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'It's confusing to drivers' | Arlington uses new strategy to change name of Jefferson Davis Highway

The board has requested that the state change the name to Richmond Highway to match the nearby Alexandria portion.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Running right through Arlington County's new Amazon headquarters is Route 1, named in memory of the President of the Confederacy: Jefferson Davis.

"It actually was changed to honor Jefferson Davis in 1922," Katie Cristol, Arlington County Board member, said. "So at a time of Jim Crow laws, a real agenda of kind of reclaiming that white supremacist identity."

For several years, the Arlington Board has asked Virginia's legislature to get rid of the name Jefferson Davis. Arlington can't change the name itself because it's a county and the road is a state highway.

As drive into neighboring Alexandria, Jefferson Davis Highway is no more. It's recently been changed to Richmond Highway. Alexandria, however, can change the name because it's a city and cities follow different state rules.

Credit: Peggy Fox

Alexandra's action now gives Arlington County a new reason and strategy to change the name. Arlington said it's now a transportation issue because when the road changes names, it confusing to drivers and navigation apps. 

"We've heard from more than a few people that the mapping apps, Google Maps, Waze, etc., kinds of spins itself in circles, sending people to the wrong address," Cristol said.

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For first time, Arlington has voted to ask the Commonwealth Transportation Board to rename its portion of Jefferson Davis Highway, Richmond Highway.

Cristol said the Commonwealth Transportation Board signaled that it would consider the request. It’s made up of 17 people and they could take take up the issue at the CTB's meeting next month.  

WUSA9 reached out to the Commonwealth's Transportation Board but did not hear back.

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