Transportation Equity

Goal: Achieve a safe, high-capacity, equitable transportation system that provides access to joy and jobs.

Background:
For more than half a century, Alexandria’s transportation policies were aimed primarily at facilitating car travel and car storage. City policies have evolved:

This work, implementing and sustaining the city’s multi-modal equity and climate-focused transportation policies, is incomplete.

Project: Duke Street Transitway

Action Plan: We share personal stories with City Council members, and with other decision makers, about the value and importance of the recommended preferred alternative. We gather and present information to support this transit project. We will participate in community outreach during the design phase to ensure transit equity needs are met.

Project Leads: Jim Durham, Jonathan Krall

Project status:

  • In May 2023, the Duke Street Transitway Advisory Group voted to recommend a preferred near-term alternative for enhanced bus service on the corridor. 
  • The Advisory Group also made a long-term recommendation that bus service along the corridor should travel in center-running bus lanes with separate spaces for pedestrians and cyclists.
  •  On June 27th, the City Council City Council approved the staff recommendation unanimously. The Advisory Group’s recommended near-term plan will proceed to design, and the long term plan for continuous bus lanes and walking/biking accommodations was endorsed.
  • City Staff will continue refining service road concepts between Roth Street and Moncure Drive and engage residents summer/fall 2023 with a status update to City Council with the results by the end of the year.
  • City Staff will also initiate procurement efforts for design consultant services with a goal of a Council-approved design by the end of CY2024.

Challenges: The value and importance of improving transit, walking, and biking as useful transportation options, particularly for marginalized communities, is not widely acknowledged. Through advocacy and action, we seek multi-modal transportation that serves all Alexandrians.

Graphic: Minority Census tracts served by the Duke Street Transitway

Project: Alexandria Transit Vision Plan

Action Plan: Educate the public and city officials on the value and importance of transit to meeting the city’s economic, equity and climate goals and objectives.

Project Leads: Jim Durham, Jonathan Krall

Project status:

  • In May2023, City Council approved a FY24 budget that funded one of four DASH Service improvements that would have fulfilled the FY22 Alexandria Transit Vision (ATV) Plan. 
  • Three FY22 ATV Plan service improvements remain to be funded. 
  • A new DASH’ collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is expected to require significant funding to provide fair and competitive compensation. 
  • To fund both the CBA, and additional service improvements in FY25 and beyond will require a strong commitment to transit as a key infrastructure pillar in the city’s budget.

Challenges: High-frequency bus service in high-density neighborhoods, promised in the 2022 Alexandria Transit Vision (ATV) Plan, has not been delivered. Through advocacy and action, we seek high-quality transit, particularly for under-served communities.

Project: Zero Fare Bus Service

Action Plan:  Advocate for the continuation of Zero Fare DASH bus service for low-income residents. Educate the public and city officials on the effectiveness of this program for meeting the city’s public health and equity goals and objectives.

Project Leads: Jim Durham, Jonathan Krall

Project status:

  • In May 2021, City Council approved a budget for the subsequent Fiscal Year (FY2022) that funded Zero Fare DASH bus service. This program was continued in FY2023 and FY2024.
  • The cost of providing zero fare has been partially offset by the award of a Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit (DRPT) grant of $7.2 million, with an agreement to continue Zero Fare DASH service through September 2025 or return the grant.  
  • According to this September 2021 DASH Fare-Free Framework Policy, expected costs, from lost fare revenue, were $5.1M (FY24) and $5.5M (FY25). Expected savings, from foregoing farebox upgrades and installations, were $4M.  
  • Providing free or reduced fare bus service for low-income residents in Alexandria is a community-driven public health initiative. See the Alexandria Community Health Improvement Plan 2025 (CHIP), Poverty Focus area on page 57.
  • DASH provides an annual report of its Zero Fare program’s successes and challenges. The first annual report is here and includes this result from an online survey in July and August 2022: “Over 80% of low-income riders said they are riding DASH more now because it is free.”

Challenges: Fiscal constraints may preclude continuing the DASH Zero Fare program for the longer term, with a negative impact for low-income residents. DASH service cuts to maintain the Zero Fare program would have an even greater impact on these residents, as well as on the City’s economic, public health and climate goals and objectives. Through advocacy and action, we seek to retain both high-quality transit for all and zero fare for low-income residents.

To join a project team, please write to one of the project leaders or to grassrootsalexandria@gmail.com.