Reference
Proposed engineering standards
The proposal's consistent recommendation across the technical papers: regulate outcomes — safe pedestrian passage, certified electrical equipment, responsible temporary use of the right-of-way — using performance standards matched to a nightly residential charging scenario, not requirements derived from permanent infrastructure or commercial operations.
1. Cable protection — temporary removable protector
Evaluated as a temporary pedestrian facility, an approved device must meet performance goals, not a fixed product spec:
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Stability | Lies flat; does not shift, rock, or migrate under pedestrian traffic. |
| Slip resistance | Textured walking surface effective wet and dry. |
| Visibility (day) | High-contrast (safety yellow or equivalent), detectable in daylight and under street lighting. |
| Visibility (night) | Retroreflective marking along the leading edges, plus illumination of the crossing where street lighting is poor — a porch or solar fixture covering the cable route is sufficient. Added in response to the single night-time incident reported in the 311 record. |
| Traversability | Low profile with beveled, gradual edges passable by wheelchairs, strollers, and carts. |
| Profile | A 1:12 maximum approach slope (PROWAG R302.6.2) is preferred. Where no commercially reasonable product meeting that slope exists for the required sidewalk width, an alternative low-profile protector may be approved on demonstrated safe passage. See the feasibility review. |
| Coverage | The cable shall be continuously protected across the entire pedestrian travel surface. No exposed cable may remain within it. One section or several mechanically joined sections may be used — a single full-width unit is not required. Fredericksburg, VA's pilot takes the same approach: multiple ramps are acceptable if they “interlock to prevent separation.” |
| Seams & joints | No horizontal opening greater than ½ in (PROWAG R302.6.3); no vertical mismatch greater than ¼ in at any edge or joint; sections shall resist lateral movement and separation under ordinary pedestrian and mobility-device use. |
| Component weight | No individual removable component heavier than 25 lb; 15 lb or less preferred. Applies per component so modular assemblies remain possible. A proposed design criterion, not an established legal or ergonomic threshold; for reference, every cover on Fredericksburg, VA's approved-examples list weighs 21–25 lb. |
| Cable containment | Fully encloses the cord; rated for pedestrian loading, not vehicle loading — vehicle-rated devices are needlessly heavy for a residential walkway. |
| Deployment | Placed substantially perpendicular to the path of travel; present only while actively charging; stored on private property otherwise. |
What the standard is not: a permanent ADA curb ramp. Permanent-infrastructure geometry is the wrong test for a device that exists on the sidewalk a few hours a week — the ADA, VDOT, and Alexandria's own MOT policy all evaluate temporary facilities under a practicability standard instead.
Draft standard text — cable protection
A charging cable crossing the pedestrian travel path must be fully enclosed within a removable protector that is stable, slip resistant, conspicuous, and installed substantially perpendicular to pedestrian travel. The protected crossing may consist of one or more mechanically joined sections. No exposed cable may remain within the pedestrian travel surface. No individual removable component should exceed 25 lb. Bottom-edge changes in level should not exceed ¼ inch, openings between components should not exceed ½ inch, and components must not shift or separate under ordinary pedestrian or mobility-device use.
Draft standard text — profile
Products satisfying a 1:12 maximum slope are preferred. Where no commercially reasonable product satisfying that slope is available for the required sidewalk width, the City may approve an alternative low-profile protector demonstrated to provide safe passage for pedestrians and mobility devices.
Both blocks are proposed CurbsideALX standards, not existing Alexandria law. The 1:12 figure follows PROWAG R302.6.2, which is federal guidance rather than binding law for an ordinary residential sidewalk; Alexandria would be adopting it as a local standard. The alternative pathway exists because, as of September 2026, no product on the market combines a full-width span, a household-manageable weight, and a verified 1:12 slope.
The removable protector is the baseline, not the ceiling. The preferred permanent physical condition is a recessed cable channel cut flush into the sidewalk, which removes the surface ramp entirely; the crossing-options analysis compares ramps, channels, overhead arms, and flat cables and proposes one standard channel detail for ordinary concrete sidewalk. The preferred way to obtain one is a City service request using that standard detail, not a resident-led excavation permit. The stages overlap: a household may charge under the protector today and request the channel when the service exists.
2. Charging equipment — certified EVSE
Standard
Certified EVSE (e.g., UL 2594 / UL 2231 listed, SAE J1772 coupler), installed in accordance with the National Electrical Code (Article 625) and manufacturer instructions, with ground-fault protection. No distinction between Level 1 and Level 2. Fredericksburg, Virginia's 2025 pilot permits both, with Level 2 allowed where the cord is hard-wired or the 240-volt outlet is kept in a locked outdoor cage when not in use.
Rationale in Electrical Safety & Charging Level: the safety layers live in the certified equipment, not the voltage — and Level 2's shorter sessions reduce the hours a cable occupies the sidewalk. Improvised extension-cord arrangements are excluded categorically.
3. Insurance — risk-based, residential tier
Standard
Proof of homeowners or renters personal liability insurance applicable to the permitted crossing; if the City states a minimum, $500,000 per occurrence — the City's existing residential-encroachment limit. Avoid commercial insurance standards for a residential use.
Rationale in Liability Insurance: Alexandria's own encroachment guidance is tiered by risk, and this use is analogous to the residential tier, not to parklets or outdoor dining.
Operating rules that tie it together
- Temporary use only — cable and protector removed when not actively charging; no storage in the right-of-way.
- Homeowner responsible for equipment condition and maintenance.
- No reserved parking; no signage or cones.
- Immediate removal for snow, ice, construction, emergencies, or City direction.
- Revocable, site-specific, non-transferable permit; inspection before effect; reinspection on complaint.
- The City maintains a published list of approved products and assemblies, so compliance can be checked against a name rather than re-argued at every address.
- Where the City proceeds under its 2026 publicly accessible EV charging authority, a drafted residential license carries these rules in license form, with residential-scale insurance and a one-year renewable term.
Future research & possible additions
Items identified for follow-on work as the proposal matures:
- Trip-and-fall claims history involving commercial cable protectors; insurance claim data.
- Independent slope and traversal measurement of candidate devices — manufacturers largely do not publish slope figures, so the City cannot apply a 1:12 rule from catalogues alone.
- Weight and price verification for extruded-aluminium protectors in 48–72 in spans, the only single-piece option found wider than 4 ft.
- Photos and engineering drawings of approved products.
- City-issued cord tags carrying the address and permit number, as Fredericksburg requires, so a complainant or inspector can identify a permitted crossing at a glance.
- Prototype permit application and inspection checklist.
- Draft ordinance text and broader economic analysis.