Permit program would allow certain residents to ignore turn restrictions

Old Columbia Pike at Downing Street.

If you live in one of the two Mason District neighborhoods where no-left-turn signs ban cut-through traffic, you might be able to get some relief.

Left-turn restrictions were implemented years ago – at the request of residents – to prevent rush-hour drivers from cutting through neighborhoods. The problem, however, is that the left-turn or right-turn ban inconveniences residents, who must find an alternative route into their neighborhood.

The Virginia Assembly passed a law during its most recent session, introduced by Kathleen Murphy, that allows Fairfax County “to develop a program to issue permits or stickers to residents of a designated area that will allow such residents to make turns into or out of the designated area during certain times of day where such turns would otherwise be restricted.”

The only places affected by this law happen to be in Mason District:

• From Sleepy Hollow Road to Carolyn Drive;
• From Sleepy Hollow Road to Nicholson Street;
• From Old Columbia Pike to Downing Street; 
• From Columbia Pike to Downing Street; and 
• From Columbia Pike to Oxford Street.

At those intersections, left turns are prohibited Monday-Friday during peak-traffic hours.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ Transportation Committee heard a heard a presentation May 14 on a proposal recommended by the county’s Department of Transportation (FCDOT) staff to allow residents of those neighborhoods to apply for a permit allowing them to ignore the no-left-turn signs at the affected intersections.

For the Sleepy Hollow neighborhood, staff recommends the area for issuing permits would include residents of all or parts of Nicholson Street, Castle Road, Hazleton Street, Faber Drive, Carolyn Drive, Cresswell Drive, Shadeland Drive, and Valley Lane.

For the other neighborhood, the permit program would apply to just Oxford Street and Downing Street between Columbia Pike and Old Columbia Pike.

No-left-turn restrictions are one of several traffic-calming solutions that neighborhoods can apply for, along with speed humps.

Because the no-left-turn signs apply to everyone – requiring residents to find an alternative out of their neighborhood – “that has been a deal-killer for communities,” says Allison Richter, VDOT’s liaison for Fairfax and Arlington counties.

The permit program, however, would likely encourage more communities to consider applying for no-left-turn signs.

To establish a new permit program for affected residents, the Board of Supervisor would have to approve a new ordinance. A board hearing would likely happen in early 2020.

According to the staff recommendation, only eligible residents would be allowed to apply for permits; permits would not be given to visitors or caregivers. Residents shouldn’t be charged for the stickers, staff suggests.

The cost of the permit program is estimated at $165,000. It would take about 12 months to develop and implement the program after the ordinance is approved.

Enforcement would be on a complaint basis, as the police department doesn’t view violations of the no-left turn rule as a high priority. School zones are typically enforced during the same time frames.

Neighborhoods that want to establish new cut-through restrictions will find it’s a lengthy process. It requires a traffic-volume study, a petition showing 75 percent of residents want it, a solution developed by VDOT and FCDOT, a vote by ballot showing at least 50 percent of residents approve, a public hearing, and a final decision by VDOT.

That process can take two to four years.