Alexandria Looks to Improve Its Walkability

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THE D.C. AREA is the most walkable urban region in the country — at least, so says a new study from the Brookings Institution that identified 20 distinct walkable neighborhoods in and around the city. As the Associated Press noted this week, there were only two such walkable spots in D.C. 20 years ago, according to the study.

Why the shift? The primary force behind walkable communities, the study concludes, is a good public transit system.

For many years, Arlington County has been recognized for its successes in attracting transit-oriented development along its Orange Line corridor. One of the walkable places the study singled out is the corridor's Ballston neighborhood, which features ample residential and retail space — even a shopping mall — clustered around its Metro stop.

What about Arlington's neighbor to the south, Alexandria? Sure, Old Town and Del Ray are pretty walkable places, too. But city officials want to improve street-level infrastructure for those who don't spend time behind the wheel. Alexandria is finalizing a draft master plan for pedestrian and bicycle mobility and on Thursday, the city will host its final public meeting on its proposals.

According to an announcement from the city:

The plan features more than 5,000 recommendations for specific improvements to enhance connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists. The field data collection effort, one of the most comprehensive efforts of its kind undertaken in the United States, resulted in a list of improvements that includes more than 17.5 miles of sidewalks, hundreds of new crosswalks, accessible curb ramps and pedestrian countdown timers, 10.1 miles of new shared-use paths, 16.3 miles of new bicycle lanes and much more.

» "City of Alexandria to Hold Final Public Meeting for Pedestrian and Bicycle Mobility Plan" [City of Alexandria]
» "Alexandria Pedestrian & Bike Mobility Plan" [City of Alexandria]

Photo by Tracy A. Woodward/The Washington Post