Board approves pedestrian improvements
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 5 approved $23.4 million to improve the transportation infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The active transportation package includes several projects in Mason District:
- Columbia Pike from Blair Road to Gordon Street in Bailey’s Crossroads – $900,000 to construct 300 linear feet of a missing active-transportation link on the north side of the road.
- Leesburg Pike from Seminary Road to Carlin Springs Road in Bailey’s Crossroads – $725,000 to construct 150 linear feet of a missing active-transportation link on the south side of Route 7.
- Patrick Henry Drive in Seven Corners – $500,000 for a marked crosswalk with a pedestrian refuge island and relocation of a bus stop.
- Munson Hill Park in Bailey’s Crossroads – $13,000 to renovate 300 linear feet of asphalt trail.
The transportation funds will be allocated as follows:
- $18.9 million for priority active transportation projects.
- $2 million for trail and sidewalk maintenance.
- $975,000 for consultant support, updating the ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan, and road diet studies.
- $95,000 for a “stop for pedestrian” sign conversion program.
- $500,000 for an active transportation pilot program for “turn calming.”
- $50,000 for speed display signs and traffic data collectors for the Police Department.
- $773,000 in contingency for project increases and/or future local cash matches for grant applications.
In April, the board approved $920,000 for an intersection improvement project at Columbia Pike and Tyler Street in Bailey’s Crossroads.
Why is the cumulative cost for the 450 feet of sidewalk along Columbia Pike and Leesburg Pike $1.625M? Does most of the cost towards these projects go towards buying the land from the owners? I’m happy they’re doing it, but this doesn’t really seem to be an appropriately priced project in my naive opinion.
It’s because contractors are price gouging and no one does anything to hold them accountable. Common practice in private contracting.
Yeah price gouging is definitely what I suspected but +$3.6k PER FOOT of sidewalk is astronomical. I was hoping somebody with more knowledge about this than me can shed light on why its costing our government this much money and that there is at least some degree of justification for that. If not, who the hell is signing these agreements?
Because you need an environmental impact assessment, a rainwater runoff analysis and mitigation operation, traffic flow evaluation, evaluation of adverse impacts on wildlife, with historic overlays and integration with the county’s master plan.
You sound like an engineer. I’m not an engineer. As a taxpayer, sounds like too much $ for 450 feet of sidewalk.
Rainwater runoff analysis, maybe. A traffic flow assessment sounds like its already been done and deemed that these sidewalks are a necessity. Studies for wildlife and environmental impacts though? For a couple hundred feet of sidewalk in an already developed area?
Also why is Herndon able to do ALOT more for less?
https://www.ffxnow.com/2023/12/14/town-of-herndon-seeks-1-5-million-for-major-sterling-road-improvements/
I’m not beating you up, I’m beating up the Board and asking questions
I don’t do concrete. I’ll do it with sand and gravel for 5k, or pavers for 18k. May want to actually bid out the work to principals instead of whatever you’re doing now!! This is an absurd quote!!
Is there a definition of “Active transportation project”? I fear this is a non-descriptive term that probably translates into over-priced projects designed to impede vehicular traffic. No good can come from almost a million dollars for consultants to “update” plans to implement the anti-car agenda. For example, road diets refers to eliminating or narrowing lanes to impede traffic flows. In theory this is supposed to force residents to take mass transit, bike, or walk. Consultants and the politicians who fund them live in an imaginary world in which people do not need automotive vehicles. It feels more and more like Fairfax County residents are being subjected to failed soviet style state planning: Never mind how much the people suffer as long as theoretical goals are being pursued. Transportation policy is no longer about transportation.
Yeah, motorists suffer such discrimination in Fairfax County. The pedestrians and bicyclists (most of whom are also motorists) are walking all over the poor victimized drivers.
There’s the issue of scale. There are about 1000 motorists to every pedestrian. Yet it seems most pedestrians do dumb and dangerous things at every opportunity. Not excusing drivers… most don’t follow the laws, and police understandably don’t enforce the law like they used to because they have been scapegoats for those with no respect for themselves or others. If we had an ounce of respect for eachother in public, and the rules on the books, quality of life would better. As it stands, we are getting progressively worse.