Alexandria To Expand Old Town Pedestrian Zone As Part Of Pilot Project

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria will temporarily convert a portion of King Street to a pedestrian-only zone from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day as part of a pilot project to enhance the volume of shopping and other business activity in the area.

According to city officials, King Street (between Union Street and the Strand) and the northern portion of the Strand (approximately between Wales Alley and King Street) will be transformed into a pedestrian zone from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. These areas will feature in-street dining, similar to the 100 block of King.

During the project, the pedestrian zone will be closed to all vehicular traffic — except emergency and municipal maintenance vehicles. Bicycles and scooters are welcome in the area. Parking will still be available along the Waterfront Park on the Strand. Two of these spaces will be reserved for a vehicle turnaround area.

City council approved this pilot project during its April 23 public hearing. On April 7, the Planning Commission found that this pedestrian zone is consistent with the city’s master plan.

The Waterfront Small Area plan contains three separate recommendations to convert this area to a pedestrian zone.

According to the city, pedestrian zones have become common in many cities across the U.S. — most famously along Broadway in Manhattan and Black Lives Matter Plaza in D.C., but also in smaller cities such as Madison, WI, Burlington, VT, and Santa Monica, CA. These zones are also common in most European cities and towns, and in major cities in Latin America and Asia.

Throughout the summer, the city said staff will work with businesses to make improvements and address any unanticipated issues that arise. In late summer, staff will gather input to assess the pilot’s success and determine next steps.

The city is interested in hearing what the residents think. For questions or to provide input, email Christopher Ziemann at christopher.ziemann@alexandriava.gov.