A “Jefferson Davis Highway” sign at South Glebe Road, one of the many invoking the Confederate president along U.S. 1 in Arlington

Michael Pope / WAMU

Arlington County board members say they will pursue a different tactic in attempting to rename the controversial Jefferson Davis Highway.

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring released an opinion last week saying the county could change the name with a board resolution and approval from the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the state’s 17-member transportation policy board.

Arlington County has been trying to rename the highway for years but had to get approval from the Republican-controlled General Assembly.

Board Chair Christian Dorsey told the Washington Post that the board would likely move forward with the change saying, “It’s long been our stated intent.”

Alexandria changed the name Route 1 from Jefferson Davis Highway to Richmond Highway in 2018, but was able to do so because officials interpreted the law as cities having a different street naming process than counties.

The highway, named after the Confederate president, was thrust back into the spotlight last fall when Amazon announced it would set up shop in Crystal City along the thoroughfare.

Del. Mark Levine (D-Alexandria) asked for Herring’s opinion.

“In Arlington County, one of the most diverse and progressive localities in the nation, we are saddled with a primary highway that honors a racist traitor and slaveowner who led the fight to take up arms against our nation in order to preserve the brutal system of slavery,” Levine wrote in his newsletter.

In 1922, the General Assembly named the highway at the request of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

This story originally appeared on WAMU. 

Previously:

With Amazon Coming, Arlington County is (Again) Trying To Rename Jefferson Davis Highway

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