Sanger Avenue, a West End road that runs from William Ramsay Elementary School to I-395, could be getting some safety and cycling upgrades.
A memo (page 12) from Department of Transportation Deputy Director Hillary Orr to the Transportation Commission included a note that the street could receive some improvements as part of an upcoming paving project.
“City staff is working on providing safety and cycling mobility improvements along Sanger Avenue as part of the upcoming paving project,” Orr wrote. “The focus is on providing additional and safer pedestrian crossings, daylighting intersections due to pedestrian crashes and vehicular angle crashes and providing more buffer space for pedestrians and cyclists under the I-395 bridge near Van Dorn Street.”
Orr said that more information will be shared with the community and a presentation will go to the Traffic and Parking Board sometime this spring.
Image via Google Maps
The arrest of the driver of a stolen vehicle caused a temporary lockdown at William Ramsay Elementary School (5700 Sanger Avenue) earlier today.
Police said in a release that a stolen vehicle was recovered and the driver was arrested.
According to the release:
Currently there is a moderate police presence outside of William Ramsay Elementary School at 5700 Sanger Avenue. A stolen vehicle was recovered and the driver is in custody. There was no threat to students and faculty, however, the school is on temporary lockdown until the investigation concludes shortly.
Notification: There is a moderate police outside of Ramsay Elementary School due to the apprehension of a driver and a stolen vehicle. There was no threat to the school, however it’s currently on lockdown until the scene is cleared.
— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) November 17, 2023
William Ramsay Elementary School Principal Michael Routhouska said in an email to families that the school was on “secure the building” status from 12:35-12:42 p.m. today:
At about 12:35 p.m. today, William Ramsay Elementary School (Ramsay) was briefly placed in “secure the building” status in response to nearby police activity (unrelated to school operations). Ramsay resumed normal operations by 12:42 p.m.
The decision to secure Ramsay was taken out of an abundance of caution. “Secure the building” means that the school day continues on a normal schedule inside the school but no one is allowed to enter or leave the school while the building remains secured. An Alexandria City Public Schools video provides more information on what happens when a school is placed in “secure the building” mode.
No one was reported injured after multiple shots were reported in a West End residential neighborhood on Sunday night.
The Alexandria Police Department got multiple calls for five-to-six gunshots in the 1400 block of N. Beauregard Street at around 7:30 p.m. The incident occurred in a residential area near Dora Kelley Nature Center and William Ramsay Elementary School.
Callers told APD that they saw a man shooting at a gray sedan driving in the area, and at least one round struck an apartment, according to scanner traffic.
The shots fired occurred on the same block where, last year, Enoc Cruz Villafuerte murdered his brother Jonathan Cruz Villafuerte.
No arrests have been made. Anyone with information on this incident can call the APD non-emergency number at 703-746-4444. Callers can remain anonymous.
Notification:: In response to a shot(s) fired incident, there is a moderate police presence in the 1400 block of North Beauregard Street. No injuries were reported in connection with this incident. APD is on the scene and investigating. pic.twitter.com/Cep66klVAl
— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) June 26, 2023
Image via Google Maps
Four male juveniles were arrested after a brief chase from a stolen car in the West End on Tuesday afternoon, prompting four schools to go on lockdown, according to the Alexandria Police Department.
The incident occurred at around noon near the 1400 block of N. Beauregard Street. Police recovered a handgun from one of the suspects, according to dispatch reports.
“While conducting the traffic stop, all individuals from the vehicle fled,” APD said in a release. “Additional Officers were dispatched to the area to locate the suspects. During the search, APD Officers found four juvenile male suspects and took them into custody. APD recovered one weapon.”
The charges against the minors include drug possession with intent to sale, a concealed weapons charge, illegal weapons possession, and other weapon offenses, according to APD.
Anyone with information about this incident can call the APD non-emergency number at 703-746-4444. Callers can remain anonymous.
The incident prompted four nearby schools to go into “secure the building” mode. Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School (1701 N. Beauregard Street), William Ramsay Elementary School (5700 Sanger Avenue), John Adams Elementary School (5651 Rayburn Avenue) and the Early Childhood Center (5651 Rayburn Avenue) went into “secure the building” from 12:15 to 12:35 p.m.
On Monday afternoon, three juveniles were arrested after an estimated 40 shots were fired. The shots were fired in an alleyway in the 1200 block of Madison Street, a block away from the Braddock Road Metro station, and no one was injured. Also that day, shots were fired at a Bradlee Shopping Center bus stop, which is near Alexandria City High School.
News Release:: The Alexandria Police Department Makes Arrest in Stolen Auto Case
On Tuesday, April 18, APD Officers attempted to make a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle from Fairfax County near the 1400 block of N. Beauregard Street.
Read more : https://t.co/OjySFEPAsi
— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) April 20, 2023
Image via Google Maps
(Updated 2 p.m.) Four Alexandria schools went into “secure the building” mode earlier today after nearby police activity.
Alicia Hart, chief of facilities and operations for Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), said Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School (1701 N. Beauregard Street), William Ramsay Elementary School (5700 Sanger Avenue), John Adams Elementary School (5651 Rayburn Avenue) and the Early Childhood Center (5651 Rayburn Avenue) were in “secure the building” status today from 12:15-12:35 p.m.
According to Hart:
Dear Families,
At about 12:15 p.m. today, four Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) were briefly placed in “secure the building” status in response to nearby police activity (unrelated to school operations). These schools are Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School, William Ramsay Elementary School, John Adams Elementary School and the Early Childhood Center. The Alexandria Police Department gave the all clear notification at about 12:35 p.m., and normal operations resumed at all four schools.
“Secure the building” means that the school day continues on a normal schedule inside the school but no one is allowed to enter or leave the school while the building remains secured. This step was taken as a precaution in response to an Alexandria Police Department (APD) notification of current police activity. An ACPS video provides more information on what happens when a school is placed in “secure the building” mode.
The safety and security of our students and staff are a priority for ACPS.
Alexandria Police spokesman Marcel Bassett said there was a moderate police presence in response to the recovery of a stolen vehicle. Four juvenile suspects were apprehended around 1400 Beauregard Street.
Three other schools were shut down earlier today thanks to a water main break.
Old Town was packed on Saturday morning for Alexandria’s 40th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Thousands of visitors lined King Street to watch a procession of more than 2,000 participants, including Irish dancers, historic reenactors and the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums. The festivities also included a car show and a dog show at Market Square outside City Hall.
This year’s Grand Marshal was Charlotte Hall, managing director of Old Town Business. The parade was sponsored by the Ballyshaners, a nonprofit dedicated to Irish heritage. Ballyshaners is Gaelic for “Old Towners.”
Enjoy the photos!
It’s the 40th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in old town Alexandria. @wtop pic.twitter.com/GALWNTcrJE
— Dick Uliano (@DickUliano) March 4, 2023
Get out of the way!!
Today, the Woodridge Showtime Marching Eagles Performed at the 2023 Ballyshaners St. Patrick's Day Parade held in Old Town Alexandria Virginia. #woodridgeeaglessoar💙💛💙🦅 #FriendshipProud #fpcswoodridge #dccharterproud #marchingband pic.twitter.com/0jpJoQ4U4F— Friendship PCS (@FriendshipPCS) March 4, 2023
Some St. Patrick’s Day parade shots. #alexandriava #oldtownalexandria pic.twitter.com/l1Cx1kgLG2
— Old Town Dog Walks (@Oldtowndogwalks) March 4, 2023
Things are about to slow down in school zones.
The Alexandria School Board on Thursday (October 6) unanimously approved a resolution requesting a reduction from 25 miles per hour to 15 mph in school zones.
“We are really making our students and our community safe,” said Board Member Abdel Elnoubi, who wrote the resolution. “We’re helping save lives here.”
The resolution now goes to City Council for approval.
The following school zones have 25 mph speed limits:
- N. Beauregard Street — Outside the John Adams Elementary School, William Ramsay Elementary School and Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School zones
- Braddock Road from N. Beauregard Street to Quaker Lane — Outside Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus school zone
- Seminary Road (Kenmore Avenue to N. Pickett Street) — In the Francis C. Hammond Middle School zone
- King Street — Alexandria City High School’s school zone
City Council will also review a plan to install Alexandria’s first speed cameras in school zones later this month.
The conversation over a speed limit reduction and cameras installation began after a nine-year-old girl was hit by a car and seriously injured just outside Jefferson-Houston Elementary School in March.
