Several downtown Fredericksburg thoroughfares — including a busy stretch of William Street — could be converted to two-way traffic.
Those changes are among several recommendations included in a downtown traffic study, the results of which were presented during the Sept. 23 city council meeting.
Timmons Group, an engineering firm that conducted the study, began work in Spring 2024 and made its initial report to city council last fall. Timmons also held a public engagement meeting in December and accepted input through an online survey, which received 142 responses.
The study’s mission was three-fold: determining the effect of converting several two-way streets; assessing traffic calming techniques; and evaluating bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
The resulting 182-page document calls for a “mini roundabout” where Fall Hill Avenue turns into Prince Edward Street, as well as the installation of a raised crosswalk at the nearby crossing of the Canal Path.
Along with William Street, Amelia Street would also be converted to two-way traffic between Washington Avenue and Sophia Streets. The intersection of Amelia Street and Washington Avenue, which currently allows traffic to flow freely from Amelia, would be converted to an all-way stop.
Princess Anne and Caroline streets would be converted to two-way traffic north of Amelia Street, which is generally considered a boundary of the commercial downtown area.
Some of the recommended changes require no construction at all, such as the retiming of traffic signals to better match current traffic volume and pedestrian intervals.
Mayor Kerry Devine asked how quickly any changes would be picked up by popular navigation apps, such as Waze and Google Maps.
“It would probably be a little while, but we could probably put that request in,” said David Brown, the city’s deputy city manager in charge of transportation.
A change to two-way traffic would also create unknown variables for restaurants and shops, which depend on regular curbside deliveries. Timmons’ study took into account the most restaurant-dense corridors of William and Amelia streets and added loading zones at the start of those blocks.
At a meeting with local business owners, Timmons representatives asked proprietors how much control they have over delivery times.
“They just laughed and laughed and laughed,” said Ian Pike, an assistant project manager with Timmons.
Other changes include converting the southern end of Princess Anne Street to two-way traffic and adding two-way bicycle lanes on Caroline Street in conjunction with the Dixon Connector Trail project. To compensate for changing traffic patterns, the study also calls for converting nearby Frederick and Princess Elizabeth streets to one-way traffic.
“We’re pulling a little reverse Uno on you,” Pike said.
While the Sept. 23 presentation marked Timmons’ final report, none of the changes were approved or voted on during the meeting.
“What are your plans for helping folks to digest what these changes might mean?” asked Ward 3 Councilor Susanna Finn.
Timmons Project Manager Thomas Ruff replied that he’d work with his communications staff to keep outreach efforts going.
“It could be workshops, it could be another invitation to an open house,” Ruff said. “It could be a variety of things.”
