Alexandria Transportation Commission Meeting - December 18, 2025

The Transportation Commission held its virtual meeting on December 18, 2025. Commissioners approved the October 15, 2025 minutes, received presentations on the Age-Friendly Plan and curbside electric vehicle charging, discussed the GoAlex Strategic Plan, and endorsed grant applications for FY32 and FY27. Commissioner updates covered ongoing projects, legislative priorities, and upcoming membership changes.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of the October 15, 2025, meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the public comment periods.

Discussion Items

Age-Friendly Plan Transportation Elements

• Michael Schuster and DT Oliver (Co-Chairs, Commission on Aging) presented the draft Age-Friendly Plan, emphasizing two transportation goals: supporting the city's Vision Zero goal to eliminate traffic deaths by 2028, and coordinating human services transportation per a city manager directive. Commissioners thanked the speakers and suggested engaging the Traffic and Parking Board for advocacy.

Curbside Electric Vehicle Charging Update

• Amy Posner (EV Planner) and Ryan Freed (Climate Action Officer) outlined a proposed program for curbside chargers in the public right-of-way, installed at no cost to the city. Key features included five-year licenses, a maximum of 60 charging ports, siting restrictions (e.g., avoiding major roads), and a minimum two-year license-issuance period followed by a year-long evaluation. Commissioners raised questions about charger relocation, rate setting, and ADA compliance. Staff noted that the Traffic and Parking Board had rejected a blanket approval for the first 10 locations, instead requiring those to go before the board for public hearing.

GoAlex FY27-31 Strategic Plan

• Josh Adam (GoAlex Program Manager) presented the draft plan, focusing on target markets (new residents, employees, students), strategic goals (inform/educate, enhance/invest, prove/celebrate), and desired outcomes (CRM system, travel training, e-bike program, youth transportation). The item was a discussion only; no formal endorsement was sought because the full draft is not yet available. Commissioners offered suggestions, such as partnering with ACPS and bike shops, and noted alignment with the Age-Friendly Plan.

FY32 CMAC and RSTP Grant Applications

• Staff presented three project proposals: Duke Street and Route One safety improvements ($3.2M), Capital Bikeshare station replacements ($1M), and a flexible fund for safe streets studies ($1M). Commissioners expressed concern about the long lead time (funding for FY32) but supported the applications, which were unanimously endorsed.

FY27 DRPT State Assistance Grants

• Staff requested endorsement for multiple grants: operating assistance for DASH and paratransit (~$7M), capital assistance for bus replacements ($16M), WMATA student fare program ($1.025M over four years), workforce development, bus stop improvements, and GoAlex commuter assistance ($350,000). The commission unanimously endorsed the applications.

Commissioner Updates & Written Items

• Commissioner Beatty reported on Environmental Policy Commission discussions about Braddock Road trail access.
• Commissioner Maslanka attended a public meeting on the Landmark West transit center, noting wind protection concerns.
• Commissioner Kane noted Traffic and Parking Board approvals, including a diagonal crosswalk near Mount Vernon Community School and a no-turn-on-red at Russell Road and Monroe Avenue.
• Councilmember McPike reported that the city adopted its 2026 legislative package, including WMATA funding and multimodal transit priorities.
• Written items discussed included the Shurlington Circle Smart Scale project (speed limit coordination with Arlington), the new WMATA A25 route, DMB moves (fare integration clarified: no impact on DASH free fares), and the Long Bridge rail shutdown (concerns about pedestrian connections between train stations during the five-year closure).

Key Outcomes

• Unanimously endorsed the FY32 CMAC/RSTP grant applications.
• Unanimously endorsed the FY2027 DRPT state assistance applications.
• The January 2026 meeting will be held virtually due to city hall renovations; a permanent new location (Business Center Drive) is pending accessibility improvements.
• New membership changes (approved by council in September) are expected to take effect in February or March 2026 after ordinance amendments.
• No action taken on the GoAlex Strategic Plan; staff will present the final draft to city council in January.