DRCA Transportation and Pedestrian Safety Subcommittee Report

Posted onAuthordelraycitizens

By Jay Nestlerode, DRCA T&PS Subcommittee Chair

The next T&PS Subcommittee Meeting is scheduled for January 16th, 7pm at the Mount Vernon Rec Center- 2701 Commonwealth Ave, Large Meeting Room.

A Discussion of the Potomac Yards Landbay L project and associated traffic issues will be held with the Alexandria T&ES Department during the Jan. 16th DRCA T&PS Subcommittee meeting.

UPDATE: TRANSPORTATION AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT PLAN

Since the last meeting I have reached out the Alexandria T&ES Dept. for clarification on some of the traffic improvements in the Del Ray Neighborhood. Please see the responses below to specific questions:

  1. Most of the traffic signals in the Del Ray area have loops on the side street approaches to activate the signal when traffic is waiting.
  2. Placing louvers on Red lights is a safety issue.  We want drivers to be able to see the red indications for as great of a distance as possible.
  3. We have attempted to adjust the louvers at Howell and what you see out there now is the best that we can get them.  Unfortunately, the louvers were not designed to do what we are trying to achieve.
  4. The louvers were installed at Monroe and Mt Vernon several weeks ago.  Unfortunately, once again, we are unable to adjust the louvers to limit the visibility approaching the intersection.

UPDATE RELATED TO THE KING STREET BICYCLE LANES AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS 

Since I brought this up for discussion during the last Subcommittee meeting I have attached the latest response related to the status of this plan from Rich Baier the Director of the Alexandria T&ES Department. Further information is pending; please see the previously released information on the Mount Jefferson Greenway improvements.

UPDATE BELOW FROM JUDY LO ON MOUNT JEFFERSON GREENWAY RE-LOCATION OF OFF LEASH DOG EXERCISE AREA & STEWART AVE ENTRANCE:
  1. There were questions about whether moving the existing dog exercise area would be subject to the Dog Park Master Plan guidelines for ‘new’ Dog Parks, adopted in September 2000.  Further clarification on this is being obtained in coordination with the City Attorney’s office.
  2. A land survey of the Stewart Avenue entrance area will be completed and the existing drainage will be evaluated.  Design/ engineering will be done to ensure the new entrance will handle drainage and maintenance vehicles.  The type of entrance; gated, or semi-open, will also be evaluated.
  3. Staff will work with Animal Control and Police on enforcement and surveillance, and get recommendations for incorporating crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) methods.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY OF PROPOSED METRO STOP LOCATION AT POTOMAC YARDS:

The last updates (Dec. 10th 2013) of the city council work session for the proposed Metro Rail Stop within Potomac Yards held by the city can be found here.

TRAFFIC CALMING & BIKE LANES ON EAST MONROE: 

Hillary Poole with the City of Alexandria T&ES Dept. has had several community outreach meetings including a meeting with this committee to hear concerns and possible ideas to improve the plan for the East Monroe traffic calming and bike lanes. If you would like to view the presentation please click here. Hillary Poole is scheduled to present a revised version of this plan to the DRCA T&PS Subcommittee in February with a follow-up presentation to the DRCA membership in March 2014.