Seminary Hill Association

During the program at the SHA Annual Meeting, members discussed City staff's "Seminary Road Complete Streets Project" and decided SHA needs to appoint someone to 'bird dog' the City's plans So far, the City has three alternatives. None of them have on street parking. The City chose to NOT send someone to this meeting because VDOT is going to give us data about how much more traffic the HOT Lanes will bring to Seminary Road from I-395, which may change the project.

City staff cancelled a presentation scheduled for Thursday, 18 October, on the Seminary Road Complete Streets Project. VDOT is studying how the change of the usage of the ramp to Seminary Road from HOV lanes into a HOT Lane will affect traffic turning onto Seminary Road. Not sure why this would impact the new design between Kenmore Avenue and Quaker Lane unless they were planning to reduce the number of lanes on Seminary Road. Traffic at the intersection of Seminary and Pickett is already at failure level so adding more cars to Seminary won't change this rating! (You may remember that is what we were told to justify the BRAC and the building of the ramp 2011-2013.)

The renovation of the King Street bridge over I-395, which has been the discussed since November 2016, has been delayed because of conflicts with the I-395 express lanes project. According to VDOT, construction slated to begin in 2018 may occur in 2019-20 or 2020-21. VDOT claims the bridge is structurally sound and is checked annually rather than every other year.

City staff scheduled a meeting for the Seminary Road Complete Streets project - that they later postponed - and will work with the community and stakeholders to determine roadway improvements for Seminary Road that can be implemented with the planned repaving from Kenmore Avenue to Quaker Lane. Hopefully they will come on 8 Nov to present at the SHA Annual Meeting.

As a result of concerns expressed by Seminary Hill residents, Yon Lambert - head of Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES) for the City of Alexandria - invited members of Seminary Hill Association, Inc. (SHA) - President Nan Jennings, Vice President Carter Flemming, and Jack Sullivan, Area 5 - to discuss concerns about the possible reconfiguration of Seminary Road in conjunction with its repaving in the Spring of 2019. Summary is attached above.

T&ES Yon Lambert said in the Alexandria Gazette Packet that the City needs to "Return Streets to Citizens."

More than 76 City residents attended a special SHA meeting. Mayor Silberberg answered multiple questions from the audience, which was very much appreciated. Secretary Dick Hayes summarized the comments in rank order (below):

1. Safety measures needed because of speeding and to cross Seminary
2. Keep 4-lanes on Seminary Road because it is an arterial; no dedicated bike lanes
3. More transparency from City Government.

Voice concerns about traffic related to the Affordable Housing Project at Fairlington Church at the second "table talk" on the project on Monday 16 July from 6:30-7:30 pm at the Fairlington Church.

City staff is studying a plan from the Railroad to build a "multimodal" bridge connecting Pickett Street to Eisenhower Avenue near the Van Dorn Metro.

City staff would like to disband the Central Alexandria Task Force that has lowered speed limits on Quaker and Seminary and is seeking to eliminate cut-through traffic on West Taylor Run Street. Citizens want to remain connected and are discussing planned improvements on Duke Street.

As part of City plans to repave Seminary Road in FY19, residents are discussing and providing input on ways to improve the section of the road between N. Jordan Street and Quaker Lane. The City's on-line feedback form on this topic was not working properly. Try http://survey.alexandriava.gov/s3/CompleteStreetsRepaving and let the City know if you want bike lanes there, parking on street, more sidewalks, etc.

SHA discussed the results of the recommendations from the Central Alexandria Traffic Study and tabled a resolution until SHA's April meeting to allow for more time to 'get out the word' to residents about City proposals.

SHA approved sending a letter to send to the City Manager about the Central Alexandria Traffic Study and the next steps. They voted in favor of the following guiding principles in selecting appropriate mitigation strategies:

Results of the Central Alexandria Traffic Study were discussed and it is available on the City website https://www.alexandriava.gov/tes/info/default.aspx?id=92722 . The study looked at the various ways that traffic flows through the central part of the city. Data was collected on speeds, license plate surveys, and blue tooth usage. The average flow of vehicles was 33K per day. Starting at the Telegraph Road Exit, the morning inbound traffic flow was 40% to Seminary Road, 40% to Quaker Lane and 20% towards King Street. In the afternoon, the traffic flow was 50% on Seminary Road, 40% on Quaker Lane, and 10% on King Street. He also said that 25% of the cut through traffic was from Maryland. The next step is to further evaluate the data and report back to the various concerned Civic Associations.

The City has hired an engineering company to collect the traffic data needed for the Central Alexandria Study.

Construction of another lane in the HOV section of I-395 will begin in July with a target end date of fall 2019. The third lane will be added in the existing center lanes and the HOV lanes will become toll express lanes. The Eads Street intersection at the Pentagon will be improved to handle the extra lane of traffic, and sound walls may be built if residents vote for them.

Central Alexandria Study is lagging.

In the fall of 2017, VDOT will begin making structural improvements to Route 7 King Street where it goes over I-395. The bridge is structurally sound but will get improvements such as a new surface, paint, and lighting. The project is expected to take no more than two years.

Seminary Hill residents were asked where they thought traffic counts should be made when the City does the Central Alexandria Study in 2017.

HOT Lanes are coming. Lots of presentations in our area if you are interested in hearing about the new access to the Pentagon and Pentagon City. Residents along I-395 between Duke Street and the Pentagon must decide if they would like noise barriers.

Construction at the intersection of King Street and N. Beauregard Street to add turn lanes is slated to begin in the fall of 2016 and will not end until 2019.

Efforts are being made to reduce helicopter noise and vibration over our homes. Rep. Don Beyer added an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act so that routes and caps take into account the difference between regular helicopter traffic and military helicopters, particularly the V-22 Osprey.

SHA worked unsuccessfully with two other civic associations— Clover-College Park and West Taylor Run—to write a joint-letter requesting a traffic study be done that encompassed our three areas and was directed by a citizen taskforce. Frustration with cut-through traffic and willingness to dump traffic into other neighborhoods led to a gridlock on the letter. City staff stepped in and took over the effort, including setting up a citizen committee on which SHA has two members and two alternates.

The City provided street counts for traffic levels on streets in SHA neighborhoods and nearby.

Residents on Fort Williams Parkway thwarted a City proposal to paint lines and bike lanes in front of their homes.

SHA choose to not take a position on the King Street Road Diet—the narrowing of Route 7 between T. C. Williams High School and Janney’s Lane—and deferred instead to the neighborhoods affected.

Speed limits changed from 35mph to 25mph on two roads: Seminary Road between I-395 and Quaker Lane and North Quaker Lane between Duke and King Streets. These changes were initiated and supported by residents and implemented by the City Manager as part of the Make Our Streets Safe effort.

A presentation about expanding the HOT Lanes inside the beltway resulted in concerns about safety - when two travel lanes are narrowed to make them into three - and the lack of a design for the exit at the Pentagon - which will have to accommodate another lane of traffic from the HOV lanes. Penalties for drivers who violate the HOV rules - such as turning right onto Seminary Road from the ramp at the BRAC - would be given large fines ($125 to $1,000) and points on their driving record.

The West End Transit Way Advisory Group continues to advocate for a bus-rapid transit route (new lanes on Beauregard and Van Dorn for busses) despite the lack of development along Corridor C. Landmark Mall was supposed to have three 25-story commercial buildings and include a transit stop at Duke and Van Dorn. It is now going to have some 4-story residential units above stores and the transit stop will be inside the mall. None of the development planned in the Beauregard Corridor has begun except the shopping center near the Giant. Residents fail to see the need to cut down their trees, especially given the commuter-bus routes are the most successful in the City already.

The HOT Lanes inside the Beltway on I-395 are being considered again. They were defeated in 2004 by a court case brought by Arlington County. The new plan does not have the redesign of the Shirlington interchange. Transunion that gets the revenue from the HOT Lanes give a presentation at SHA's meeting in January. The Transportation Commission hear from Transunion on.

Staff from Transportation & Environmental Services held a meeting on traffic management for West Taylor Run, Clover-College Park and SHA that dealt with two very different issues. Moving the volume of traffic on West Taylor Run�elsewhere or faster�and slowing the speed of traffic on Quaker Lane and Seminary Road. A lot of emotion, no solutions. Sha has asked that T&ES and the Police Chief come to our February meeting to discuss only the issue of slowing traffic on Seminary Road and Quaker Lane.

At the Annual Meeting the membership approved a motion to send a letter to the Mayor and City Council endorsing a new plan - Alexandria Residential Speed Limits (ARSL) - in which the speed limits on Quaker Lane (between King and Duke) and Seminary Road (between Howard and Quaker) be lowered to 25 mph and fines for speeding be set at a minimum of $200 with a plan to educate the public and provide police enforcement.

SHA sent a letter to the Mayor and Members of City Council asking that the Transportation and Environmental Services Department start over with a fresh approach rather than moving traffic congestion on W. Taylor Run Parkway to other neighborhood streets.

Concerned Seminary Hill residents have continued to engage with the City staff about safety on N. Quaker Lane and Seminary Road. A petition is being circulated in support of lowering the speed limit on both streets to 25 mph and increasing fines for speeding to $200. All members of City Council were contacted to explain the concerns and most visited with residents for further discussion.

The I-395 HOV ramp was scheduled to open in soon.

Concerned residents have engaged with the City about safety on N. Quaker Lane and Seminary Road. At SHA's June meeting, staff presented some data on these streets. In the past five years, the City has logged more than 172 crashes on Seminary Road (between Kenmore Avenue and N. Quaker Lane) and N. Quaker Lane (between King Street and Duke Street). That's 34 annually or about one every 10 days. City data about speed on Seminary Road and N. Quaker Lane indicates that daily more than 1,750 vehicles travel over 45 mph with a maximum speed of 93 mph. The City will collect more data this fall when schools are back in session.

A new traffic configuration on Duke Street at W. Taylor Run may be implemented in August in an attempt to reduce cut-through traffic on W. Taylor Run. The traffic is trying to avoid the bottleneck on Duke Street by the Alexandria Commons Shopping Center (Giant) by taking W. Taylor Run then turning left and going directly up the ramp to Telegraph Road south. The new configuration will close off this left-turn access to the ramp. It may also improve access to the ramp from Duke Street east which can then be unrestricted since vehicles will not have to stop at the W. Taylor Run light. Residents on Cambridge Road and Yale Drive are concerned the cut-through traffic will be bumped to them. The Taylor Run Civic Association is working with Transportation staff on this project.

City staff gave a presentation on traffic trends titled 'Seminary Hills June 11, 2015' during SHA's monthly meeting. Still many questions to be answered and possible solutions to be discussed. Staff also raised the question of turning the slip lane from Van Dorn going north onto W. Braddock going east into a right turn lane. [Note: There is only one Seminary Hill; the other is Strawberry Hill.]

Norfolk Southern Railroad opposes any multi-modal bridge that would cross their property near the ethanol transfer facility, which maybe slated for expansion. (Note: The City has no jurisdiction over the railroad.)

The Alexandria Gateway Project at 4600 King Street - King and Beauregard where 5 Guys was located - may be improving. With no market for a hotel, a 5-story office building is planned and promises of underground parking and a Harris Teeter. Access will be only from Beauregard not King Street. Look for a new plan this fall!

Funding to make improvements to dysfunction junction - the intersection of Braddock, King and Quaker - was reduced from $6.6 million in the FY2016 CIP to $2.38 million because the City Manager has now deemed that the 2009 design developed by residents and a $100,000 contract with the Transportation staff is too expensive for the benefits of additional turning lanes and improved sidewalks. The car dealership and other businesses would have been impacted.

City staff is working with residents to study the speed and volume problems on Seminary Road. Police enforcement is not a solution since that department is so understaffed.

Residents on Seminary Road continue to complain about speed and volume and wish for police enforcement.

The Eisenhower West Small Area Plan process is coming to a close. Please attend public meetings about the plan to give input, particularly February 9 at the Beatley Library.

Improvements at the intersection of King Street and Beauregard/Walter Reed scheduled for this spring are now delayed until 2016 because of utility relocation problems for Dominion Power, Verizon, and Comcast.

Residents asked about a sign on Quaker Lane that indicates 'No thru Trucks' and asked why that prohibition is not enforced. Sgt. Houston said he would look into the matter.

SHA passed a resolution in June asking that the boundaries for the Eisenhower West Plan remain the same and that they not be expanded. The steering group agreed and the original Plan boundaries remain in effect.

The Eisenhower West Plan will NOT expand the boundaries of the plan area that would have made possible new routes for a connector from Eisenhower Avenue to Duke Street. The SHA Board of Directors approved a letter to the City recommending the boundaries not be expanded.

The City posted the "No Thu Trucks" signs on N. Early Street; now police can ticket violators.

The City is building dedicated bus lanes through Potomac Yard connecting Crystal City and the Braddock Road metro that will begin operating on 24 August 2014. The cost of operating this new transportation is estimated at $10 million annually.

The City has yet to develop a plan to build a metro station at Potomac Yard that is doable and would attract the necessary commercial development needed to pay for it. Three sites were selected and the first one studied was summarily rejected by the feds who would not let the City use the wet lands in the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Another site, not yet studied, would require the railroad to move some tracks, which is likely a show stopper. Commercial developers do not support the third site. The project may be shelved in favor of building dedicated transit lanes through Potomac Yard to connect Crystal City and Braddock Road Metros.

A resident of Seminary Hill wrote an excellent letter to Congressman Jim Moran asking that the helicopter traffic over our neighborhoods be reduced significantly. He has observed and chronicled the traffic that sometimes lasts 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, with between 5 and 17 flights a day. He noted not only does this traffic disturb our quality of life, it is also dangerous and costly.

The Eisenhower West Plan is discussing the boundaries of the plan area and possible routes for a connector from Eisenhower Avenue to Duke Street. A meeting is planned for June 16 at 6:30 pm.

Residents on North Early Street continue to have cut-through truck traffic-most recently dump trucks-traveling from West Braddock Road to Menokin Drive. The City has yet to post signs prohibiting thru trucks on N. Early.

The City's Traffic and Parking Board approved the request of residents on North Early Street to prohibit trucks from using their street as a cut through from West Braddock Road to Menokin Drive. Residents hope to eliminate traffic, like delivery trucks and 18-wheelers, which shake their windows and have damaged property (numerous vehicles and one of their cherry trees).

The City presented the improvements planned for the King-Quaker-Braddock intersection - dysfunction junction - to residents in Fairlington. This plan has been under discussion since 2008 and includes additional left-turn lanes, partial closure of the service road at Quaker Lane, and maybe two new traffic lights.

Pango launched a mobile app for parking in the City. People who sign up before January 31 get two free hours of parking. To register, download the app or call 855-547-2646.

The City has yet to provide SHA with data about traffic on Seminary Road and Quaker Lane.

Residents complained that the traffic light at Seminary and St Stephen’s Roads was continually malfunctioning, which creates a dangerous situation.

The Seminary Hill Transportation Subcommittee heard a presentation by Hillary Poole from the City’s Transportation Department on the Complete Streets Program. Traffic calming using bike lanes was discussed. Residents asked about the changes of the speed limit on Quaker Lane—lowered between King Street and Shirlington and raised between King Street and Duke Street—and were told they can ask the Transportation and Parking Board to revisit this decision. Residents questioned City standards about speed impediments on roads and were told that two different types: Fort Williams has speed cushions versus Fort Worth’s speed bumps. The City needs to do a study of speed and volume before determining if a stop sign is warranted at Fort Williams and Fort Worth. City staff will address issues on Quaker Lane and Seminary Road after traffic counts and analyses are complete.

The SHA Board of Directors approved a letter to the City requesting no changes be made to the Quaker/Seminary intersection until further study is done.

The transportation subcommittee of SHA members met to discuss improvements on Quaker Lane proposed by the City and decided against those presented but to request additional information/data. Members of the committee expressed more concern about speeding and access to neighborhood streets than to volume. Improvements are also needed for bikers and pedestrians. The subcommittee will meet again on June 11 at 7 p.m. at the parish hall of Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill to learn about and discuss other options.

Bob Garbacz from the City Transportation Department gave a presentation about possible changes to the lane configuration at the intersection of Seminary Road and Quaker Lane. This generated an emotional discussion about the negative impact of the increased traffic on our neighborhoods. Since no solution would 'fix' all of the problems, SHA will have a subcommittee develop a plan/response. First meeting will be a 7pm on April 3 in the parish hall of Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill.

The Board of Directors considered a suggestion that the entrance to the Virginia Theological Seminary on Seminary Road be moved so that it is across from Fort Williams Parkway. SHA's Area 9 and VTS representatives queried and reported in March that moving the driveway that far was not planned; some residents were opposed because it would encourage cut through traffic from Duke Street to use Fort Williams Parkway. VTS did not see a need for it nor the added expense of a traffic light that City staff proposed would be warranted.

Without explanation or SHA resident input, the City raised the speed limits on Quaker Lane to 35 mph in the residential areas and 30 mph in the business section between King Street and Shirlington.

Twice this spring SHA members have asked the Board of Directors to discuss problems at the Seminary-Quaker-Janney’s Lane intersection because drivers are making crazy turning movements; for example, using the left turn lane from Seminary onto Quaker to go straight or to turn right on Quaker. City staff has yet to engage on this problem. The police are monitoring and will present information at a future meeting.

The City’s plan for Corridor B Duke Street was approved by the High Capacity Transit Corridor Working Group, Transportation Commission, Planning Commission, and City Council. It will add another lane for cars in each direction in the stretch by Alexandria Commons shopping center (between Quaker Lane and Cambridge/Roth Street) but leave the rest of Duke Street as it is with maybe some bike facilities. No mention of improving pedestrian access, especially where needed at Taylor Run Parkway and Duke Street. The City is not planning to design this project until at least 2017.

The City’s plan for Corridor A in Old Town was approved by the High Capacity Transit Corridor Working Group, Transportation Commission, Planning Commission, and City Council. It will add another lane for cars in each direction only between Potomac Yards and the Braddock Metro Station. A circulator bus/trolley is under study for the rest of the route between Braddock Metro Station and south to Fairfax County. The High Capacity Transit Working Group and the Transportation Commission will meet to rewrite the Master Transportation Plan to that effect.

Poul Hertel gave his perspective on streetscapes and the inadequacy of the City’s concept of “complete streets” championed by Transportation Director Rich Baier. Poul is opposed to removing trees and green space to make additional lanes for car traffic. He advocates providing green space and trees to protect pedestrians from cars speeding by and to narrow the distance a pedestrian must navigate to cross a roadway. He also supports separate roadways for bikers not shared roadways with pedestrians.

The City is proposing to change the speed limit on Quaker Lane, which could impact residents trying to get out of their driveways. The proposal is to change the speed limit on Quaker between King and Shirlington to 30 mph and to change the speed limit on the other side from King to Duke so that the whole stretch is 35 mph (near Lindsay Cadillac it is now 25 mph). Lots of confusion about who made the request, why the City would designate part of Quaker at 30 mph when the City does not use this number on any other road it owns, etc. Bob Garbacz of the City Transportation staff is the contact: 703-746-4143 and Bob.Garbacz@alexandriava.gov.

SHA was briefed on the City’s proposal to add more lanes at the Braddock-King-Quaker intersection (dysfunction junction). Bob Garbacz from the Alexandria Office of Transportation and Environmental Services noted that staff, citizens, and a consultant had looked at six alternatives to see if any improved flow in the intersection. Staff chose one that involves minimal change; only dual left lanes from King Street east onto Braddock Road (between Apple House and the Shell gas station) and from King Street west onto Quaker Lane. The proposal also calls for a partial closure of the King Street service road at Quaker Lane—by the Sunoco gas station—as well as another traffic signal at the entrance to the Bradlee Shopping Center (on the service road that is now a three-way stop sign intersection). Construction may start in January 2015 and would take 12 months.

The High Capacity Transit Corridor Working Group approved a recommendation for Corridor B (Duke Street) that includes widening Duke Street between Cambridge and Quaker Lane and completing bike facilities. This recommendation and the one on Corridor A may be heard by the Planning Commission on June 5. The working group will no longer meet.

The City is proposing improvements to the Braddock-King-Quaker intersection and staff will present the plans at SHA’s March meeting.

The High Capacity Transit Corridor Working Group continues to discuss the widening of Duke Street between Cambridge and Quaker Lane. Residents have written asking for pedestrian improvements to cross Duke Street and measures to prevent cut-through traffic on neighborhood streets. The Working Group will likely make a decision on this corridor in March.

The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group discussed further the widening Duke Street between Cambridge and Quaker Lane. Residents wanted pedestrian improvements to cross Duke Street and measures to prevent cut-through traffic on neighborhood streets. The need for a center turn lane between Wheeler and Jordan was mentioned but no one appeared willing to give up their service roads. Connectivity at the ends of Duke Street—in Fairfax County or to Old Town—is undetermined.

A number of Representatives for Areas 1, 4, and 9 all complained about the increase in traffic on Quaker Lane and the difficulty of getting out of driveways onto the roadway.

The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group passed a resolution on Corridor A in Old Town so that the residents will NOT have a high capacity transit way. Circulator busses to the Metro stops were deemed the best way to meet transportation needs. The process for the approval of nothing will be spread out over several months instead of four meetings in one month as was done for the approval of Corridor C. The non-plan for Corridor A will be approved with whatever plan is chosen for Corridor B so that the City has a comprehensive plan providing connectivity for all. Both Councilman Paul Smedberg and Rob Krupicka attended and voted.

The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group meeting on Corridor B not contentious. Surprisingly, the consultant said widening Duke Street to take away the service roads would not improve flow. The group did discuss widening Duke Street between King Street and Quaker Lane. Not clear what that would do to traffic on Quaker—perhaps bring more in the morning and move it faster in the evening. Both Council Members Del Pepper and Frank Fannon attended.

An Area 4 resident complained about cars blocking the box on Quaker Lane at Sterling Avenue. Abi Lerner, in the City’s Transportation & Environmental Services Department was contacted but has not reported back.

The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group passed a resolution on Corridor A in Old Town so that the residents will NOT have a high capacity transit way. Circulator busses to the Metro stops were deemed the best way to meet transportation needs. The process for the approval of nothing will be spread out over several months instead of four meetings in one month as was done for the approval of Corridor C. The non-plan for Corridor A will be approved with whatever plan is chosen for Corridor B so that the City has a comprehensive plan providing connectivity for all. Both Councilman Paul Smedberg and Rob Krupicka attended and voted.

The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group meeting on Corridor B not contentious. Surprisingly, the consultant said widening Duke Street to take away the service roads would not improve flow. The group did discuss widening Duke Street between King Street and Quaker Lane. Not clear what that would do to traffic on Quaker—perhaps bring more in the morning and move it faster in the evening. Both Council Members Del Pepper and Frank Fannon attended.

An Area 4 resident complained about cars blocking the box on Quaker Lane at Sterling Avenue. Abi Lerner, in the City’s Transportation & Environmental Services Department was contacted but has not reported back.

The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group looked at Corridor A in Old Town and heard from residents.

Despite public opposition and without really knowing what they were approving, the Transportation Commission (Sep 7), Planning Commission (Sep 8), and City Council (Sep 17) approved the implementation of the High Capacity Transit Corridor on Van Dorn and Beauregard Streets. This means bus rapid transit in dedicated lanes on Beauregard and Van Dorn Streets that might become streetcars some day. Yet to be determined: where it starts and ends and whether it is 6 or 8 lanes (see complete streets graphic). Nan sent her concerns about the faulty methodology that came up with this plan to the commissions and Council. No origin destination studies were done and no busses actually run on Corridor C today!

The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group appears to have lost its focus and is rushing to finish. The Group spent seven months looking at one corridor and now plans to finish the other two in about three months, meanwhile moving the plans for the first corridor forward without knowing what will be done in the other two corridors. This piecemeal process contradicts once of the work group overall goals to build a new system to transport citizens around their City. The Beauregard/Van Dorn Corridor may get a street car while Old Town may get trolleys or circulator busses. Nan Jennings reiterated her concerns about the faulty methodology of the process that will result in faulty plans, especially since no origin destination studies were done on the Beauregard/Van Dorn route and no busses actually run on that route today!

The recommendation of the High Capacity Transit Corridor Working Group for Corridor C (Beauregard and Van Dorn) bus rapid transit in designated lanes is scheduled to go to City Council on September 17. The Working Group is now looking at options for Corridor B (Duke Street and/or Eisenhower Avenue) and Corridor A (somewhere in Old Town). Nan is concerned that:

• City staff is using a faulty methodology that cannot result in good recommendations. No origin destination studies were done of any of the transit routes.
• The purview of the Working Group is changing; for example, the Working Group was only allowed to discuss the mode of transportation for Corridor C—not the route—but for Corridors B and A, the routes are to be determined as well as the modes. The City will not get a unified transit system by this piecemeal process.

Plans to add additional left turn lanes at the intersection of Beauregard and King Streets are moving forward despite complaints by local merchants (in particular Five Guys and a doctor’s office) that they will lose all of their parking spaces.

The High Capacity Transit Working Group passed a recommendation to City Council that Beauregard Street be widened—which means 1.7 miles of trees will be cut down—to build dedicated lanes for busses. Since City Council voted against cutting down less than a half mile of trees so a road/ramp could be built into the Mark Center from I-395, why will they even consider this? Note: the main gridlock problems in the corridor are caused by the configuration of Seminary Road and the limited number of accesses into Mark Center not traffic trying to pass through Beauregard. Stop the madness!

The City has no one engaged on traffic calming for helicopters. Report any complaints so to the FAA at (703) 413-0333.

The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group discussed four options for transit on Beauregard and Van Dorn Streets. The information given by the consultant about cost was minimal and incomplete. The Working Group continues to ask for information about trip origin-destination (who will ride this new system) and cost. Council Member Rob Krupicka urged the group to choose one of these options at the next meeting and move on to discussions about another corridor. Public comments were generally opposed to any of the options.

A resident of Area 6 asked for information about helicopter traffic over Seminary Hill; both volume and how close the vehicles are flying. City T&ES staff Julius Holmes investigated and said to report complaints to the FAA at (703) 413-0333.

The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group discussed four options for transit on Beauregard and Van Dorn Streets. The information given by the consultant about cost was minimal and incomplete. The Working Group continues to ask for information about trip origin-destination (who will ride this new system) and cost. Council Member Rob Krupicka urged the group to choose one of these options at the next meeting and move on to discussions about another corridor. Public comments were generally opposed to any of the options.

A resident of Area 6 asked for information about helicopter traffic over Seminary Hill; both volume and how close the vehicles are flying. City T&ES staff Julius Holmes investigated and said to report complaints to the FAA at (703) 413-0333.

Area 6 Rep Glenn Eugster said a number of Marlboro Estates residents had concerns about the speed and volume of traffic on West Braddock Road and that it was difficult to turn out of the neighborhood onto Wests Braddock Road. Deputy Police Chief Hassan Aden will work with the neighborhood.

The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group is discussing plans for a streetcar on Beauregard. The Working Group was given a planned route that the developers and City staff have agreed on and was not allowed to change the route. The Working Group had to choose three modes for further study before it had additional information, such as the total cost of each mode including operation and acquisition. The Working Group continues to ask for information about trip origin-destination (who will ride this new system) and how this system would impact current and future levels of traffic in the corridor. Both Council Member Paul Smedberg and Transportation & Environmental Services head Rich Baier spoke in favor of pressing the process forward regardless of the dearth of information. Staff and contractor findings are posted on the City website. The next meeting is on March17, 7pm, at the John Adams Elementary School cafeteria.

The High Capacity Transit Corridor Work Group has met twice and is exploring the concept of putting streetcars in the main transportation corridors as defined by the City’s Master Transportation Plan. The next meeting of the group is on January 20 at 7 pm in the Magnolia Room of the Hilton Alexandria Hotel at Mark Center.

The City is still studying plans to institute a Residential Permit Parking Program in the West End and has asked for comments on four proposals found at the City website. These proposals would impact Seminary Hill residents in Areas 5 and 8 (Seminary Road and south between the Hospital and I-395). The City is asking for opinions about the boundaries of the permit parking zones, the day and time it applies, and what is required for a vehicle to be eligible to park in the zone. Currently, the City charges $30 annually for one sticker, $40 for two, and $100 for each additional parking sticker. Visitor stickers can be purchased at City Hall.

The President of Clover-College Park Civic Association, Ann Tucker, asked SHA to support a traffic calming petition for Trinity Drive. The SHA Board voted to support a study of traffic problems on Trinity to determine what if any traffic calming measures were warranted.

After a traffic study, City staff concluded that the intersection at Fort Williams Parkway and Duke Street did not merit a traffic light.

The City is studying a request from one citizen to put a traffic light at the intersection of Fort Williams Parkway and Duke Street. Bob Garbacz of the City’s T&ES reported back that the volume of traffic did not warrant a light. Deputy Chief Aden will review the six reported accidents there to see what the problem might be. In the past, residents in Areas 4 and 9 have opposed traffic lights on Fort Williams Parkway because it would encourage cut-through traffic. A petition against a traffic light there may be circulating in those areas.

Police have been very busy on W. Braddock Road between Quaker Lane and N. Van Dorn Street this summer. They have staffed several weeks of intense speed enforcement resulting in numerous traffic tickets. They will continue this enforcement as school begins and periodically throughout the year.

SPEAK UP ABOUT TRAFFIC--The Commonwealth Transportation Board is asking for citizen input on their 6-year plan. It will hold an open house in northern Virginia on May 26 from 6-7 p.m. with a chance to speak at 7 at Fairfax Hall, 10455 Armstrong Street. Also, send recommendations by June 11 to drptpr@drpt.virginia.gov.

The Northern VA Streetcar Coalition met chaired by Tim Lovaine held a panel including speakers from the area: Steve Daljudis says Arlington plans to build the Columbia Pike 2016 and Crystal City 2010 lines in 5 years with federal funding, Rich Baier & Abi Lerner said Alexandria is talking with Congress Moran about funding a feasibility study focused on Potomac Yard and then West End, Leonard Wolfenstein reported that Fairfax has no plans for street cars and sees the Metro silver line, HOT Lanes, and toll roads as the solution. The current economic/political situation now favors street cars over BRT per Tim Lovaine.

The City must prepare a Transportation Demand Management plan for the State of Virginia, so the City’s Department of Transportation & Environmental Services hired Cambridge Systematics in Bethesda MD for $100,000 to survey citizens and civic groups. Project manager is Agnes Muszynska amuszynska@camsys.com.

The Episcopal High School CFO Boota de Butts reported to the SHA Board of Directors that the City denied the school’s request to have cross walks at its West Braddock pedestrian gate. It has applied for a blinking light and considering moving its pedestrian access to the stoplight at Marlee Way and West Braddock Road.