Update 5/16/26: The Braddock Rd Corridor Improvements passed 4 to 3 with Mayor Gaskins, Vice Mayor Bagley, Councilman Aguirre and Councilwoman Marks voting in yes. Councilwoman Greene, Councilman Chapman and Councilman Elnoubi voted no.

The staff recommendation was slightly tweaked to retain parking on the block adjacent to the Good Shepherd church which removes the bike lane protection for that short block. This tweak was necessary to obtain a majority support from the City Council. and most of the time, that parking bay will be empty. The Council also voted to add several midblock crosswalks, subject to staff verifying feasibility. A missing sidewalk will also added around the Good Shepherd Church. 

Your emails, testimony, bike ride, walks with City Council and much more make this victory possible. Many project supporters thanked the staff for their work. Your positive, thoughtful approach drew a sharp contrast to the doom, gloom and negativity on the other side which also helped win the votes needed. 

Our Ask:

Implement protected bike lanes and pedestrian safety improvements at intersections on Braddock Road from West Street to Russell Road, as recommended by Transportation and Environmental Services staff and the Traffic & Parking Board (Options 1B, 2A, 3, 4B, 5A, and 6C). These choices provide the maximum safety for students and citizens of all ages that live or travel in our City.

What You Can Do:

Although the Traffic & Parking Board voted 6:0 to support the project, several petitions resulted in an appeal to City Council scheduled for May 16.

Sign up to speak for Docket Item 12 virtually or in-person at the City Council Public Hearing on Saturday, May 16 at 9:30 AM. Speakers will be called in the order they signed up. You can also sign up in-person. The meeting will take place at City Council Chambers, Room 1305 at Del Pepper Community Resource Center, 4850 Mark Center Dr, Alexandria, VA.

Given the amount of community interest, this meeting will likely last into the late afternoon or evening. When docket item 12 is called, the petitioners will speak, the Traffic & Parking Board will speak and staff will make a presentation. City Council can ask questions. Only after those items are complete will the City Council begin the public hearing by calling names in the order they signed up, usually five at a time so unless you are the first person to sign up, you will have some warning. 

There are only 60 seats in the City Council chambers which will likely fill up. However, there is also an overflow room with more space and the meeting will be streamed on a television there.

If you have not spoken to the City Council before, here are a few tips. 

• You will have to to three minutes to speak which roughly the amount of time it takes to read a sheet of paper (don’t feel you need to speak the entire time) 
• Start by stating you support the staff recommendation 
• Make no more the three points 
• Give positive, fact-supported statements about why you support the project
• Try to make a unique, personal statement about why this project matters to you and your family 
• Avoid personal attacks

It can seem intimidating to speak but remember the Board members is made up of our fellow neighbors and there will be plenty of project supporters in attendance. 

BPAC will provide pizza and soda for supporters attending in person.

See my video for bicycle parking directions and this link for bus or parking information.

For more information, check out the project webpage or the docket report.

Questions? Send an email to alexandriabpac@gmail.com 

If you cannot make the meeting, please send City Council a short, supportive email.

Reference Links

“11 Ways to Make Streets Safer for Walking“, by Jay Walljasper, AARP Livable Communities, Aug 2017
https://www.pedbikeinfo.org