Smart and Sustainable Future for Travel in Alexandria

The City has begun the process for updating the 2008 Transportation Master Plan that will culminate 2020. Outreach activities began in winter 2018 and will continue for the duration of this project.   The new Alexandria Mobility Plan will continue to incorporate a comprehensive transportation planning approach to ensure adequate mobility options and access for residents and visitors to Alexandria. The plan will prioritize increase access, sustainability and equity.

What's New?   

Fall Vision and Guiding Principles Survey: City staff is currently developing a survey to receive input from City residents on their vision for the future of mobility of Alexandria. This survey will help understand the values that are important for residents and will use this information to develop the plan Vision Statement and Guiding Principles. Stay tuned for community engagement activities and help us complete the short survey! 

What are the main changes to the 2008 Transportation Master Plan?

 The Mobility Plan will be developed in two phases: Phase I (2019) will update the Streets Chapter, and will add two new chapters, Smart Mobility and Transportation Demand Management. Some of the detailed contents of these chapters include:

Streets

The streets chapter will include content related to the Complete Streets Typology and functional classification, implementation of traffic calming strategies and strategies to potentially increase ways in which residents can utilize streets’ public space to increase quality of life. 

Smart Mobility

The smart Mobility chapter takes into consideration the rapid changes in technological advances that are rapidly changing how people and goods move in the City and around the Capital Region. During phase I, this chapter will develop the framework for this chapter, which would lead a discussion on how technology and innovation will improve transportation and mobility. This chapter will also identify priority measures for the City of Alexandria to adopt in order to reap the benefits of new technological advances to improve access and mobility. 

Transportation Demand Management

The Transportation Demand Management (TDM) chapter will identify strategies that incentivize the use of more sustainable modes of transportation, such as improving public transit, making walking and biking safer and others. This chapter will also recommend innovative and effective priority projects that will help reduce automobile dependency for City residents. 

Phase II of the Plan will be started in 2020 and will update the Transit and Parking and Curbside Management chapters and will finalized the Smart Mobility Chapter. Some of the contents for these Chapters include:

Public Transit

The update to this chapter will emphasize the finalization of the three major high-capacity bus corridors introduced by the 2008 Transportation Master Plan. The chapter will also consider fundamental changes to the City’s bus network to better serve current/future transit demand, and to better reflect community priorities for transit service. 

Parking and Curbside Management

This chapter will provide fundamental changes to the way the City regulates the use of one of the most important public space: the curb. The curb will become essential in terms of freight loading, parking, and other uses. Correctly regulating the curb will not only increase the efficiency of parking and loading, but will also increase quality of life for curbside users. 

2008 Transportation Master Plan and 2016 Update

 The 2008 update of the City's Transportation Master Plan initiated an unprecedented paradigm shift, putting Alexandrians first and providing them with innovative transportation options.The goal of the 2008 concept-oriented Master Plan is to successfully integrate and link walking, bicycling, and transit together, providing connectivity and accessibility to all of Alexandria's recreational, cultural, and economic assets, along with those of the greater Northern Virginia region.

The Transportation Master Plan was developed by the members of the Ad Hoc Transportation Task Force and the City of Alexandria to ensure the wise, effective, and sustainable planning of the City's transportation future. It establishes a multi-modal vision that will guide the City forward in its transportation decision-making process.

In April 2016, City Council approved an update to the 2008 Pedestrian and Bicycle Chapters of the Transportation Master Plan. The update consolidated these two sections into one chapter. The update featured updated vision, goals, and planning objectives; pedestrian case study areas; defining bike networks; high priority projects and strategies. The update also featured a progress report, civic engagement summary, case study summaries, and a more detailed list of projects and phasing that were integrated into the 2008 Transportation Master Plan appendices.

The Transportation Master Plan includes an overview and six sections as described below:

Complete Transportation Master Plan (11 MB)

Overview

The Overview includes 1) the Vision of promoting balance between travel efficiency quality of life and, 2) the Guiding Principals that form a new template for transportation decision-making.

Section One – Transit Concept

The Transit Concept outlines a progressive vision for the future of travel throughout the City with a system of innovative transit vehicles operating along three primary transit corridors within secure rights-of way dedicated exclusively to transit use. The Plan is a vision for the development of clean, efficient enjoyable transit services that enhance mobility throughout the City and region for commuters, residents, and visitors.

Section Two and Three - Pedestrian and Bicycle Section

The Pedestrian Section calls for a city where public spaces, including streets and off-street paths offer a level of convenience, safety, and attractiveness that encourages and rewards the choice to walk regardless of age or ability. This section outlines supportive policies and targeted infrastructure investments that will make the City a regional leader in the creation of pedestrian-friendly streets. The Bicycle Section is a blueprint for creating a safe and convenient bicycle network that will increase the number of Alexandria's who bicycle for all trips shorter than five miles. With "complete streets" designed to enable safe travel by all users and routine accommodations for bicyclists, the City can make bicycling a viable transportation option. More information on the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan.

Section Four – Streets Section

The Streets Section outlines approaches and techniques that will ensure streets are designed to safely accommodate all modes of travel, while preserving community character.

Section Five – Parking Section

The Parking Section provides a background of the City's existing parking policies, identifies the guiding principles for parking management, and includes specific actions and strategies for managing parking resources in a cost-effective manner that contributes toward the overall vision of the City.

Section Six – Funding and Implementation Section

The Funding and Implementation Section provides a list of federal, state, and local funding resources that the City may utilize to fund the identified actions, strategies, and plan concepts. The process and policies for identifying project funding priority and implementation are also included in this section.