Annandale/Mason has nearly half of the county’s pedestrian danger zones
 |
| Little River Turnpike, between Hummer Road and Woodland Road. |
Five of the 11 most dangerous areas for pedestrians are in the Annandale/Mason District area, according to
the Fairfax County Police Department’s traffic division crime analyst.
the Fairfax County Police Department’s traffic division crime analyst.
They are:
- Leesburg
Pike from Patrick Henry Drive to Rio Drive in Seven Corners. - Little
River Turnpike from Hummer Road to Woodland Road, Annandale. - The
7900 block of Heritage Drive, Annandale. - The
7500 block of McWhorter Place, Annandale. - Little
River Turnpike from Lincoln Avenue to Beauregard Street, Lincolnia.
[UPDATE: The most recent pedestrian fatality in Fairfax County occurred on the 7100 block of Columbia Pike, Annandale, Oct. 29. According to WJLA, a man was struck by a car around 6:30 p.m. He was transported to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The driver stayed on the scene.]
The
11 pedestrian trouble spots had a higher
incidence of pedestrian fatal or serious injury crashes in the past
five years. Many of these crashes occurred in October and November when it
starts to get dark early, particularly 6-7 a.m. and 5-10 p.m.
Many
of the 11 areas are near bus stops, along bus routes, and on roadways with
speed limits of 40 or 45 miles per hour.
of the 11 areas are near bus stops, along bus routes, and on roadways with
speed limits of 40 or 45 miles per hour.
In an effort to increase safety for both pedestrians and drivers, FCPD is participating in
the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Street Smart traffic safety
initiative. Between Oct. 31
and Nov. 27, officers around the county will conduct traffic
safety education and enforcement, focusing on the 11 targeted areas.
the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Street Smart traffic safety
initiative. Between Oct. 31
and Nov. 27, officers around the county will conduct traffic
safety education and enforcement, focusing on the 11 targeted areas.
Officers will advise pedestrians to cross streets only when and where it
is permitted and carry a flashlight or wear reflective clothing to increase their
chances of being seen from a greater distance.
is permitted and carry a flashlight or wear reflective clothing to increase their
chances of being seen from a greater distance.
In
addition to the ones listed above, the other pedestrian danger zones are in
Centreville, Fairfax, Chantilly, Springfield, and Alexandria.
addition to the ones listed above, the other pedestrian danger zones are in
Centreville, Fairfax, Chantilly, Springfield, and Alexandria.
12 responses to “Annandale/Mason has nearly half of the county’s pedestrian danger zones”
Leave a reply
You are being too kind. Mason is a death trap for pedestrians, cyclists and anyone who just breathes here. With the shootings, sexual assaults and robberies that you have been reporting, along with the illegals and homeless all over the place, the place must be turning into a major slum. It doesn't make sense, as soon as you cross the Fairfax boundary into Alexandria or Arlington its like one has arrived in a different state.
One would have to ask oneself does Penny Gross where foggy glasses or does she just spray them with rose colored paint?
Take a walk around the area and you'll see many streets that have inexistent or incomplete sidewalks. Maybe forcing pedestrians to share the road with vehicles isn't the safest strategy. Just a thought.
Try to cross Columbia pike at the nursing home. Getting to the park is death defying. Motorist have no idea what the pedestrian crossing signs mean. The speed limit of 35 is more like 55. Why do we have dozens of cop cars sitting idle at Mason Distrct government center? Send Penny out to cross the pike and maybe she'd get the message.
The speeding on our local roads is terrible and all the County does is defer to VDOT. VDOT stands for Very Dead On Toe. They couldn't give a crap about the safety of County pedestrians.
I am sure this report comes as absolutely no surprise to anyone living in Mason District.
I'm sure the zone between Patrick Henry and Rio has a big part to do with the Mosque and the fact that the Mosque draws a significant number of folks from the various apartments along Rt 7 who typically walk there, but there aren't continuous sidewalks along Rt 7. The police are at least out there on Fridays to help with the crossings, but if there were contiguous sidewalks I'm sure that would help as well.
I would say the dangerous area continues from Patrick Henry at least throughout Bailey's on Route 7. There many dangerous intersection in Bailey's area including Carlin Spring and route 7.
It seems every time I got to the western part of Fairfax county another road it being built or expanded while MD can barely get it pot holes filed.
We have decent bus service – great! It is somewhat perilous to access said bus service – not great!
The county needs to be focusing pedestrian improvements where there is density to make good usage of them; i.e. much of Mason District.
and to think our great Supervisor fights things like Bike Shares and trying to make new developments more urban and walking friendly.
Um, not true. I've been to many public meetings discussing improving pedestrian and bicycling in our area and in the County. Supervisor Gross is always supportive (as are some other supervisors) and has taken measures to improve, for example, the bicycle infrastructure.
The real barriers to seeing a more pedestrian friendly environment are the citizens who: a) oppose pedestrian and bicycle improvements and b) support these options but NEVER come out or voice their support.
I for one would walk a lot more if there were adequate sidewalks and crosswalks. More walkers save gas & it's attendant pollution, promote health & save parking spaces for things like the pop-up park I enjoyed @ the Taste of Annandale.
Ditto. I still try to walk everywhere because I want to make a point that walking in a town center is normal. But the lack of sidewalks and sidewalks that are uncomfortably close to the road and huge expanses of parking lots where driving patterns aren't predictable and lots of vehicular speeding and on and on make it undesirable for most.