Alexandria City Council Public Hearing – May 18, 2026

The Alexandria City Council held a public hearing on Saturday, May 18, 2026, beginning at 9:33 AM and adjourning after 8:00 PM. The primary focus was the consideration of four appeals of the Traffic and Parking Board’s February 23, 2026 decision recommending roadway design changes for the Braddock Road Corridor Improvements Project (segments 1–3, West Street to Russell Road). The Council also addressed proclamations, a consent calendar, and a public discussion period.

Consent Calendar

• Item 8 (Street encroachments ordinance) was withdrawn from the consent agenda and deferred to the June 2026 public hearing via a 7-0 roll call vote.
• Items 5–7 and 9–11 were approved in a single roll call vote: Item 5 (Development Special Use Permit for Old Town Pool replacement at 1609 Cameron Street), Item 6 (Development Special Use Permit extension for 5050 Mark Center Drive), Item 7 (Second reading of zoning amendments for commercial uses, outdoor fitness studios, and live entertainment), Item 9 (Lease agreement with Casa Chirilagua at 4109 Mount Vernon Avenue), Item 10 (License agreement renewal with Alexandria Boxing Club at Charles Houston Recreation Center), and Item 11 (Lease renewal with Child and Family Network Centers at Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public Discussion Period (non-docketed items): Jennifer DeBias (Environmental Policy Commission) reported on the commission’s retreat, highlighting climate goals. Susan Parker described pedestrian safety concerns in Old Town North, including a fatal crash at Montgomery and St. Asaph streets. Aaron Gurless urged immediate adoption of beekeeping regulations, recounting incidents with a neighbor’s hives. A speaker raised concerns about foreclosure records and judicial assignment procedures.
• Braddock Road Appeals (afternoon session): Over 80 speakers testified during the public hearing, with three minutes per speaker. The testimony was divided between supporters and opponents of the staff-recommended design:
  • Supporters (including residents, parents, cyclists, and advocacy groups such as Alexandria Families for Safe Streets, Coalition for Smarter Growth, and Grassroots Alexandria) emphasized safety for children walking/biking to George Washington Middle School, the need for connected bike infrastructure, and the project’s alignment with city plans (Vision Zero, Complete Streets). Many shared personal near-miss experiences and cited the 70% of Rosemont residents who said Braddock Road is unsafe for families.
  • Opponents (including residents of Braddock Road and adjacent streets, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and Community Praise Seventh-day Adventist Church) cited loss of on-street parking (particularly for seniors and churchgoers with disabilities), potential for increased cut-through traffic on side streets, concerns about emergency vehicle access, and skepticism about traffic modeling data. They proposed alternatives such as slow zones, alternative bike routes on quieter streets, and retaining left-turn lanes.

Discussion Items

• Proclamations: The Council adopted proclamations recognizing Emergency Medical Services Week (May 2026) and Mental Health Awareness Month (May 2026), with remarks from fire department personnel and mental health advocates.
• Braddock Road Corridor Improvements Project (Appeals):
  • Staff Presentation: Hillary Orham (Deputy Director of Transportation) and Alex Carroll (Complete Streets Program Manager) presented the recommended design: reduce Braddock Road from four lanes to two (one per direction) between West Street and Russell Road; add protected bicycle lanes on segments 1 and 3, and painted bike lanes on segment 2; remove on-street parking on segments 2 and 3 except for a few spaces; consolidate left-turn lanes at Commonwealth and Russell intersections; and improve pedestrian crossings, especially near the Braddock Road Metro and George Washington Middle School. Staff noted that the project stems from city policies adopted over decades, including the Alexandria Mobility Plan, Vision Zero, and the Environmental Action Plan. They reported that a traffic study found intersection delays would remain similar to today (e.g., Braddock & Mount Vernon: 30 seconds existing vs. 28 seconds proposed). Parking utilization on Braddock Road was assessed at less than 50%, and off-street parking nearby was deemed adequate.
  • Appellant Presentations (10 minutes each):
    • Anna Frame appeal (presented by Carrie Pegram): Focused on side-street impacts—fear of cut-through traffic on Little, Spring, and Oak streets; questioned traffic modeling; urged inclusion of crosswalks at non-signalized intersections (e.g., Little, Ramsey, Hancock).
    • Margaret Janowski appeal (presented by Brittany DiPiano): Emphasized accessibility for residents without driveways, delivery services, and church congregations; cited a Change.org petition with 1,800 signatures; criticized survey methodology; proposed slow zones and alternative bike routes.
    • Good Shepherd Lutheran Church appeal (presented by Pastor Kate Costa): Highlighted the church’s ADA parking (one space adjacent to the ramp), noting that moving it 140–160 feet would burden seniors and disabled members; requested retention of parking on the north side of Braddock near the church; offered to explore sidewalk extensions and loading zones.
    • Community Praise Seventh-day Adventist Church appeal (video submission because the church observes Saturday Sabbath): Expressed concerns about parking for their 1,400-member congregation, many of whom arrive by car.
  • Traffic and Parking Board Chair: The chair defended the board’s unanimous February 23 vote, citing safety data (66% of survey respondents cited speeding), alignment with decades of city policy, and the inefficacy of education/enforcement alone.
  • Council Deliberation: Council members questioned staff on parking methodology (linear vs. geometric counts), traffic modeling (VDOT data, sensitivity analysis), ADA compliance (US Access Board confirmed feasibility), and potential for post-project monitoring. Staff agreed to monitor travel times and volumes and would report back to Council if delays increased by more than 50%.

Key Outcomes

• Braddock Road Corridor Improvements Project: After multiple substitute motions, the Council passed a motion (5-2, with Councilman El Nuby and Councilwoman Green dissenting) to:
  • Retain the Traffic and Parking Board’s recommended design for segments 1 and 2 (protected/painted bike lanes, reduced lanes, consolidated turn lanes).
  • Modify segment 3 as follows:
    • Complete sidewalks on LaRay and Hancock avenues (within city right-of-way) to improve accessibility.
    • Add crosswalks at Hancock, West LaRay, Little, and Ramsey streets, subject to feasibility and ADA ramp requirements.
    • Retain on-street parking on the north side of Braddock Road between Hancock and LaRay (adjacent to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church), including the existing ADA space.
    • Work with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church to identify an ADA parking space (up to two total) that complies with federal guidelines and serves the disabled congregants.
  • The city will monitor traffic, parking, and side-street impacts post-implementation and will adjust signals or restripe as needed.
• Other actions: Item 8 (street encroachments ordinance) deferred to June 2026. Consent items approved.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:10 PM.