Changes To Lanes Of Seminary Road Approved In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria City Council voted 4.3 Saturday to reduce one traffic lane and add one bike lane in each direction with a center turn lane serving both directions. This will apply to a 0.9-mile section of Seminary Road between North Quaker Lane and North Howard Street currently with two through lanes in each direction.

Voting for the changes were Mayor Justin Wilson, Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker and Councilmembers Del Pepper and Canek Aguirre. The three opposed councilmembers were John Chapman, Amy Jackson and Mo Seifeldein.

The approved reconfiguration of Seminary Road, known as a "road diet" will change it to one through lane in each direction, one bike lane in each direction and one center turn lane. The changes will come as Seminary Road is repaved, which is scheduled for no later than October.

The decision followed an hours-long hearing, as over 100 speakers were signed up to speak. One group of residents backed the four-lane approach with concerns of congestion and cut-through traffic. Others asked for multimodel improvements. Among the testimony provided was from preschool teacher Nicole Radshaw, who was struck by a vehicle while biking in 2016 and requested a redesign of the road, the Washington Post reported.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Seminary Road Decision Nears, Residents Divided In Alexandria

The action went against the Traffic and Parking Board recommendation to maintain four lanes with two pedestrian HAWK (High-Intensity Activated crossWalK) signals. The Traffic and Parking Board had split 3-2 to recommend keeping four travel lanes at its June 24 meeting. Members opposed preferred a redesign of Seminary Road to add multimodal improvements, William Schuyler, the board's chairman, told council.