Crossing Improvements Near Schools Phase I

Page updated on October 10, 2025 at 8:48 AM
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About the Project

This project will improve pedestrian crossings near four Alexandria City Public Schools to create safer routes for students and families walking to school. The improvements include curb extensions, median refuge areas, accessible curb ramps, and high-visibility crosswalk markings. These features, recommended safety treatments in the City of Alexandria’s Complete Streets Design Guidelines, will make it easier and safer to cross the street by shortening crossing distances, improving visibility between pedestrians and drivers, and reducing vehicle turning speeds.

VDOT chose this project for Transportation Alternatives Program funding in 2024. The grant covers design and construction and will be completed by 2030.

Crossing Improvements & Curb Extensions

This image from the Complete Streets Design Guidelines shows how curb extensions reduce crossing distances and create more space for pedestrians.
Curb extensions on Mt Vernon Ave.
Curb extension and high-visibility crosswalk near City Hall and Market Square.
Curb extensions near Cora Kelly Elementary School
A photo showing a painted curb extension
A person crossing the street
This image from the Complete Streets Design Guidelines shows how curb extensions reduce crossing distances and create more space for pedestrians.
Curb extensions on Mt Vernon Ave.
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Grid View Close Modal
This image from the Complete Streets Design Guidelines shows how curb extensions reduce crossing distances and create more space for pedestrians.
This image, from the Complete Streets Design Guidelines shows how curb extensions reduce crossing distances and create more space for pedestrians when waiting to cross the street.
Curb extensions on Mt Vernon Ave.
Curb extension on Mt Vernon Ave near the Mount Vernon Community School.
Curb extension and high-visibility crosswalk near City Hall and Market Square.
Curb extensions near Cora Kelly Elementary School
This image shows curb extensions near Cora Kelly Elementary School.
A photo showing a painted curb extension
This image shows how a painted curb extensions can create more safe space for pedestrians to wait when crossing the street.
A person crossing the street
This image shows how painted curb extensions can shorten the distance pedestrians need to travel when crossing the steet.
This image from the Complete Streets Design Guidelines shows how curb extensions reduce crossing distances and create more space for pedestrians.
This image, from the Complete Streets Design Guidelines shows how curb extensions reduce crossing distances and create more space for pedestrians when waiting to cross the street.
Curb extensions on Mt Vernon Ave.
Curb extension on Mt Vernon Ave near the Mount Vernon Community School.

Background & Locations

City of Alexandria map showing the six project locations and their relationship to nearby schools.

In 2017, the City conducted Safe Routes to School Walk Audits at 13 elementary and K-8 schools. Recommendations from those Walk Audits include curb extensions at intersections near multiple schools.

To advance implementation of the Walk Audit recommendations, this project will design and implement six curb extensions at intersections near four ACPS campuses. The map to the right shows the proposed locations for curb extension near schools. 

  • Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 School
    • N West St & Princess St
  • Mount Vernon Community School
    • Commonwealth Ave & Uhler Ave
    • Commonwealth Ave & Mt Ida Ave
    • Commonwealth Ave & Groves Ave
  • Patrick Henry K-8 School
    • N Jordan St & Taney Ave
  • Samuel Tucker Elementary School
    • Cameron Station Blvd - mid-block crossing

Process & Timeline

The City developed and submitted a grant application to fund design and construction for the Crossing Improvements Near Schools project in Fall 2023. The grant was awarded in 2024 and design work began in spring 2025.

Key project milestones

  • Planning & Public Engagement: Completed Summer 2023
  • Traffic & Parking Board Public Hearing: July 28, 2025
  • Design: Spring 2025 to 2026 - Current Phase
  • Construction: 2027 to 2030

 

More Information

If you are interested in learning more about the curb extensions near schools project or the City's Safe Routes to School program, please contact Bryan.Hayes@AlexandriaVA.gov.