Duke Street | ALXnow

Published November 5, 2021 at 2:40PM

Traffic backed up off Duke Street, courtesy Jill Hoffman

The city is moving forward with a pilot program that could — deliberately — make traffic slower on residential streets near Duke Street to push more drivers onto the main arterial roads.

Phase 1 of the new program, scheduled to start in January and run through March, would change signal timing along Duke Street and nearby roads, punishing drivers using residential streets to get to Telegraph Road and I-395 beyond that with longer wait times. Phase 2, which would start next fall, would prohibit access to Telegraph Road from West Taylor Run Parkway.

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Cut-through traffic protections along Duke Street could go into effect early next year

By Vernon Miles

Published November 1, 2021 at 2:30PM

Traffic on Duke Street in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

The City of Alexandria is looking to move forward with Phase 1 of a pilot program that could help reshape traffic patterns on Duke Street.

The pilot program will start in Phase 1 with changes to signal timing on Quaker Lane and along Duke Street for routes to Telegraph Road, an access point to I-395 that sees frequent backup during rush hour periods.

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Yates Pizza Palace plans go cold, but could reheat as food-prep space

By Vernon Miles

Published October 18, 2021 at 2:50PM

Yates Pizza Palace has been under development at 3000 Duke Street for years. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Dreams of the long-planned Yates Pizza Palace (3000 Duke Street) are likely dead as the owner of the stalled development has filed a permit to sign the location over to be used as a hub for food delivery, the Washington Business Journal reported.

The Business Journal reported that a change of ownership permit indicates that the pizza restaurant — formerly Generous George’s Positive Pizza & Pasta Place — will be owned by a company affiliated with Reef Technology, a firm that converts spaces into neighborhood kitchens.

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New Old Town townhouses headed to architectural review proces

By Vernon Miles

Published September 15, 2021 at 1:00PM

Proposed townhouses at 101 Duke Street, image via City of Alexandria

After initially submitting plans in January for review, developer Eleventh Street Development LLC is back in the city process to get final approval on a plan to convert a parking garage at 101 Duke Street into a series of townhouses.

According to the application there will be six, four-story townhouses broken up into three buildings. Each unit would also have a two-car garage attached via central alleyway. The demolition of the existing 101 Duke Street parking garage and the new project are scheduled for consideration at the Wednesday, Oct. 6, Board of Architectural Review (BAR) meeting

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No injuries or arrests after shots fired on Duke Street

By James Cullum

Published August 30, 2021 at 9:45AM

Alexandria Police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

No one was injured or arrested after shots were fired early Sunday evening (August 29) in the 4600 block of Duke Street in the West End.

The incident occurred at around 5:30 p.m. near the Shoppes at Fox Chase and the 4600 Duke Street Condominiums. A helicopter assisted in the search for the suspect.

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Street repaving and curb repairs underway in Old Town this week and next

By Vernon Miles

Published August 25, 2021 at 1:10PM

Traffic on Duke Street in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

You might have already noticed if it’s on a street near you, but this week the City of Alexandria has resumed its seasonal resurfacing work throughout Old Town.

Repaving work started on Monday this week as part of a seasonal program. This week and next, repairs and curb improvements are underway on Union Street from Pendleton to Franklin streets and Duke Street from South Union to South Patrick streets.

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Tropical Storm Elsa’s dregs tear through southern Alexandria

By ALXnow.com

Published July 8, 2021 at 3:40PM | Updated July 8, 2021 at 6:03PM

Tree felled by Tropical Storm Elsa south of Duke Street, staff photo by James Cullum

Tropical Storm Elsa is withering as it creeps north along the East Coast, but its remnants spawned a storm that packed winds strong enough to wreak havoc along Duke Street in Alexandria.

Luis Ramirez had just gotten home from his construction job Thursday afternoon when he heard a ripping, tearing sound and then a thunderous boom. At the corner of Vermont Avenue and S. Gordon Street, a felled tree narrowly missed his house.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 2, 2021 at 3:35PM

It was a quick week in Alexandria. Here’s the rundown.

With summer in full swing, three Alexandria athletes have made it on the U.S. Olympic Team — sprinter Noah Lyles, high-jumper Tynita Butts-Townsend and boxer Troy Isley.

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Alexandria eyes bus rapid transit and bike lanes for Duke Street

By Vernon Miles

Published June 30, 2021 at 3:45PM

Duke Street near Landmark and Cameron Run (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

As Alexandria works through the first stages of its Duke Street transit overhaul, city staff are laying out expectations for what’s being considered for the corridor.

In a public meeting last week, staff presented early plans for a transit-focused overhaul of Duke Street and fielded both questions and some early concerns from residents.

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No cut-through traffic relief in new Duke Street plan, but it could be addressed this fall

By Vernon Miles

Published June 18, 2021 at 2:40PM

West Taylor Run and Duke Street, via Google Maps

If you’ve traveled along Duke Street during rush hour, you probably recognize the intersection above, and might even have a visceral reaction to it. The one-late turn from Duke Street onto Telegraph Road, and by extension to the Beltway, faces frequent backups not only along Duke Street, but in surrounding neighborhoods packed with cut-through traffic.

The bad news: the Duke Street transit overhaul isn’t going to touch that intersection.

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City launches Duke Street transit overhaul process

By Vernon Miles

Published June 14, 2021 at 3:35PM

Duke Street near Landmark and Cameron Run (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

In the docket for an upcoming Transportation Commission meeting, city staff unveiled plans to open op a process to “define the future of Duke Street.”

In a 2008 Transportation Master Plan, the city identified several corridors through Alexandria as prime locations for transitways — redesigned streets to meant to emphasize high-frequency and reliable public transit. A 2012 concept plan further elaborated with a more detailed framework for what transitways would entail.