$100 million transportation bond focuses on pedestrian projects
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| Columbia Pike in Annandale. |
The $100 million transportation bond referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot, which was authorized by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last week, includes funding for a few projects in the Mason District area.
The only road improvement in Mason would be at the North Chambliss Street and Beauregard Street intersection in Lincolnia.
Pedestrian improvements in or near the Annandale/Mason area include Annandale Road/Graham Road, Backlick Road/Edsall Road, Columbia Pike between John Marr Drive and Gallows Road, Backlick Road walkway, Edsall Road walkway, Gallows Road/Route 50, Glen Forest Drive walkway, Little River Turnpike/Old Columbia Pike, Medford Drive walkway, Seminary Road walkway, and Little River Turnpike improvements. The bond would also fund bike lanes on Wakefield Chapel Road.
The vast majority of the bond funds, $77.5 million would be for pedestrian projects to improve capacity, enhance safety, complete missing pedestrian links that connect neighborhoods, and improve access to schools, Metrorail stations, and activity centers.
Another $16 million would be for spot roadway improvements to increase capacity, reduce congestion, improve safety, and improve transit access. The remaining $6.5 million would improve bicycle transportation, including bike lanes, trails, and parking.
The projects were identified for bond funding through a public outreach process known as the “countywide dialogue on transportation.”
Note, thats bond money only. The new NVTA tax money will be spent on highways and transit only, not on bike/ped improvements. The region and FFX will still be spending much more on roads and on transit than on bike/ped.
I hope they add sidewalks to Old Columbia Pike between LRT and Lincolnia, along with Braddock Rd between LRT and Lincolnia. The amount of foot traffic there justifies it, and it is a major safety hazard when even 1 pedestrian is trying to get through that area.
I completely agree with this, however, they would have to build it on private property given how narrow the roads are in those areas. My guess is that there would be some push-back from the homeowners.
We had this many years ago, Annandale got the nice brick sidewalks and pavers in the intersections. That really made Annandale much more walkable. I can park my car at the old Bloom and walk towards the new Dunkin donuts, then over to TD bank atm, Visit Walgreens on the way back.
Thank you Penny Gross!