Safe Streets for All program could save lives of pedestrians

The intersection of Columbia Pike and Gallows Road presents a challenge for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets for All initiative could potentially make some of the most dangerous roads in Mason District safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.

At a community meeting Nov. 8, Lauren Delmare, an active transportation engineer at FCDOT, outlined the draft recommendations in the Safe Streets for All program and asked community residents to identify their top priorities. 

Some of FCDOT’s recommendations that got the most support from participants at the meeting include the following:

• Improve pedestrian and bicycle safety by focusing on high-risk, high-use locations.
• Adopt safer street design, including improved crosswalks, connected sidewalks and bikeways, and better street lighting.
• Reduce vehicle speeds, especially in residential neighborhoods and commercial areas.
• Promote “complete streets,” which incorporate space for walkers, bikers, cars, and refuges for pedestrians. 
• Strengthen requirements for infrastructure implementation by developers.
• Ensure safer access to bus stops on both sides of the road.
• Expedite building sidewalks, trails, and other elements of the active transportation network.
• Promote equity and social justice by prioritizing maintenance and capital improvements in high-need areas.
• Provide more dedicated safety funding for small spot improvements, such as new or better sidewalks and fill in sidewalk gaps.
• Improve safety education through “your speed” signage at high-risk corridors and school zones. 

FCDOT will submit draft Safe Streets for All recommendations to the Board of Supervisors in spring 2022.

A memorial for a bicyclist killed by a driver in Centerville in May. [Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling]

Twelve people have been killed walking, biking, and riding a skateboard so far this year in Fairfax County, Delmare said. Many more people were injured in serious crashes or were subject to “near misses.” 

Between 2014 and 2020, an average of 183 pedestrians and 65 bicyclists were struck by a vehicle every year in Fairfax County, she said. Ninety percent of pedestrian crashes and 80 percent of bike crashes happen within a quarter-mile of a transit station or bus stop. 

Delmare shared several maps showing that roadways in Mason District are among the most dangerous in the county for pedestrians and bicyclists. 

Four of the 10 most dangerous roads for pedestrians are in Mason District: Leesburg Pike between Arlington Boulevard and Alexandria (an average of 11 pedestrian crashes per mile), Little River Turnpike in central Annandale (11 crashes per mile), Columbia Pike between Leesburg Pike and Lake Barcroft (10.5 crashes per mile), and Little River Turnpike in Lincolnia (10 crashes per mile). 

Between 2014 and 2018, there were numerous fatal pedestrian crashes in Mason District, including three on Leesburg Pike, four on Columbia Pike, two on Little River Turnpike, two on Arlington Boulevard, two on Little River Turnpike, and two on Braddock Road. There were many more non-fatal crashes. 

Related story: Let’s make our streets safer for walking and biking

The top 10 bicycle collision corridors in Fairfax County include a section of Annandale Road in Mason District (an average of four crashes per mile) and a section of Braddock Road in Annandale (five crashes per mile).  

Locations in Mason District with the most bicycle collisions between 2014 and 2018 include Backlick Road between Braddock Road and Edsall Road, Leesburg Pike at Columbia Pike, and central Annandale.

The biggest challenge to implementing any of the Safe Streets for All recommendations is funding, said Chris Wells, manager of FCDOT’s Active Transportation Program.

Funding approved by the Board of Supervisors for transportation – including 150 bicycle and pedestrian projects – won’t be available until 2026, Wells said. “We acknowledge that’s not enough. Unfortunately, the needs far outweigh the funding available.” 

Despite the lack of funding, it’s still critical for Annandale/Mason District residents to let FCDOT know where the trouble spots are and what improvements are needed. 

Residents can use an interactive map to highlight barriers to walking, biking, or accessing transit. 

Another community meeting on Safe Streets for All is scheduled for Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m. Log in to the meeting here or call 844-621-3956; access code: 2349 915 0152. 

Comments can also be submitted by Dec. 10 online or to [email protected].