Another chance to support a safer, bikeable Duke Street

One month ago, I wrote urging WABA advocates to turn out to the May Traffic & Parking Board meeting and speak up for better bike lanes on the Duke Street service road east of West Taylor Run. And you absolutely delivered: supporters of a two-way protected bicycle facility spoke powerfully and the Board approved it, voting against the staff recommendation of an unsafe shared bike lane with two-way vehicle traffic. 

Fast forward and now another segment of the transformative Duke Street in Motion project is up for a key vote in front of the Traffic & Parking Board. On Monday, June 24th, the T&PB will consider a one-way conversion on the Duke Street service road west of West Taylor Run to Cambridge Street that will allow for a continuous two-way bicycle facility while also simplifying vehicle movements to promote safety. 

Happily, staff is recommending the conversion this time (discussion here, Agenda Item #13, beginning on page 82) but some residents are once again opposed. As before, there is the only option consistent with the city’s Bike Master Plan and Vision Zero Plan, and failure to more safely accommodate bikes and pedestrians here and now will leave a pernicious gap in the Duke Street corridor that may take decades to correct.

So we need advocates to speak up once again, this time for Option #3, on or before the next T&PB meeting on Monday, June 24th. You can:

• Show up at City Hall (301 King St) and sign up to speak before the meeting starts;
• Register via Zoom and speak virtually; or
• Send brief remarks supporting Option #3 (through-cut w/ one-way service road) to Sheila McGraw at sheila.mcgraw@alexandriava.gov by 7PM on Sunday, June 23rd (24 hours before the meeting). 

An undertaking like Duke Street is the product of a hundred, a thousand small choices like the one made last month and the one that will be made on Monday. Our job is to keep showing up and advocating for the choices that prioritize safety and comfort for all residents regardless of travel mode now and into the future. As always, questions or concerns, please feel free to email advocacy@waba.org. 

PS – This will be an action-packed agenda. Also on the docket and worth supporting at the meeting or via email:

• Agenda Items #6 & 7: approving removal of parking to add two Capital Bikeshare stations, at Potomac Greens Drive adjacent to Potomac Yard Metro and at Four Mile Road and Milan Drive. 
• Agenda Item #12: discussion of another one-way service road conversion with bike, pedestrian, and transit improvements, on King Street at the Bradlee Shopping Center.