Community Corner

Multitude of New Crosswalks Coming to East Del Ray

Installations aimed at combating cut-through traffic and improving pedestrian safety.

Click on the dots on the map above for information about the specifications of new and refurbished crosswalks in Del Ray.

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The Del Ray Citizens Association approved the installation of dozens of new crosswalks between Mount Vernon Avenue and Route 1 at its membership meeting Monday night. The new crosswalks are aimed at combating cut-through traffic—including trucks and speeding vehicles—between the two thoroughfares and maintaining Del Ray’s pedestrian-friendly reputation.

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The developer of the yet-to-be constructed Institute for Defense Analyses office in Potomac Yard agreed in December to donate $30,000 from an existing contribution for traffic-calming measures in adjacent neighborhoods. 

See: Council OKs IDA Office at Potomac Yard

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The DRCA’s Traffic and Parking Committee began working with city staff early this year formulating a series of improvements. The committee focused its recommendations east of Mount Vernon Avenue between E. Raymond and Monroe avenues—where traffic interacts most with Potomac Yard, Committee Chair Jay Nestlerode said.  

Speed tables and lighted crosswalks proved too expensive, so an emphasis was placed on installing crosswalks and other measures that would alert drivers they are entering a residential neighborhood.

“If there’s a crosswalk, it’s a lot more visible to stop,” Nestlerode said at Monday’s DRCA meeting.

Click on the dots on the map above to read descriptions of new and refurbished crosswalks in Del Ray. 

Standard crosswalks of two parallel white lines will be installed in a multitude of intersections, while the existing crosswalks on or near Mount Vernon Avenue—brick and otherwise—will be refurbished and restriped.

Decorative, imprinted asphalt crosswalks are to be installed on traffic-heavy E. Howell and E. Custis avenues near their intersections with Route 1 to further signal drivers that they are entering residential streets. Neighborhood signs (with a design to be discussed and debated at a later date) will also be posted on E. Howell and E. Custis near Route 1. The signs will be obtained through the city’s neighborhood sign program. 

High visibility crosswalks (two parallel lines with striping in-between) will be installed at the intersection of E. Monroe and Mount Vernon avenues and on E. Bellefonte and E. Windsor avenues near their intersections with Route 1.

A “Yield to Pedestrians” paddle—something DRCA members called a frequent inadvertent target of trucks—will be installed near the intersection of E. Monroe and Leslie avenues.

Outside of crosswalks, covered traffic signals will be installed at the intersections of E. Custis and Route 1, E. Howell and Route 1, E. Howell and Mount Vernon (east-west) and E. Monroe and Mount Vernon (east-west). The louvered signals obscure the lights until drivers are the near the intersection, preventing drivers from racing to make it through green lights.

The installation of the recommendations is expected after July 1, the start of Alexandria’s new fiscal year.

Hillary Poole, the Complete Streets coordinator with Alexandria, said Monday she is planning to install several new bicycle racks in the Mount Vernon Avenue corridor.

Nestlerode said the Traffic and Parking Committee is planning to investigate a series of future recommendations, including limiting the number of parking spaces on Mount Vernon Avenue to discourage driving, Capital Bikeshare stations with path connections in Del Ray and Potomac Yard and wayfinding signs with distance and time to certain locations.

Neighborhoods adjacent to Potomac Yard are scheduled to receive a $1 million donation from developers for traffic-calming measures when the Potomac Yard Shopping Center is redeveloped. 

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