City Advances Pedestrian Safety Improvements in Greater Old Town

The City of Alexandria is advancing pedestrian safety improvements at signalized intersections in the greater Old Town and Carlyle neighborhoods to reduce the risk of serious and fatal crashes. The proposed improvements support the City's Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries.

This area experiences some of the City's highest levels of pedestrian activity, including children walking to nearby elementary schools. Between 2020 and 2025, 121 of the City's 318 reported pedestrian-involved crashes occurred in the greater Old Town and Carlyle neighborhoods, with 60% of those crashes occurring at signalized intersections.

To address the issue, the Traffic & Parking Board will consider No Turn on Red restrictions at signalized intersections in the greater Old Town area at its upcoming meeting on October 26. Additional No Turn on Red restrictions are proposed at the intersection of Mount Vernon Avenue and Glebe Road and the intersection of Quaker Lane, Janneys Lane, and Seminary Road to improve safety for students walking to nearby schools. The proposed restrictions are designed to reduce conflicts between people driving, walking, and biking.

The City will also implement Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) at signalized intersections to further improve pedestrian safety in the area and complement the effects of No Turn on Red restrictions. By giving people walking a head start into crosswalks before drivers receive a green signal, LPIs help people walking be more visible, establish their presence in the crosswalk, and have been shown to reduce pedestrian-involved crashes by 13%.

For more information about the City's Vision Zero program and Citywide efforts to improve traffic safety, visit alexandriava.gov/VisionZero.