Alexandria's Next Phase Of Pedestrian Block Extension To Continue Through September

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The pedestrian-only zone is set to start again in the 200 block of King Street for an extended season in 2025.

The City of Alexandria's Transportation & Environmental Services is closing the 200 block of King Street as the second phase of a pilot program. The closure to vehicular traffic will run from March 14 to Sept. 30, allowing time for community feedback and data collection. It follows the first phase during the holiday season from Nov. 22, 2024 to Jan. 3, 2025.

City Council could consider a permanent pedestrian zone in the 200 block in fall 2025.

Alexandria City Council had approved the pilot program in November 2024 after a request by then-Mayor Justin Wilson and Councilmember John Taylor Chapman. The 100 block of King Street and the unit block plus a section of The Strand are already permanent pedestrian-only blocks. The city has started to install features on the permanent pedestrian blocks, such as crash-rated bollards and standard bollards, wood platforms for outdoor dining, consistent tree lighting, street light upgrades and new crosswalks and the Union and Lee intersections with King Street. Easements for emergency vehicles are factored into both the 200 block pilot program and the permanent pedestrian blocks.

Follow the city's pedestrian block web page for updates. Check back for a link to share public feedback on the upcoming pedestrian block phase. Feedback may be shared now on the first phase from Nov. 22, 2024 to Jan. 3, 2025.