City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 5, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing, Second Reading, and Final Passage of an Ordinance Approving and Authorizing the Closure of the 100 Block of King Street to Vehicular Traffic. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
ISSUE: Consideration of closing the 100 block of King Street to vehicular traffic.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council hold the public hearing and adopt the ordinance on Saturday, October 126, 2021 approving and authorizing the closure of the 100 block of King Street to vehicular traffic.
BACKGROUND: The section of the 100 block of King Street between Lee Street and Union Street is a two-way street heading east and west with parking on both sides of the block. The block is commercial with several restaurants and retail establishments. Before the pandemic, many restaurants participated in the City's outdoor dining program, which allowed restaurant seating on the sidewalk while maintaining a 5-foot wide accessible path for pedestrians. Approximately 25 parking spaces on this block are restricted to 2-hour, metered parking from Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
In 2015, the City completed the Lower King Street Multi-modal Feasibility Study, which included several design options for reconfiguring traffic, parking, and pedestrian space along the 100 block of King Street. Following that study, in 2019 the Council directed staff to develop a pilot program to test closing the 100 block of King Street to car traffic. In consultation with stakeholders, staff developed a hybrid concept to expand seating and programming along with one lane of traffic called King Street Place. Staff presented the pilot program to the Council on March 10, 2020, but with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent "stay at home" orders, the pilot was placed on hold.
As the City began the re-...
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