March 1, 2024
Complete Streets Program
City of Alexandria, Virginia
301 King Street, suite 2300
Alexandria, VA 22314
Attn: Alex Carroll, Manager
Subject: Duke Street and Route 1 Intersection Safety Improvements
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Alexandria Families for Safe Streets (AFSS), we
support the safety improvements to Duke Street and Route 1. Both intersections are
ranked among the City’s high-crash intersections, and we support the City’s general
project to eliminate fatal and severe crashes at this location.
We support implementation of curb extensions, leading pedestrian intervals, pedestrian
refuges, and the raised crosswalk design, and encourage the City to adopt raised
crosswalks at more locations throughout the City. FHWA statistics show that raised
crosswalks can reduce pedestrian crashes by up to 45 percent. Raised crosswalks are a
great tool that the City should more widely consider to accomplish its Vision Zero
objectives and improve pedestrian safety in the City. Leading pedestrian intervals are also
an effective method to improve intersection safety by giving pedestrians and vulnerable
road users time to enter an intersection. Leading pedestrian intervals have been shown to
reduce pedestrian-vehicle collisions by up to 60 percent. We urge the City to more
broadly adopt leading pedestrian intervals at signalized intersections in the City.
However, AFSS also urges the City to simply remove the right-turn slip lane at Duke
Street and South Henry. Slip lanes are inherently unsafe. Speed kills, and slip lanes
increase vehicle speeds. As noted by the City’s presentation, retention of this slip lane
will increase vehicle speeds at this location. The vast majority of crashes at this location
are angle crashes, many of which are the result of drivers rushing through the slip lane
and attempting to merge into south-bound vehicle traffic. Even with a raised crosswalk,
the design will result in ongoing angle crashes as vehicles attempt to merge at high
speeds into south-bound traffic on Henry Street. This is dangerous to vehicles and
pedestrians who happen to be slightly south of the main Duke-Henry Street intersection.
The City staff presentation indicates that removing the slip lane would increase the
number of vehicles people crossing on the south side of the intersection would have to
interact with. However, in the presentation the City also presented traffic calming
measures that could address this concern. Specifically, leading pedestrian intervals and
signalization changes more effectively address the potential vehicle-pedestrian conflict
indicated by the presentation. Further, reduced vehicle speed would reduce the severity of
Alexandria Families For Safe Streetscrashes that occur, and provide drivers with a longer
time to react to a pedestrian within the crosswalk. In short, AFSS believes that safety warrants
removal of the slip lane at this location, and that the stated concern regarding pedestrian
conflicts when crossing South Henry Street is misguided.
In conclusion, AFSS generally supports the recommended street design changes on Duke
Street and Route 1. AFSS urges creation of a dedicated right-turn only lane at this
location, as the best means to reduce conflicts, speed, and crashes. While AFSS
acknowledges the stated concern regarding increased vehicle exposure for people
crossing South Henry Street, the conflict can be addressed via signalization improvement
and safety improvements for both pedestrians and south-bound vehicles on Henry Street
more than make up for the conflict. Thank you.
Sincerely,
/s
Dane Lauritzen
On behalf of the Board of Directors of
Alexandria Families for Safe Streets