Redevelopment, transit projects under way in Alexandria
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| The Metroway BRT line would be a model for the West End Transitway along the Beauregard corridor. [Red Brick Town] |
Lots
of redevelopment and transit projects are in the works – or at least under
consideration – for the West End of Alexandria.
of redevelopment and transit projects are in the works – or at least under
consideration – for the West End of Alexandria.
These projects will have a huge impact on the Lincolnia area of Fairfax County – and
on the ongoing discussions about the possible creation of a commercial business
district at the Little River Turnpike/Beauregard Street intersection by the
Lincolnia Planning District Study Task Force.
on the ongoing discussions about the possible creation of a commercial business
district at the Little River Turnpike/Beauregard Street intersection by the
Lincolnia Planning District Study Task Force.
Planning
staff from the City of Alexandria briefed the task force April 18 about those
plans, including the redevelopment of Landmark Mall and a bus rapid transit
(BRT) system for Beauregard Street.
West End Transitway
A
bus rapid transit (BRT) system, known as the West End Transitway, is proposed
for a 5.3-mile stretch along the Beauregard Corridor between the Van Dorn Metro
station and the Pentagon, said Allan Fye, acting division chief, Transit
Services,
bus rapid transit (BRT) system, known as the West End Transitway, is proposed
for a 5.3-mile stretch along the Beauregard Corridor between the Van Dorn Metro
station and the Pentagon, said Allan Fye, acting division chief, Transit
Services,
BRT
differs from regular bus lines in several ways: It would be more frequent and
reliable. There would be full stations with real-time information about when
the next bus will arrive, shelter with seating, off-board fare collection, and
near-level boarding (so passengers won’t have to climb steps). Signal
improvements along the corridor would give priority to buses and be
coordinated to improve general traffic flow.
differs from regular bus lines in several ways: It would be more frequent and
reliable. There would be full stations with real-time information about when
the next bus will arrive, shelter with seating, off-board fare collection, and
near-level boarding (so passengers won’t have to climb steps). Signal
improvements along the corridor would give priority to buses and be
coordinated to improve general traffic flow.
The
West End Transitway would operate in dedicated lanes in some areas where
feasible and in mixed traffic in other sections. Key stops would be at Landmark
Mall, the Mark Center, Southern Towers, the Alexandria campus of Northern
Virginia Community College, and the Shirlington Transit Center.
West End Transitway would operate in dedicated lanes in some areas where
feasible and in mixed traffic in other sections. Key stops would be at Landmark
Mall, the Mark Center, Southern Towers, the Alexandria campus of Northern
Virginia Community College, and the Shirlington Transit Center.
The
project would also include 2.3 miles of sidewalk improvements, bikeways, and pedestrian improvements and traffic improvements at 18
intersections.
project would also include 2.3 miles of sidewalk improvements, bikeways, and pedestrian improvements and traffic improvements at 18
intersections.
An
environmental assessment was submitted to the federal government in March, Fye
said. Design work will begin next month. Construction could take place in
2019-20 and the BRT line could be up and running in 2021. However, a lot of
pieces have to fall into place before that happens.
environmental assessment was submitted to the federal government in March, Fye
said. Design work will begin next month. Construction could take place in
2019-20 and the BRT line could be up and running in 2021. However, a lot of
pieces have to fall into place before that happens.
Funding
would come from a mix of sources, including the federal Small Starts program,
state Smart Scale program, regional funds, local funds, and express lane toll
revenue.
would come from a mix of sources, including the federal Small Starts program,
state Smart Scale program, regional funds, local funds, and express lane toll
revenue.
Once
the West End Transitway is up and running, it is expected to cut 18 minutes
from the current trip, and people who switch from cars to the BRT would save
$1,300 a year.
the West End Transitway is up and running, it is expected to cut 18 minutes
from the current trip, and people who switch from cars to the BRT would save
$1,300 a year.
Currently,
the route is not served by a single bus line. Bus riders have to transfer
twice during rush hour and three times during non-rush hours.
the route is not served by a single bus line. Bus riders have to transfer
twice during rush hour and three times during non-rush hours.
The
Beauregard BRT would be the third BRT system in Alexandria. The Metroway BRT line
on the Route 1 corridor is already up and running. The King Street BRT is expected to start construction in 2022.
Beauregard BRT would be the third BRT system in Alexandria. The Metroway BRT line
on the Route 1 corridor is already up and running. The King Street BRT is expected to start construction in 2022.
Meanwhile,
the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission is considering a
BRT line along Route 7 between the Mark Center and Tysons Corner.
the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission is considering a
BRT line along Route 7 between the Mark Center and Tysons Corner.
There
have been discussions with Fairfax County officials about extending the BRT
line further south into Fairfax County after it’s up and running, Fye said.
have been discussions with Fairfax County officials about extending the BRT
line further south into Fairfax County after it’s up and running, Fye said.
Landmark Mall
In 2013,
the City of Alexandria approved a proposal by the Howard Hughes Co. to replace the
central part of Landmark Mall with a mixed-use development, but that plan is being
updated, said Maya Contreras, a planner with the City of Alexandria. At that
time, Macy’s and Sears were under separate ownership. A revised plan calling
for more density and an outdoor movie screen was approved in 2015.
the City of Alexandria approved a proposal by the Howard Hughes Co. to replace the
central part of Landmark Mall with a mixed-use development, but that plan is being
updated, said Maya Contreras, a planner with the City of Alexandria. At that
time, Macy’s and Sears were under separate ownership. A revised plan calling
for more density and an outdoor movie screen was approved in 2015.
In
January, Howard Hughes acquired Macy’s. It now plans to incorporate that property
into its redevelopment plan. Macy’s closed earlier this year, as did the rest
of the mall, except for Sears.
January, Howard Hughes acquired Macy’s. It now plans to incorporate that property
into its redevelopment plan. Macy’s closed earlier this year, as did the rest
of the mall, except for Sears.
Sears
has been struggling financially and has closed many stores. Contreras expects
Howard Hughes will buy the Sears property at Landmark and submit a revised plan
to the city. There would then be more public hearings and another
transportation study.
has been struggling financially and has closed many stores. Contreras expects
Howard Hughes will buy the Sears property at Landmark and submit a revised plan
to the city. There would then be more public hearings and another
transportation study.
Beauregard Small Area Plan
The
Beauregard Small Area Plan, approved in 2012, envisions a series of seven
distinct neighbors with a mix of uses, diverse housing options, and integrated
transit along the Beauregard corridor, said Radhika Mohan
Beauregard Small Area Plan, approved in 2012, envisions a series of seven
distinct neighbors with a mix of uses, diverse housing options, and integrated
transit along the Beauregard corridor, said Radhika Mohan
The
plan covers 400 acres and calls for over 7 million square feet of residential
uses, 1.7 million square feet of office space, 500,000 square feet of retail,
45 acres of new public parks, 800 units of dedicated affordable housing, a town
center on the site of the shopping center, a dedicated transitway, a fire
station, and athletic field.
plan covers 400 acres and calls for over 7 million square feet of residential
uses, 1.7 million square feet of office space, 500,000 square feet of retail,
45 acres of new public parks, 800 units of dedicated affordable housing, a town
center on the site of the shopping center, a dedicated transitway, a fire
station, and athletic field.
JBG,
the largest landowner in the corridor, was the first developer to proposed a
new project, but that plan was later withdrawn after JBG merged with Vornado. Now
JBG is trying to sell that property.
the largest landowner in the corridor, was the first developer to proposed a
new project, but that plan was later withdrawn after JBG merged with Vornado. Now
JBG is trying to sell that property.
Meanwhile,
the City of Alexandria is considering converting an office building on Rayburn
Street to an elementary school. The city plans to move ahead with the
transitway whether the Beauregard corridor is developed or not.
the City of Alexandria is considering converting an office building on Rayburn
Street to an elementary school. The city plans to move ahead with the
transitway whether the Beauregard corridor is developed or not.
Farther
down Beauregard, outside the plan boundary, a mixed-use development is going up
at the King Street intersection,
Contreras said. A mixed-use office building with 350 multifamily units,
including 74 affordable units, and a Harris Teeter grocery store will go up on the
site of a former hospital and a small retail center that housed one of the
first Five Guys burger restaurants.
down Beauregard, outside the plan boundary, a mixed-use development is going up
at the King Street intersection,
Contreras said. A mixed-use office building with 350 multifamily units,
including 74 affordable units, and a Harris Teeter grocery store will go up on the
site of a former hospital and a small retail center that housed one of the
first Five Guys burger restaurants.
Eisenhower West Small Area Plan
The Eisenhower
West Small Area Plan, adopted in 2015, calls for redevelopment along Eisenhower
Avenue, with major mixed-use development around the Van Dorn Metro station, a
new grid of walkable streets, a multimodal bridge over Eisenhower
at an underdetermined location, new pedestrian bridges, new bike trails, and
new parks.
West Small Area Plan, adopted in 2015, calls for redevelopment along Eisenhower
Avenue, with major mixed-use development around the Van Dorn Metro station, a
new grid of walkable streets, a multimodal bridge over Eisenhower
at an underdetermined location, new pedestrian bridges, new bike trails, and
new parks.
The
goals, Mohan said, are to transform the area from a suburban to an urbanized
environment and ensure adequate transportation networks. It’s a long-range plan
that could take decades to fully implement.
goals, Mohan said, are to transform the area from a suburban to an urbanized
environment and ensure adequate transportation networks. It’s a long-range plan
that could take decades to fully implement.
The faster they can implement the various Transit plans the better. Alleviate traffic now and even more importantly in the future when development must have happen to keep up with population growth.
If it is done right, a good mix of development will be a positive revenue generator for the government to pay for various services.