Our Ask: Testify to the Traffic & Parking Board on Monday, July 27 at 7 PM

The city has proposed pedestrian improvements for Russell Rd. Unfortunately, some neighbors and the Naomi Brooks principal opposes the project because the project would repurpose parking. Concept 1 proposed to remove just 2 spaces while Concept 2 would repurpose 20 public on-street parking spaces. The city’s parking survey shows is only 34% utilized on Russell Rd.

BPAC supports Concept 2 which would create pedestrian refuge islands at W Masonic View Ave, W Walnut St and W Maple St and add new crosswalks at Chapman St which is superior to Concept 1.

Sign up to testify when the docket is here via Zoom or in-person at Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Dr).

If you have not testified to the Board before, staff will make a presentation, the Board may questions and then open the public hearing. In-person speakers will testify followed by those on Zoom. You will have three minutes to speak (approximate amount of time to read a sheet of paper).

If you are not able to attend Monday’s meeting, please email the Traffic & Parking Board to support Concept 2 (trafficandparkingboard@alexandriava.gov).

Dear Members of the Traffic & Parking Board,

Please support Concept 2 at your July meeting. Compared to Concept 1, this option significantly improves safety for people crossing Russell Rd at W Masonic View Ave, W Walnut St and W Maple St while adding new crosswalks at Chapman St. Concept 1’s curb extensions will not be as effective as getting drivers to stop for children and adults, especially when traffic backs up from King St. These improvements can be implemented by removing just 20 spaces on a street with just 34% parking occupied and every home near the project has a driveway. This project will also make it easier for people biking to cross at W Walnut St and W Masonic View Ave, two key bicycle corridors. Please support Concept 2.

Level of Effort: +60 minutes if testifying at the meeting or 15 minutes if emailing
Deadline: Monday, July 27, 2026 at 7 PM

Pedestrian refuge island on Russell Rd and Cedar St which was installed in 2011

Pedestrian refuge islands are better than curb extensions because they allow people walking to cross one travel lane at a time. The island provides a safe space to wait for a gap in traffic to cross and also encourages drivers to stop for people in the crosswalk. This is especially beneficial to children crossing the street to Naomi Brooks Elementary School during school hours or after school.

People biking also benefit from pedestrian refuge islands because W Walnut St is a major bike route and W Masonic View Ave is also used to avoid the Walnut St hill, access Brooks’ playground or Beach Park. When drivers congest the King/Callahan/Russell Rd intersection, their vehicle queues can extend to W Walnut St which makes it challenging to cross by bicycle as drivers often block the crosswalk and do not stop for people in the crosswalk when heading northbound.

BPAC’s letter

For more information, check out the project webpage and concepts.

Questions? Send an email to alexandriabpac@gmail.com