The City is proposing to install a sidewalk on the north side of Polk Avenue, between N Pelham Street and Palmer Place, where currently no sidewalk is available. The proposed sidewalk is entirely within City street right-of-way, and over 80% of the new sidewalk would be installed on the existing footprint of the street.

The City has a robust Safe Routes to School Program, which funds safety improvements near schools. The City has worked with ACPS staff and parents to perform safety audits for elementary and K-8 schools and identify safety challenges. The Walk Audit Report for Polk Elementary included a recommendation for a sidewalk on Polk Avenue between N Pelham Street and Palmer Place.

While a Safe Routes to School walk audit has not yet been completed for Francis Hammond Middle School (this is planned for 2022-2023), many Hammond students walk on Polk Avenue and would also benefit from a continuous sidewalk in this area.

The City has a Council-adopted Complete Streets Policy to provide streets that allow for safe and convenient travel for everyone, especially near schools. The adopted Alexandria Mobility Plan also calls for a continuous, connected sidewalk network. This sidewalk would allow people walking to continue along their route rather than being forced to cross the street and be unnecessarily exposed to moving traffic.

No. The proposed sidewalk is entirely within the City right-of-way, and no work would be performed on land designated as open space. Over 80% of the proposed sidewalk would be installed on the existing paved street footprint.

The proposed sidewalk would require the removal of four trees, which are 3”, 6”, 12”, and 12” in diameter. With the revised concept plan, staff was able to preserve the largest tree (18"). The City recognizes the value of trees and actively plans for and funds the expansion of the City’s tree canopy citywide. This does not mean trees will never be removed, but rather means that the City aims to produce a net gain in trees to expand the tree canopy overall.

No. City engineering and park staff have examined this area and identified no concerns related to the stability of the park as a result of the proposed sidewalk. A 1’ curb is proposed to provide the necessary retention between the back of the sidewalk and the hill.

Over 80% of the sidewalk is proposed to be built on the existing paved street footprint to minimize the amount of new impervious surface. As a result, no significant drainage impacts are expected.

Because the sidewalk is proposed to be built mostly on the existing, paved street footprint to minimize new impervious surface, nine existing on-street parking spaces will be removed on the north side of Polk Avenue.

The City performed a parking study of the area and determined that there was sufficient on-street parking in the immediate vicinity to meet parking demand, even with the loss of nine parking spaces. Both the Traffic & Parking Board and City Council approved the removal of the nine on-street spaces.

A formal feasibility study is neither required nor necessary for the scope and scale of this project. City staff have examined the area and determined that installing a sidewalk is feasible.

No. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required if a proposed major federal action is determined to significantly affect the quality of the human environment. Examples of projects that may require an EIS include pipelines, new rail corridors, major highway projects, and major bridge projects. An EIS is neither required nor appropriate for small, locally-funded projects.

The City’s Department of Transportation & Environmental Services, Department of Project Implementation, Department of Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Activities, and Alexandria City Public Schools have coordinated on this project.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has no role in this project. VDOT provided grant funding for the Safe Routes to School Walk Audit for Polk Elementary School as part of its statewide Safe Routes to School Program but did not play any role in the development of infrastructure recommendations. The City owns and maintains its own roadways and has no obligation to VDOT to implement this sidewalk project.

The City can consider the addition of crosswalks on Polk Avenue at Palmer Place, though this will require the removal of up to 6 additional on-street parking spaces. Crosswalks will not be considered on Polk Avenue at North Pelham Street due to the curvature of the roadway and insufficient sightlines that are needed to provide for a safe crossing.

The City has engaged with multiple groups to share information and solicit feedback, including Brookville-Seminary Valley Civic Association, Seminary Hill Association, Parkside at Alexandria Condominiums, Polk Elementary Parent-Teacher Association, Hammond Middle Parent-Teacher Association, and the Alexandria Council of PTAs. Project information was mailed directly to residents in the project area. Interested residents were invited to email the project manager with their comments between April and July 2022.

On April 26, the City met with the Polk Elementary Parent-Teacher Association. On July 13, the Brookville-Seminary Valley Civic Association hosted a neighborhood meeting where the City shared project information and gathered additional community feedback.

On July 25, the project was presented to the City’s Traffic & Parking Board, which included a public hearing. Final docket materials are available on the Traffic & Parking Board webpage. The Board voted unanimously to recommend the removal of 9 on-street parking spaces on the north side of Polk Avenue between N Pelham St and Palmer Pl to allow for installation of the sidewalk.

After the Traffic & Parking Board Public Hearing, the City received a petition to appeal of the July 25 Traffic & Parking Board recommendation. This appeal was presented at the September 17 City Council Public Hearing. At the hearing, Council voted unanimously to uphold the Traffic & Parking Board recommendation and deny the appeal.