City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: TARRENCE MOORER, INTERIM DIRECTOR, T&ES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Support a Grant Application to the Transportation-Land Use Connections Program at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.[ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
ISSUE: Should the City submit an application to the Transportation-Land Use Connections
(TLC) Program at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) to support implementation of the Alexandria Mobility Plan?
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Approve a resolution supporting the submission of a grant application by March 3 for up to $80,000 in technical assistance to perform planning, outreach, and conceptual design for corridor improvements on South Pickett Street between Duke Street and Edsall Road; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to apply for TLC technical assistance through the MWCOG and enter into any agreements with MWCOG to accept and implement the grant.
BACKGROUND: MWCOG’s TLC Program provides up to $80,000 in short-term consultant services to local jurisdictions for small planning and preliminary design projects that promote mixed-use, walkable communities and support a variety of transportation alternatives. If funded, project award would occur in Spring 2023, and projects would last from September 2023 to June 2024. Applications to the FY 2024 TLC Program are due March 3.
In the Alexandria Mobility Plan proposed bicycle network, South Pickett Street is designated as a future “enhanced bicycle facility”. In 2022, staff developed a Complete Streets Five-Year Plan (FY 2023 to FY 2027) with input from the Transportation Commission, which included a project to implement bicycle lanes on South Pickett Street between Duke Street and Edsall Road.
DISCUSSION: The City proposes to request technical assistance for the outreach and design of multimodal corridor improvements on South Pickett Street between Duke Street and Edsall Road. South Pickett Street west of Edsall Road has existing bicycle lanes, and the Alexandria Mobility Plan calls for extending an “enhanced bicycle facility” to Duke Street. This corridor provides access to high-density residential communities, commercial and retail uses, mixed uses, Armistead Boothe Park, Samuel Tucker Elementary School, and public transportation. South Pickett Street also connects to the future Duke Street Transitway, which will provide high-capacity transit service to local destinations, including West End Alexandria (formerly Landmark Mall). Connecting to the bicycle infrastructure on South Pickett Street west of Edsall Road also provides better access to the future West End Transitway.
The project would include planning, community engagement, and conceptual design for corridor improvements on South Pickett Street to enhance mobility, access, safety, and comfort for all roadway users. The project would result in the selection of a preferred design alternative, which would then advance to detailed design.
This project supports strategies in the Alexandria Mobility Plan which address MWCOG Transportation Planning Board (TPB) priorities.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact. The TLC program projects do not require a local match, and MWCOG staff will conduct procurement activities and manage the project consultant in collaboration with City staff. Once the conceptual design is complete, the project would advance to detailed design and construction using FY 2024 Complete Streets CIP funds. Should this project not be awarded, the concept design would be funded through the Complete Streets CIP project.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Transportation Commission Letter of Support
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director of Transportation, T&ES
Christopher Ziemann, Division Chief, Transportation Planning, T&ES
Alex Carroll, Complete Streets Program Manager, T&ES