OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

I-395 at Dew Street Ramp Modification Community Meeting - June 1, 2026

Public Meetings — Monday, June 1, 2026
BodyAlexandria, Virginia
SessionPublic Meetings
DateMonday, June 1, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 54:38
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

All right.

0:01

Good evening, everyone.

0:04

Good meeting.

0:09

Welcome to the city's community meeting for the upcoming I-395 at Dew Street Ramp Modification Project.

0:21

I appreciate you all coming out this evening to learn a little bit about what we have planned.

0:27

So before we get started, let me mention that any questions you need to ask, we'll wait till the end of the presentation.

0:36

That's for all the in-person uh attendees and also for all of our attendees that are virtual.

0:44

So first and foremost, I'm the mod Frazier.

0:47

I'm with the City of Alexandria, and I have the privilege of managing this project from design phase all the way through the completion of construction.

0:59

So I will be engaging with you all probably for the next year or so.

1:05

Um while I have a chance, I would like some of my colleagues that are on the project team to introduce themselves so you'll also have some familiar faces other than myself.

1:18

Um I'll start with Daphne.

1:21

Good evening, everyone.

1:22

My name is Daphne Pott.

1:23

I'm the deputy director of the um transportation environmental services, the project implementation branch, which is the sponsor of the project here tonight.

1:31

I'll turn it over to Lydia.

1:34

Greetings, everyone.

1:37

My name is Lydia Durant.

1:39

I am also in the project implementation branch of TESS.

1:43

Um, and I provide uh variety of support services, including communications and talking.

1:50

And uh we um Dion.

1:54

And then I'm the WRA.

1:57

I'll be the construction manager out on the project with the inspect data full-time, and uh we'll be document and then make sure everyone's safe out there and make sure we can get a finished project on time.

2:09

All right, um Brian.

2:14

I think he's on the way, but we'll we'll let him introduce himself when he comes back online.

2:19

I don't know if we have also one.

2:23

Uh yes, we do have uh Brian.

2:26

Would you like to introduce myself?

2:30

I'm Brian Whitley.

2:32

I am a construction inspector for the test uh project implementation.

2:40

Armando, do you want to introduce yourself?

2:45

Hi, good afternoon, everybody.

2:46

Or sorry, good evening.

2:47

Um but yeah, my name is Armando Solo.

2:49

I'm with uh Fort Meyer Construction, and I'll be the project manager.

2:55

All right.

2:56

Thank you.

2:58

So we'll we'll move on and we'll talk a little bit about our uh agenda for the evening.

3:04

Uh we'll cover the project purpose, project overview, existing conditions, grant improvements, the construction plan, construction schedule, and all of the next steps.

3:20

Um, perfect time, you know.

3:24

Uh oh.

3:25

Ryan, if you don't mind, we we just have a quick uh introduction of all the project members.

3:31

If you don't mind, you can introduce yourself as well.

3:34

Hello, everyone.

3:35

My name is Ryan Knight.

3:36

I'm the transportation engineering division chief of the city of Alexandria, and I'm somewhat the sponsor of this project.

3:42

So this uh given the transportation environmental services department.

3:47

Um we're working with uh our project implementation uh division to uh get this project started and in construction.

3:55

Thank you, sir.

3:58

All right.

4:00

So let's start off with the uh project purpose.

4:04

Um for all that don't know uh this grant project is a necessity for providing safe access to the city's INOVA uh landmark location project that's up and coming.

4:20

So currently from northbound Interstate 395, when you're exiting to join Eastbound Duke Street, it is pretty much impossible for any vehicles to weave and transition over all the lanes in order to access the future hospital site.

4:40

So this project will provide a safe access point from the northbound I-395 RAM.

4:48

And it's in general, we're gonna reduce the what we call weaving complex, which is the movement for cars changing lanes from right to left.

5:07

And this movement will now be much safer.

5:11

Today's existing condition out there doesn't include a traffic signal or anything.

5:39

Currently, we're going to add a traffic signal at the end of the ramp where it connects to Duke Street, which will allow vehicles both to drive through on Duke Street and come off of the ramp and get into the left left lane and enter the project site.

6:02

So from a cost standpoint, um construction is estimated to cost 4.6 million dollars.

6:14

Of course, hopefully we we will come in under budget and maybe flip that about five bit a little bit.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Transportation Safety█████████████████████████████████████████████69%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████19%
Procedural███5%
Public Engagement███5%
Parks and Recreation█2%
Summary of Proceedings

I-395 at Dew Street Ramp Modification Community Meeting - June 1, 2026

The City of Alexandria hosted a community meeting on June 1, 2026, to present the upcoming I-395 at Dew Street Ramp Modification Project. Project Manager Mod Frazier and team members described the project's purpose, design, construction plan, and schedule. The meeting included a presentation followed by an extended question and answer session with in-person and virtual attendees. Key topics included traffic operations, signal timing, pedestrian safety, and construction impacts.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • A resident expressed concern that adding a new traffic signal would worsen existing congestion on Duke Street, noting synchronization issues with multiple lights in the area.
  • Another attendee questioned whether the signal would have emergency vehicle preemption; the team confirmed it would include preemption for fire trucks and ambulances.
  • An online attendee requested that temporary traffic signals be installed immediately to improve safety before the project is complete. The team noted that VDOT rarely approves temporary signals on limited-access highways.
  • Several participants raised concerns about potential traffic backup from the new signal extending onto I-395; the team stated that traffic studies indicated minimal backup.
  • A resident asked if the extra lane removed from South Walker Street for ADA compliance would be restored; the team replied it would not be part of this project.
  • One attendee suggested a flyover ramp from northbound I-395 directly to the hospital site as a better long-term solution; the team noted such a project would require years of study and federal approval.
  • A community member expressed appreciation for the city addressing the dangerous weave condition but urged the city to consider broader corridor improvements.

Discussion Items

  • Project Purpose and Need: The project aims to provide safe vehicular and pedestrian access from northbound I-395 to the future INOVA hospital site on Eastbound Duke Street. Currently, vehicles exiting I-395 must weave across multiple lanes to reach the hospital entrance, creating a dangerous condition. A new traffic signal and an additional lane will allow left-turn movements into the hospital.
  • Scope and Cost: The estimated construction cost is $4.6 million, funded entirely through the city's Capital Improvements Program. The project includes a retaining wall, a signalized intersection with pedestrian crosswalk, new sidewalk segments, and landscaping.
  • Traffic Operations: The ramp will expand from one lane to two lanes at the curve. The new lane will be controlled by a traffic signal that stops eastbound Duke Street traffic, allowing vehicles to enter the left turn lane into the hospital. The existing lane will remain free-flowing for through traffic. Signal timing will be coordinated with VDOT during peak hours and switched to detection-based operation during off-peak periods.
  • Construction Plan: Construction is set to begin in April 2026 and be completed before January 2028. The ramp will remain open during construction, though lane shifts and temporary flagging may occur. Work hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with potential extensions approved by VDOT. The contractor, Fort Meyer Construction, will use a phased approach, starting with removals and erosion control on Dew Street.
  • Signal Ownership and Timing: The new traffic signal will be owned and maintained by VDOT, but the city coordinated with VDOT on timing plans. The team stated they will continue to monitor and adjust signal timing along Duke Street to optimize flow.

Key Outcomes

  • Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2026 and finish before January 2028, aligning with the hospital's expected full development in 2028.
  • The traffic study conducted for the project will be posted on the project webpage for public review.
  • Project updates and contact information will be available on the city's project website and via signage at the construction site.
  • No formal votes or decisions were taken; the meeting was informational and aimed at gathering community feedback.

Meeting Transcript

All right. Good evening, everyone. Good meeting. Welcome to the city's community meeting for the upcoming I-395 at Dew Street Ramp Modification Project. I appreciate you all coming out this evening to learn a little bit about what we have planned. So before we get started, let me mention that any questions you need to ask, we'll wait till the end of the presentation. That's for all the in-person uh attendees and also for all of our attendees that are virtual. So first and foremost, I'm the mod Frazier. I'm with the City of Alexandria, and I have the privilege of managing this project from design phase all the way through the completion of construction. So I will be engaging with you all probably for the next year or so. Um while I have a chance, I would like some of my colleagues that are on the project team to introduce themselves so you'll also have some familiar faces other than myself. Um I'll start with Daphne. Good evening, everyone. My name is Daphne Pott. I'm the deputy director of the um transportation environmental services, the project implementation branch, which is the sponsor of the project here tonight. I'll turn it over to Lydia. Greetings, everyone. My name is Lydia Durant. I am also in the project implementation branch of TESS. Um, and I provide uh variety of support services, including communications and talking. And uh we um Dion. And then I'm the WRA. I'll be the construction manager out on the project with the inspect data full-time, and uh we'll be document and then make sure everyone's safe out there and make sure we can get a finished project on time. All right, um Brian. I think he's on the way, but we'll we'll let him introduce himself when he comes back online. I don't know if we have also one. Uh yes, we do have uh Brian. Would you like to introduce myself? I'm Brian Whitley. I am a construction inspector for the test uh project implementation. Armando, do you want to introduce yourself? Hi, good afternoon, everybody. Or sorry, good evening. Um but yeah, my name is Armando Solo. I'm with uh Fort Meyer Construction, and I'll be the project manager. All right. Thank you. So we'll we'll move on and we'll talk a little bit about our uh agenda for the evening. Uh we'll cover the project purpose, project overview, existing conditions, grant improvements, the construction plan, construction schedule, and all of the next steps. Um, perfect time, you know. Uh oh. Ryan, if you don't mind, we we just have a quick uh introduction of all the project members. If you don't mind, you can introduce yourself as well. Hello, everyone. My name is Ryan Knight. I'm the transportation engineering division chief of the city of Alexandria, and I'm somewhat the sponsor of this project. So this uh given the transportation environmental services department. Um we're working with uh our project implementation uh division to uh get this project started and in construction. Thank you, sir. All right.

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