Which improvement option do you prefer?

The City of Winchester, VA is exploring options to improve safety along Boscawen Street between Indian Alley and Cameron Street. Since the Loudoun Street Mall improvements were completed in 2013, the pedestrian traffic in this area has increased significantly and there are times when there are thousands of pedestrians enjoying various activities. In order to protect the safety of these pedestrians, improvements must be made and three different options have been developed for consideration.

We need your feedback and opinion on these proposed options (see below for details). Your feedback will be presented to City Council at a Work Session in November 2019.

OPTION #1: Close Boscawen Street between Indian Alley and Cameron Street to through traffic

This option includes (estimated cost $2,500,000):

• Installation of gateway structures and automated safety bollards at both Cameron Street and Indian Alley (same as the bollards currently in place on Loudoun Street at both Piccadilly and Cork Streets)
• Allowance for outdoor cafes, enhanced landscaping, and the replacement of existing surface materials with new bricks and pavers (same as the pedestrian mall)
• Improved surface water drainage in this section of Boscawen Street
• Allowance for delivery vehciles on Boscawen between 6:00-10:30 am (same as Loudoun Street)
• Modifications to the parking lot behind City Hall

Option #1 would make the most impact on pedestrian safety when compared to the other two options. 

OPTION #2: Close Boscawen Street to through traffic between Indian Alley and the parking lot entrance behind City Hall

This option includes (estimated cost $2,350,000):

• Installation of gateway structures and automated safety bollards at both the parking lot behind City Hall and Indian Alley (same as the bollards currently in place on Loudoun Street at both Piccadilly and Cork Streets)
• Allowance for outdoor cafes, enhanced landscaping, and the replacement of existing surface materials with new bricks and pavers (same as the pedestrian mall)
• Improved surface water drainage in this section of Boscawen Street
• Allowance for delivery vehciles on Boscawen between 6:00-10:30 am (same as Loudoun Street)

Option #3: Add safety bollards at four locations

This option includes the following elements (estimated cost $1,150,000):

• Installation of automated safety bollards on Loudoun Street on both the north and south sides of Boscawen. These bollards would be opened every day between 6:00-10:45 am to allow for delivery vehicles on the Loudoun Street Mall.
• Installation of automated safety bollards on Boscawen Street at both Indian Alley and Cameron Street. These bollards would only be closed during special events or periods with a high amount of pedestrian traffic. Vehicular traffic would be allowed on Boscawen when the bollards are open.
• Removal of the four decorative columns at the Loudoun/Boscawen intersection to improve visability
• Replacement of the surface materials at the Loudoun/Boscawen intersection with decorative asphalt