FCDOT outlines options for Gallows Road

Community members had lots of questions and concerns about a proposed overhaul of Gallows Road at a well-attended meeting on Nov. 21 at Woodburn Elementary School.

Fairfax County Department of Transportation officials explained the options under consideration for improving safety and traffic flow along the corridor.

The entire project – between Annandale and Tysons – would take more than 20 years to implement, said transportation planner Tim Kutz.

Three alternatives

Three options are being considered for the segment between the beltway and Columbia Pike, which also encompasses Annandale Road between Hummer Road and Little River Turnpike:  

(1) A vehicle-focused option includes intersection improvements and the widening of some sidewalks where space is available.

(2) A transit-focused alternative, which proposes a BRT (bus rapid transit) line, would result in increased ridership. There would be some pedestrian improvements but no dedicated facility for cyclists.

(3) Under the active transportation alternative, there would be a “road diet” with narrower traffic lanes to accommodate wider sidewalks with buffers to encourage more pedestrians and a dedicated cycle track. There would be two traffic lanes in either direction and a turn lane in the middle.  

Kutz said a road diet would make Gallows safer because it would reduce pedestrians’ exposure to traffic at intersections. Narrower lanes would also encourage drivers to slow down.

Several people at the meeting said they opposed option 3 because it would encourage people to drive on side streets to avoid traffic on Gallows Road.

Some residents, however, expressed concerns about more side-swipe crashes. Others said bike lanes aren’t needed because few people bicycle along Gallows Road.

Safety concerns

Several people urged FCDOT to make urgently needed pedestrian safety improvements now – such as a traffic light by Woodburn Elementary School and Aston Street and signs indicating drivers’ speeds – rather than wait until the study is completed.

Kutz said all the options call for a signal at Aston Street. That intersection has a flashing light, but drivers don’t always stop.

When the project implementation timeline is developed, it could include short-term improvements, he said.

FCDOT will host a virtual Q&A session on Dec. 5 at 12 p.m. Join the meeting on Microsoft Teams here.

A survey will be posted online soon on the project website. It will be open until Dec. 28.

Once the agency develops a preferred concept, it will seek more feedback in March or April, then submit a proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment to the Planning Commission, Kutz said. After the plan amendment is approved, FCDOT will apply for funding.

Improvements are needed, Kutz said, because Gallows Road “is not a very comfortable place to walk.” There are very narrow sidewalks, gaps with no sidewalks, and sidewalks very close to traffic. And if nothing is done, the number of crashes is expected to increase.

FCDOT measured how stressful Gallows Road is for pedestrians and bicyclists. For pedestrians, that analysis considers the width of the sidewalk, the speed limit, and whether there is a buffer between the sidewalk and road.

Comfort for cyclists depends on whether they are riding with mixed traffic, whether there is a bike lane separated from the road, and the speed limit.

“It’s not surprising that the whole southern segment of Gallows Road is very stressful,” Kutz said.

Pros and cons

Each of the three options has tradeoffs.

Option 3 would be significantly more comfortable for bicyclists and pedestrians, but it would lead to more traffic delays.

Option 1, the vehicle-focused alternative, won’t substantially improve safety for pedestrians or cyclists, who will have to continue to ride in mixed traffic, Kutz said.

Option 2 would be the most effective in improving traffic safety, as more people would be expected to take transit as an alternative to driving. However, there would be more congestion because of reduced vehicle capacity.

That plan envisions BRT stops at Inova, the Holmes Run Recreation Association/Brightview, and Little River Turnpike. The Gallows Road BRT would connect to the proposed Route 7 BRT in Tysons.

Option 2 would include pedestrian refuges at Aston Street and Hemlock Drive but no dedicated bike lanes.

Studies show safety solutions with the biggest impact are red light cameras, protected left turns, and high-visibility crosswalks, Kutz said.

The middle segment of the Gallows Road study proposes six options for a walkway over the beltway between Gallows and I-66.