[Archived] City of Alexandria Announces Road Closures for Special Event in Market Square on October 23

For Immediate Release: October 22, 2015

The City of Alexandria has announced road closures and other restrictions related to a special event in Market Square (301 King St.) on Friday, October 23.  The "Hillary for America" presidential campaign has applied for and received a special event permit to hold a rally from noon until 2 p.m.  Market Square has played host to many presidential candidates – and presidents – throughout Alexandria’s history.

For the safety of the anticipated crowd of up to 3,000 participants, and due to the nature of Secretary Clinton’s previous and current public roles, the U.S. Secret Service and the Alexandria Police Department will implement a security plan that includes the following:

• The three blocks adjacent to Market Square (the 300 block of King and the 100 blocks of N. Fairfax, and N. Royal Streets) will be closed to vehicular traffic on October 23 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Pedestrian access will be permitted on the sidewalks on King, Cameron, and Royal Streets at all times, but the sidewalk on the City Hall side of Fairfax Street will be closed.
• Alexandria City Hall (301 King St.) will be open for normal business on October 23, but the only permitted public entrance will be from Cameron Street.
• The Market Square Garage (108 N. Fairfax St.) will close at the usual time of 1 a.m. on Friday morning, October 23, and will not reopen until 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon.  No private vehicles are permitted to enter, exit, or remain in the garage between 1 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• All attendees of the rally must pass through metal detectors at security checkpoints on the perimeter of Market Square.  There will be no access to the event from City Hall, or vice versa.
• All DASH buses and the King Street Trolley will run on normal schedules on Friday, October 23, but the AT2, AT3, AT4, AT5, and Trolley will detour around the above street closures from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and may not serve stops in the area.  Coming from King Street Metro, the Trolley will not serve the Royal or Lee Street stops.  Coming from the Waterfront, the Trolley will not serve the Lee, Royal, or St. Asaph St. stops.  For detour details, see dashbus.com.
• The Capital Bikeshare station at King and Royal Streets will not be in service between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday.

Signs will be posted in the areas described above, to direct vehicles and pedestrians as needed.  Anyone working in or visiting the area around Market Square or attending the rally is urged to use public transportation on Friday, since street and garage parking will be limited.

This is not a City event.  For questions about the rally, contact the Hillary for America organization.  For media inquiries about street closures or other restrictions, contact Craig Fifer, Director of Communications and Public Information, at craig.fifer@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3965.

Note:  This news release was updated on October 23, at 8:46 a.m., to add the Capital Bikeshare closure.