Community groups: Fix Gallows Road traffic issues before approving new housing
The leaders of eight community groups are demanding that the developer seeking to build 32 homes on Gallows Road across from Woodburn Elementary School be required to install two traffic lights on what has been called the most dangerous pedestrian crossing in Mason District.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission is holding a public hearing on Oct. 7 on Madison Home’s proposal to rezone a nine-acre site from R-2 to PDH-4 (Planned Development Housing). Eleven homes would be demolished to make way for the new single-family homes.
The Board of Supervisors approved a Comprehensive Plan amendment on Aug. 25 to facilitate the development.
Related story: Gallows Road called the most dangerous for pedestrians
The neighborhood leaders, representing 744 homes and over 2,600 residents, sent a letter to the Planning Commission on Oct. 2 stating, “As currently proposed, we believe the application is inconsistent with the community’s future vision as determined by the Board, the Comprehensive Plan, and the imminent Gallows Road Transportation Study.”
The letter urges Madison Homes to agree to a new proffer calling for two traffic signals – at the intersection of Gallows Road at Aston Street and Hemlock Drive – before the Planning Commission approves the rezoning application.
The traffic signals are necessary, the letter says, because a recent report by Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets found numerous near misses and excessive speeding on Gallows Road near Woodburn Elementary School.
Related story: Supervisors approve Comp Plan amendment for new housing on Gallows Road
One of the proffers in the staff report says that if a proposed private road within the development is extended to Gallows Road, a three-way signal should be installed at that access point. The community groups call for a four-way signal at that spot.
If those proffers are not accepted, the letter urges the Planning Commission to defer the rezoning application until the Gallows Road Transportation Study is released and VDOT and FCDOT determine whether an additional access point is needed at Hemlock Drive.
The Gallows Road study is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The letter was signed by 11 leaders from the following eight organizations:
- Holmes Run Acres Civic Association
- Raintree Homeowners Association
- Lafayette Village Community Association
- Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets
- Fairfax Families for Safe Streets
- Woodburn Elementary School PTA
- Mason District Council
- Fairfax Federation of Citizens Associations
This sounds like an appropriate move as long as one does not give much thought to how long the vehicle back up could be at peak traffic times. Right now, vehicles seeking to turn left onto Holmes Run and/or Hemlock Dr create issues with just 1 right-side lane getting by. If ALL vehicles must wait for a light at Hemlock Dr, it becomes another traffic bottleneck that serves as a bottleneck multiplier that is impacted by the vehicle lines building at the lights at the 495/EZPASS lights on Gallows. Waiting on the VDOT assessment sounds like a good idea IF they provide accurate traffic pattern modeling through that section of Gallows.
If the police enforced traffic laws, especially speed limits, many problems would go away.
As a parent at the school, we’ve been requesting improved enforcement for years. They finally did a “study” for one day and claimed zero people used the crosswalk so there was no problem. The police response here has been appalling. VDOT won’t even clear brush to increase visibility of the few signs there currently are.
You did it to yourself if you denigrated police around 2020-2023. You violated your social contract. Now they are not risking their necks for you anymore unless it’s obviously a life and death situation that unfolds in front of them. You reap what you sow. Enjoy.
Clear the brush yourself. There are dangerous turns in my neighborhood obscured by brush. Takes me just a couple minutes with a hedge trimmer and chainsaw. Throw the cuttings on the ground.
I’m a mom that crosses gallows to Woodburn elementary. Cars do not stop. No one is driving the school zone speed limit. And do not stop for us at the cross walk. We get honked at or as soon as we are out of the way, the speed by. I even had a Fairfax police officer not stop for us. If they can’t be an example on the roads, then who will be? She gave us a peace sign as she drove through.
Installing a traffic light is long needed at that intersection. Cars coming out of the new housing complex would likely need to make a left turn to get to I495 which would be impossible at rush hours.
Aren’t Northern VA Families for Safe Streets and Fairfax Families for Safe Streets one org? I guess one is technically a chapter of the other.
Either way, Gallows Road was designed to go the faster speeds than the actual posted speed. There’s nothing out there today that makes drivers slow down for pedestrians.
All for traffic calming and a signal long term. If pedestrian safety is a priority for the County – there is no excuse for the lack of enforcement especially near the school. This could be speed camera in school zones (Sleepy Hollow ES has one) or just FCPD out there.
As a parent at the school, we requested a speed camera and were told there are no plans in the future to install one by Woodburn. Disappointing.
I’ve been using the crosswalk to get my kids to school for years now and I’m honestly amazed no one has been seriously hurt yet. Near misses are an almost daily occurrence. Many of us parents have been petitioning for improved signage there for years (police say to contact VDOT, VDOT says it’s a school issue?? Everyone seems to pass the buck.) Thank you to the Safe Streets org for finally bringing this to attention and creating change!!
Call your supervisor, Andres Jimenez. Lol just kidding.
The Mason District Council is proud to have drafted this letter and to support these community led efforts!
Please attend the Planning Commission hearing on Wednesday, October 7 at 7:30pm to express your concern.
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planningcommission/sites/planningcommission/files/Assets/calendar/2026/10.7.26.pdf
Location: Fairfax County Government Center Auditorium, 12000 Government Center Pkwy, Fairfax, VA 22035
Date: Wednesday, October 7
Time: 7:30pm
Speaker Sign-Up Link (Subject: RZ/FDP 2024-MA-00004 (MS-Gallows, LLC): https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planningcommission/speaker
Key Points to Make:
Require traffic signal proffers for this application, as recommended by the forthcoming Gallows Road Transportation Study. Deny the application if they’re not agreed to.
This site sits at the most dangerous pedestrian crossing in the Mason District, with 15 reported near-miss accidents over the last two years right at Woodburn Elementary School.
Without action by the Planning Commission it takes on average 15-20 years for funding to become available from the county for traffic lights.
Past developers of this site have offered to pay for the traffic lights, this developer should too.
Developers must help address the traffic safety impacts their project will contribute to.