Pedestrian safety projects proposed
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation has developed a list of pedestrian safety projects recommended for funding, including several in Mason District.
Michael Guarino, head of FCDOT’s capital budget section, presented the proposals for the next $25.2 million in active transportation access and safety improvements to the Board of Supervisors’ Transportation on Committee on March 14.
The full board will consider the proposals on April 11 and is expected to approve a final list next fall.
FCDOT used spatial analysis and other tools to evaluate about 2,800 requested projects and develop a list of about 40 projects, including several countywide improvements.
The preliminary list includes:
- $1.9 million to add a sidewalk on the westbound side of Route 7 across the Liberty Gas Station frontage to the shopping center on Magnolia Lane in Bailey’s Crossroads.
- $920,000 for crosswalk improvements at Columbia Pike and Tyler Street in Bailey’s Crossroads. A pedestrian hybrid beacon would be added at the existing marked crosswalk. If that’s not feasible, a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon and pedestrian refuge island would be considered.
- Pedestrian refuge islands at the existing marked crosswalks on Heritage Drive at Rector Lane and Commons Drive in Annandale. FCDOT doesn’t specify a funding amount for these improvements.
The board is seeking a total of $100 million for pedestrian improvements. Projects for the first $5 million were approved in November for crosswalks, trail maintenance, and other projects.
The federal government rejected a Safe Streets and Roads for All grant for Fairfax County. The county will apply again this summer.
I applaud the FC Department of Transportation for proposing the sidewalk on the westbound side of Route 7. This is the location where a pedestrian was killed because, in order to cross the property, she had to move into the roadway. I have walked this site several times since to better understand the situation. The cost is high because the gas station property extends almost into the road; there is almost no right-of-way at this point. To cross in front of the business, a pedestrian must thread their way through cars waiting for repair, slide past the large garbage bin, and then cut through a hole in the fence to access the adjoining property. I am not sure why, after the issue was repeatedly brought up to the Virginia Department of Transportation staff by community members and safe streets advocates, that the Commonwealth is unable to address this in a timely manner, but kudos to Fairfax for proposing this. It is far beyond time that this be fixed.
I live right down the street. What causes pedestrian deaths is jaywalking. Trust me homie. Ain’t nobody using the crosswalk.
Having lived in Mason District, within a mile of Culmore, for almost 20 years, I add my strong support for the proposed sidewalk in front of the Liberty Gas Station on Route 7.
I also strongly support the crosswalk improvements at Columbia Pike and Tyler Street, the scene of a recent tragic, heartbreaking fatal pedestrian death.
I have driven on these streets almost every day the last 20 years and I have observed the actions of pedestrians.
There is no denying that on occasions there are pedestrians who jaywalk on Route 7 and Columbia Pike. I have been surprised on certain occasions, when it was dark and the pedestrian was wearing dark clothes. And on those occasions I breathed a sigh a relief there was no accident.
However, the vast majority of the time I have observed pedestrians walking on the sidewalk and obeying the traffic laws.
And the many people who live in apartment buildings in Culmore and in the Bailey’s Crossroads area nearby Columbia Pike and Tyler Street deserve safer streets; and Fairfax County has more than enough resources, and it is beyond time for these streets to be improved.
The fact that sidewalks are being built in affluent Sleepy Hollow, where homes are being demolished and trees are being cut down and replaced with $ multimillion mansions, before these sidewalks and pedestrian improvements have been made in Bailey’s Crossroads, is an abject example of inequity from a Board of Supervisors that gives constant lip service to reducing inequity among the people of Fairfax County.
I done lived here almost 45 years and fools ain’t lyin bout jaywalking these people is crazy
Having lived in Mason District, within a mile of Culmore, for almost 20 years, I add my strong support for the proposed sidewalk in front of the Liberty Gas Station on Route 7.
I also strongly support the crosswalk improvements at Columbia Pike and Tyler Street, the scene of a recent tragic, heartbreaking fatal pedestrian death.
I have driven on these streets almost every day the last 20 years and I have observed the actions of pedestrians.
There is no denying that on occasions there are pedestrians who jaywalk on Route 7 and Columbia Pike. I have been surprised on certain occasions, when it was dark and the pedestrian was wearing dark clothes. And on those occasions I breathed a sigh of relief there was no accident.
However, the vast majority of the time I have observed pedestrians walking on the sidewalk and obeying the traffic laws.
And the many people who live in apartment buildings in Culmore and in the Bailey’s Crossroads area nearby Columbia Pike and Tyler Street deserve safer streets; and Fairfax County has more than enough resources, and it is beyond time for these streets to be improved.
The fact that sidewalks are being built in affluent Sleepy Hollow, where homes are being demolished and trees are being cut down and replaced with $ multimillion mansions, before these sidewalks and pedestrian improvements have been made in Bailey’s Crossroads, is an abject example of inequity from a Board of Supervisors that gives constant lip service to reducing inequity among the people of Fairfax County.
Who are we kidding? Sidewalks ain’t be dope, cool, or fly since the days of subject verb agreement, enunciation, eye contact, and singular pronouns usage.
Does that say 100m? For sidewalks? Isn’t that suspiciously the adjusted cost creating the magical swamp Accotink? Coincidence? Or incompetence? I think we all know the answer – yet we continue to give BoS and county staff a salary raise??
Haha good catch
I want to hear from each BoS member how a sidewalk is more important than lake Accotink aka Sidewalk Swamp
$100 million is how much the Board committed to spend on pedestrian safety projects around the county over 5 years. The sidewalk project in front of Liberty gas station is estimated at $1.9 million. Inflation and supply chain issues are causing project costs to go up significantly though.
For the love of god please put flashing lights at the cross walk of Spring Ln and Columbia Pike. Nobody cares about pedestrians here and its a death trap trying to cross here on foot.
It is about time. Most of the time I drive, but when I walk from Glen Carlyn Dr down to Bailey’s Crossroads, walking in front of the gas stations means walking out into the road like a 3rd world country! With all the new development, we need sidewalks!