City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MARCH 1, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Support a Grant Application to the Regional Roadway Safety Program at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG). [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of a grant application for the Regional Roadway Safety Program of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) to support Vision Zero safety initiatives.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council approve a resolution to:
1. Support the submission of grant applications by March 18 for up to
$80,000 to design safety improvements at the intersections of South Patrick Street
& Duke Street and South Henry Street & Duke Street; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to apply for Regional Roadway Safety Program funding through the MWCOG and enter into any agreements with MWCOG to accept and implement the grant.
BACKGROUND: MWCOG’s Regional Roadway Safety Program provides short-term consultant services to member jurisdictions or agencies to assist with planning or preliminary engineering projects that address roadway safety issues and will lead to a reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes. The program provides consultant assistance of up to $80,000 for design or preliminary engineering projects. If funded, project award would occur in Spring/Summer 2022, and project kickoff would occur in Fall 2022. Grant applications are due March 18.
In 2017, the City adopted a Vision Zero Policy and Action Plan with the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries by 2028. The Vision Zero Action Plan also identified the City’s high-crash corridors, which include Patrick Street, Henry Street, and Duke Street.
Since 2014, there have been 36 crashes at the intersection of South Patrick Street and Duke Street. Of those 36 crashes, two resulted in severe injury, 11 resulted in non-severe injury, and four involved people walking. At the intersection of South Henry Street and Duke Street, there have been 37 crashes since 2014, including two severe injury crashes, 13 non-severe injury crashes, and one pedestrian crash.
DISCUSSION: The City is proposing to request funding to design safety improvements at the intersections of Duke Street at South Patrick and South Henry Streets. Potential improvements could include but are not limited to curb extensions, signal timing improvements, striping enhancements, parking modifications, and medians. The scope of improvements would be further refined during initial project planning and design. Staff will involve the community in the identification of potential design solutions to address the safety concerns at these locations.
This project supports the Vision Zero Action Plan, which was adopted by Council in 2017, and includes goals to build safer streets for everyone. This project would also support the following strategies in the Alexandria Mobility Plan:
• Implement the Vision Zero Action Plan to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2028.
• Create a safe, well-maintained, and comfortable walking and biking environment.
FISCAL IMPACT: Regional Roadway Safety Program projects do not require a local match, and MWCOG staff conduct procurement activities and manage the project consultant in collaboration with City staff. Once the design is complete, the City will leverage increased project readiness to compete with future grant opportunities to implement the designed improvements.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Transportation Commission Letter of Support
3. Citywide Crash Maps
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, Director, T&ES
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director of Transportation, T&ES
Christopher Ziemann, Division Chief, Transportation Planning, T&ES
Alex Carroll, Complete Streets Program Manager, T&ES