Residential cut-through permit zones approved in Mason District
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 26 approved two “residential cut-through permit zones” in Mason District.
One of the zones is between Sleepy Hollow Road, Juniper Lane, and Leesburg Pike. The other one affects homes between Columbia Pike and Old Columbia Pike.
Back in February, the board amended the County Code to allow the designation of certain areas as residential cut-through permit zones. Residents of those zones can apply for a permit allowing them to turn into or out of their neighborhoods when such turns are prohibited for the general public.
Residents of those zones can apply for a permit online or in person. The fee for a permit is $24 per vehicle.
Residents without a permit and those who don’t live in the zone would be required to enter the neighborhood using an alternative, unrestricted entrance, which might be less convenient.
For the Sleepy Hollow neighborhood, there are two restricted entrances on Sleepy Hollow Road – at Nicholson Street and Carolyn Drive. Both of those entrances have signs prohibiting right turns into the neighborhood from 6:30 to 9 a.m. Monday-Friday.
The other zone affects homes on Downing Street and Oxford Street in Lincolnia. There are two signs on Columbia Pike banning left turns into the neighborhood from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Another sign, on Old Columbia Pike bans left turns onto Downing Street from 6:30 to 9 a.m. Monday-Friday.
Related story: Permits proposed for areas that restrict cut-through traffic
Downing Street is very busy weekday mornings with cars making the cut-thru from Old Columbia Pike. Its scary how many of these cars take that turn at a fairly high rate of speed (its not a sharp turn) and few use their turn signals. I have never seen enforcement of the ‘No Left Turn’ sign that’s been in place for years, so really don’t see this new zone will change anything.
Why do residents of those neighborhoods have to pay for a permit vice providing proof of residency in the neighborhood? I’d be annoyed if I had to pay just to avoid a potential ticket in the future.
Lmao what a ridiculous solution to traffic calming. Like anyone is going to obey this. Maybe some cops live on these streets, because that’s the only way it is going to be enforced. Even if they don’t, what a massive waste of time for Fairfax County Police.
NIMBYism in Fairfax County is beyond aggravating.
Support transit-oriented development in Fairfax County.
cut through restrictions are not a traffic calming measure – it is a traffic reduction measure. The restrictions have been in existence for decades – this permit just allows residents to legally make the turn, even though many already do make the turn illegally because mason district doesn’t enforce traffic issues (only 1 officer for traffic stuff over the entire precinct).
We are a commonwealth which means we share the good and the bad. What makes the residents of these zones so. special? All this does is force traffic onto less fortunate neighborhoods and making traffic in these areas worse than it now is.
Well aren’t the approximately 35 homes “SO SPECIAL”. So FFC cops will know have an extra duty – preserving the kingdoms of 35 privileged homes. We’re becoming another Falls Church with its I hate vehicles mentality and let’s use our government forces to harass as many peoyas possible.
It’s so crazy to me at how people are loosing their minds about the county giving residents an OPTION to bypass a current restriction to make their daily lives more convenient regarding restrictions that have existed for decades – often put in place for good reason. In the case of Carolyn and Nicholson, before the turn restrictions cars would turn on those roads to cut out 7 corners, or otherwise bypass the line of cars from castle place trying to make the left turn onto 7. So they’d cut through the neighborhood and end up making a line of cars in the neighborhood. The restrictions keep that from happening, and now residents have the option of bypassing the restrictions legally.
Like, with all of the stuff happening in the nation and world, this is really what people have energy to get upset about?
It’s the same selfishness you see at the state and local levels. It makes no difference that this is costing the upset people nothing, and taking nothing away from them. It’s a benefit that someone else is getting and that they are not, so its bad.
1/2 of northern VA speeds 45+ mph through this neighborhood to avoid seven corners and police are nowhere to be found.
The problem is with the Columbia Pike, Linconia, Old Columbia Pike intersection. People want to avoid it and use the other roads as a cut through. It will have some enforcement for at first then periodically after. More revenue for the county, not addressing the real issues, and a false sense of response to the residents impacted by the situation. Great job Fairfax Board of Supervisors! Love the job our Mason District Supervisor is doing to “solve” the situation.
This is a smart take. There are many opportunities and needs for that intersection, as well as on Old Columbia Pike. The general area bounded by Columbia Pike, Lincolnia Road, Braddock Road, Little River Turnpike, and Evergreen Lane could benefit from improved multimodal options (auto, bike, pedestrian).