The Cameron Station Civic Association held its virtual membership meeting on Wednesday, February 7, 2024. Dan Scolese, Senior Transportation Engineer for the Alexandria Department of Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) discussed the Eisenhower Avenue Transportation Study (EA Study) and Alex Carroll, Complete Streets Program Manager at T&ES, discussed the South Pickett Street Corridor Improvements Program (SP Program).
Mr. Scolese noted that the purpose of the EA Study is to improve safety, address connectivity and accessibility, and support future demand and land uses while advancing the Eisenhower East and Eisenhower West small area plans. The study area is broken into three segments covering the area along Eisenhower Avenue from South Van Dorn Street to Holland Lane. The current suggestions to improve the area are increased pedestrian crossings, adding bike travel and pedestrian travel on the bridge on South Van Dorn over the railroad tracks, and likely a road diet removing a car lane in each direction along Eisenhower Avenue. This is on an exceptionally fast pace with community engagement through the Spring of 2024, developing preferred alternatives by the Spring of 2024, and making final recommendations along with a grant and funding plan to City Council by August 2024. For more information, click here or go to https://www.alexandriava.gov/transportation-planning/eisenhower-avenue-transportation-study.
Image courtesy of Alexandria City Hall
Ms. Carroll noted that the purpose of the SP Program is to enhance mobility, access, and safety for all roadway users on South Pickett Street between Duke Street and Edsall Road. Based on public input to date, the top concerns noted were cars driving fast, few crosswalks, lack of dedicated bike lanes, difficulty crossing at crosswalks, and too much traffic congestion. Based on comments from both Mr. Scolese and Ms. Carroll, it appears that Alexandria City staff will likely be pushing for a road diet, eliminating a car lane in both directions on the road that has only two car lanes in each direction. The current timeline is exceptionally fast and anticipates community feedback by Spring 2024 with staff recommendations going to City Council for a vote in the Spring/Summer 2024. For more information, click here or go to https://www.alexandriava.gov/transportation-planning/project/south-pickett-street-corridor-improvements.
Image courtesy of Alexandria City Hall
The Civic Association is closely monitoring both projects due to their potential impact on traffic congestion along Eisenhower Avenue and South Pickett Street.
Please come and join us for our next membership meeting on May 1, 2024 at 7:00 pm. We guarantee the topic to be chosen will be one of import and interest to any renter or homeowner in our community. All Cameron Station residents and Cameron Station business personnel are welcome to our membership meetings.
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Sash Impastato moved into Cameron Station in 2000 and was awarded the Mark Pillow Community Spirit Award in 2021. Sash has been an officer or director of the Cameron Station Civic Association since 2001, on the board of the Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations since 2004, is the founder in 2014 of the West End Coalition and also serves on the Advisory Group for the Implementation of the Eisenhower West and Landmark Van Dorn Small Area Plans. Sash is a happily retired former lawyer having served a sentence of 30+ years at Big Law.
The Cameron Station Civic Association is actively engaged in influencing Alexandria City decision makers and others to ensure that its volunteer membership has a prominent voice in preserving our standard of living and property values in Cameron Station. The Civic Association and the Cameron Station HOA are two different groups, with the Civic Association working on outside civic issues (including redevelopment, traffic and recreation) and the HOA managing and improving internal community services. To join the Civic Association, send cash or a check (made payable to the Cameron Station Civic Association) for $10 per person (ages 18 and older) with your name(s), address, phone number and email address to: Cameron Station Civic Association 200 Cameron Station Blvd, Alexandria, VA 22304. To contact the Civic Association please email cameronstacivic@gmail.com.
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