Ron Kirby Memorial Plaque Commemoration Held

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- A plaque commemoration ceremony for Ron Kirby, a transportation planner from the City of Alexandria, was held Sunday. The plaque is placed at the Virginia end of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

A photo by Alexandria Vice Mayor Justin Wilson was posted to social media and is published here. The plaque reads:

In Memory of Ronald F. Kirby

Born: 1944 Adelaide Australia

Died: 2013 Alexandria Virginia

A consummate public servant, role model, and leader whose tireless work for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, including planning for the new multimodal Woodrow Wilson Bridge and the promotion of walkable, bikeable communities is exemplified in this public space. This memorial is placed in gratitude by the citizens of the City of Alexandria and all who loved him.

Kirby was a resident of the Rosemont neighborhood when he was fatally shot in November 2013 at his home by Charles Severance, who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for his crimes.

Here's more about Kirby, from the City:

Kirby was one of the most influential transportation planners in the Washington, D.C. region. Over the course of his long career, he successfully implemented strategies that reduced the impact of traffic and pollution on the continually growing metropolitan area surrounding the nation’s capital, enhanced economic development opportunities in the area and preserved the health and quality of life for millions of people.

A resident of the City of Alexandria, Kirby was the director of the Department of Transportation Planning at Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) since 1987. During his 26 years of service of the region, his major projects included the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge, the I-495 express lanes, the HOV lanes, the ICC Corridor and studying the concept of telework and how it affected traffic patterns.