RCA Newsletter: September 2026

Jol Silversmith

3 days ago

6 min read

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RCA September Meeting Report

Thanks to all who attended our general meeting on September 16. We started with a presentation by Reba Winstead the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for Volunteer Alexandria, marking September as Emergency Preparedness Month, and also discussing how to volunteer to be part of its Volunteer Reception Center (VRC), to help coordinate emergency response efforts in the City see https://www.rosemontcitizens.org/_files/ugd/a17392_0d25f1042f454032992bac1b497d43a0.pptx for the presentation).

The membership also elected the new RCA Board for 2026-28:

President - Jol Silversmith

1st Vice President - Riley DePiano

2nd Vice President - Rosemarie Spano

Treasurer - Margaret Janowsky

Secretary - John Patrick

The RCA also expresses its appreciation to departing Board members Dina Deringer and Jordan Eccles.

If you’re interested in participating in RCA committees (including PELT, communications, history, and the garden club), please let is know. Please also mark your calendar for the last RCA general meeting of the year on Wednesday, November 18; we expect to be joined by City Manager Jim Parajon, as well as to have an update from VRE on the rail bridge replacement project.

Save the Date: Oktoberfest

Please plan to join us on Sunday, October 4 between 1-6pm for an Oktoberfest celebration at the Rosemont Cellar at 2 East Walnut Street (note the new location this year), with drinks and food available from the restaurant and games and entertainment organized by the RCA on its parking lot. We still need a few volunteers - please let us know if you’re interested.

Last RCA Happy Hour of the Season!

Please join us for a special happy hour at the Rosemont Cellar (2 East Walnut Street) on Wednesday, October 28, 5-7pm to honor volunteers for the adopt-a-park program, who have helped keep parks in and around Rosemont neat and tidy (with a free drink coupon for them), as well as to celebrate Halloween - costumes encouraged but not required!

Virginia Elections

Early voting for the November 3 election has begun. The U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives will be on the ballot, in addition to three state constitutional amendments. For more information, please visit https://www.alexandriava.gov/elections/key-early-voting-dates-deadlines.

Neighborhood Businesses

The RCA website includes a list of physical businesses in the neighborhood (https://tinyurl.com/437mu8mx) but we would like to expand it to include home-based businesses, as well as businesses owned by Rosemonters even if located outside of the neighborhood. If you would like to be added, please email us at mailto: jol@thirdamendment.com

PELT Committee

Russell Road Safe Routes to School Project

The PELT Committee met on 9/22 with a City Transportation and Environmental Services (TES) representative to review the TES Director’s Concept C Plan for the Russell Road Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Project. The TES Director issued the Concept C Plan on 8/7 in response to the 7/27 Traffic and Parking Board (TPB) vote to support Concept 2 of the Russell Road SRTS Project. The TES Director asserts that “pursuing a new alternative, Alternative C, will significantly improve pedestrian safety while balancing neighborhood concerns, and satisfy the Board’s request that staff look for additional parking to support Noami Brooks Elementary School. Concept C includes the following elements:

Install painted curb extensions at Russell and Myrtle, Chapman, Oak, and Maple;
Install median refuge islands at Russell and West Masonic View and West Walnut;
Remove 5 on-street parking spaces on 400 block of Russell
Remove 5 on-street parking spaces on the 500 block of Russell
Remove 1 on-street parking space on the 700 block of Russell
Remove 2 on-Street parking spaces on the 800 block of Russell
Add 5 unrestricted on-street parking spaces on the 600 block of Russell (east side)
Add 2 loading/unloading spaces on the 600 block of Russell (east side)
Add 6 on-street parking spaces on Johnston Place

The PELT Committee offered to the TES representative several project alternatives that were in general well received. The following is a summary of the project alternatives discussed, and clarifications received on Concept C:

1) Parking Added to resident (east) side of Russell Road from W. Oak to W. Chapman: Parking is currently not permitted on both sides of Russell Road from West Oak to West Chapman. Concept C would add two parking spots (Loading/Unloading Zone) and five unrestricted parking spots on the east side of Russell Road. PELT suggested that these seven spots be relocated to the school side from north of the school bus zone to south of W. Masonic. The school currently has only two buses and there is room for up to 8 cars to park (total of 400’). The bus zone would be 200’ which would accommodate 4 buses @ 40’/bus. This approach eliminates parents/children having to cross Russell Road and it provides six unrestricted parking spots for teachers and visitors.

PELT noted that parking on West Masonic from Johnston Place to Russell is underutilized (the playground side). This block would seem to be a good location for teachers to park to directly access Brooks, and it would preserve the line of sight on Russell Road if parking remained restricted on Russell. Should on-street parking be added to the east side of Russell, then the TES representative was agreeable to incorporating striping that restricts parking within five feet of driveways- per city code.

2) Johnston Place Parking Add: At the 7/27 TPB meeting, TES discussed the rationale for not adding on-street parking to Johnston Place. TES stated that the fire department (FD) was not comfortable adding parking spaces per policy and that the road is very narrow - only 24’ wide and the fire department opposed adding parking

because they want/need 22’ of clearance. TES noted that some streets in Rosemont/Del Ray were grandfathered with respect to fire access – The FD “Policy” is to not add parking on narrow streets like Johnston. The TES Director’s Concept C indicates that the FD is now ok with allowing parking on Johnston Place. The TES representative at the 9/22 PELT meeting could not offer comment on how the parking was considered acceptable under Concept C. PELT has requested a copy of the FD Policy on this issue and correspondence between TES and the FD.

3) Concept C will “will significantly improve pedestrian safety” :The TES Director decision letter of 8/7, states that she has “determined that pursuing a new alternative, Alternative C, will significantly improve pedestrian safety” but the basis for making this determination has not been provided. At the 7/27 TPB meeting, TES would not make a determination as to whether Concept 1 or 2 was safer and that both concepts had been applied in the city. Concept C is a hybrid approach to Concepts 1 and 2. Concept C does not include new safety elements.

4) High Visibility Crosswalks/User Activated Pedestrian Crossing Lights: Concept C includes the addition of high-visibility crosswalks at the intersections of Russell and W. Chapman, W. Myrtle, and W. Maple. PELT suggested that TES consider adding User Activated Pedestrian Crossing Lights at two intersections. The crossing lights will reduce traffic speeds and make it safer to cross Russell. The TES representative liked the idea but indicated that these systems cost $60K, which is not in the project budget.

5) Static School Slow Zones: As part of Arlington County’s Vision Zero program, vehicle speeds are restricted to 20 mph (24/7) within 600 feet of school property and enforcement is prioritized Slow Zones – Official Website of Arlington County Virginia Government. PELT encouraged TES to add this element to the Brooks project. This idea was well received.

6) Speed Cushions to Remain on Russell Road: PELT requested that the current speed cushions be retained on Russell Road. The TES representative indicated that the city intends to retain the speed cushions.

7) Speed Cushions in Lieu of Mid-Island Block Refuges: Concept C includes the construction of median refuge islands at Russell and W. Masonic View and W. Walnut. PELT encouraged TES to consider replacing the mid-island block refuges with one or more speed cushions in the project area. This would preserve on-street parking spots that would be removed under Concept C and not impact emergency vehicle movements.

Resources from Alexandria Sheriff’s Office

The Alexandria Sheriff’s office offers a house-watching service (https://www.alexandriava.gov/sheriff/away-from-home-check). Additionally, the Sheriff continue to offer “Project Lifesaver” to help track adults and children with special needs (https://www.alexandriava.gov/sheriff/project-lifesaver).