Confederate Conversation Deferred
While the City Council officially received the report from the Ad Hoc Committee on Confederate Street names at the Sept. 13 City Council meeting, the unanimous decision of the council was to save discussion for Saturday, Sept. 17 public hearing.
“We will be sticking to three-minute rule [for public speaking] on Saturday,” said Mayor Allison Silberberg. “We do encourage the community to come forward and share their thoughts as we weigh these decisions.”
The rest of the council expressed unanimous agreement, and Councilwoman Redella “Del” Pepper added a similar note for her peers.
“I do hope on Saturday that we, as well, will keep our remarks brief,” said Pepper.
$42 Million in Grant Requests
At the Sept. 13 City Council meeting, the Council unanimously approved $42.7 million in grant applications to the Virginia Department of Transportation and Department of Rail and Public Transportation. The grant applications were for transportation projects spread across the city.
According to Carrie Sanders, deputy director of Transportation and Transit, the first grant request was for $10.6 million for the West End Transitway. The grant would help fund two additional streets, two permanent bus rapid transit stations, and a consolidated local transit center.
The next application was $11.1 million to expand the DASH facility. Sanders said the facility’s expansion would allow the city to increase its capacity from 86 to 135 buses, servicing new routes and adding service to existing routes.
$7 million was requested for traffic adaptive signal control technology. Sanders said the technology would help Alexandria optimize traffic signal operations based on real time information at traffic stops.
$3.9 million was requested to extend Backlick Run Trail west to the Fairfax County line.
$10 million was requested for the design, engineering, and right of way acquisition for the Van Dorn Metro multi-modal bridge. Sanders said this application was put last because the project is further out in planning than the other transportation projects.
“Often the state is looking for projects that are shovel ready,” said Sanders. “That affected the priority of the list.”