altered to be more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly.

Several streets are scheduled for repaving, which the city uses as an opportunity to look at which ones could benefit the most from being redesigned with safety in mind, to align with the city’s Vision Zero plan — though some have questioned whether the redesigns make the streets safer.

News

More Work on Seminary Road This Spring If the State Will Pony Up the Cash

By Vernon Miles

Published December 5, 2019 at 2:00PM

As part of its controversial efforts to improve bicycle and pedestrian access to Seminary Road, the city is planning to install a sidewalk on the north side of the road — if it can get the money.

Much of the Complete Streets project on Seminary Road has been completed but the city is still hoping to add a new sidewalk next to the seminary from which the road draws its name.

News

‘Higher Than Normal’ Delays on Seminary Road as Complete Streets is Implemented

By Vernon Miles

Published November 12, 2019 at 10:40AM | Updated November 12, 2019 at 11:07AM

Seminary Road (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Seminary Road has seen delays beyond standard reconstruction work as the city implements the new Complete Streets configuration, according to a staff memo to City Council.

The plan takes the four lanes on Seminary Road from N. Howard Street to N. Quaker Lane down to one travel lane in each direction and a turn lane also accessible to emergency vehicles. The change allows for a new bicycle lane to be placed on the street, part of a push to make Alexandria more accessible to non-vehicle forms of transportation — and a broader effort called Vision Zero to reduce or eliminate traffic fatalities.

News

Ahead of a New Mobility Plan, Alexandria Looks to Other Cities for Lessons Learned

By Airey

Published October 9, 2019 at 10:30AM | Updated October 10, 2019 at 9:58AM

Scooter riders and pedestrians share a sidewalk in Old Town as cars pass by (Staff photo by Airey)

As Alexandria readies updates for its city-wide transportation plan, the city opened up the floor to other local government experts for lessons learned.

During a community forum last night (Monday) about Alexandria’s new transportation plan, city staffers hosted transit leaders from D.C. to Columbus, Ohio for a discussion on what Alexandria should focus on.