Supervisors approve pedestrian improvements
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on April 11 approved $28.5 million for pedestrian improvements countywide including two projects sought by Bailey’s Crossroads residents.
The list of projects, recommended by the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT), includes $920,000 for a pedestrian hybrid beacon at the crosswalk on Columbia Pike at Tyler Street in Bailey’s Crossroads. If that’s not feasible, FCDOT recommends a rectangular rapid flashing beacon with a pedestrian refuge island.
That’s the crosswalk where Lesly Diaz-Bonilla, a Justice High School student, was struck and killed on her way to school last November.
Related story: Teen fatally struck by car on Columbia Pike
Another project approved by the Board of Supervisors allocates $1.9 million for a sidewalk on the westbound side of Leesburg Pike across the Liberty Gas station frontage between Magnolia Avenue and a shopping center in Bailey’s Crossroads.
That’s a particularly dangerous area for pedestrians, as that stretch of Route 7 has sidewalk gaps, many entrances, heavy traffic, and excessive speeding. In December 2021, a 68-year-old woman, Nguyet Ly, was struck and killed while walking on that stretch of Leesburg Pike.
Since then, Fairfax Families for Safe Streets, the Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling, the Coalition for Smarter Growth, and CASA launched a campaign urging state and county transportation officials to make Leesburg Pike safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Related story: Groups launch Safe Streets campaign
After the crash on Columbia Pike, more than 1,000 local residents signed a petition spearheaded by the Bailey’s Crossroads & Culmore Place-Based Initiative (PBI) Coalition demanding pedestrian safety improvements and reduced speed limits at that intersection. The petition was delivered to Mason Supervisor Penny Gross, FCDOT, and VDOT.
A press release from the PBI Coalition about the petition quotes Maria Demarest, an advocate for the Culmore community: “This is a multicultural immigrant and refugee community where many residents are experiencing the difficulties that come with moving to a new country. Many do not have cars, are still learning how life in the U.S. works, and are trying to make ends meet in one of the most expensive areas in the country.”
They “have to cross these high-speed roads constantly while carrying groceries or children just to get to school, church, doctor’s appointments, or to access public transit,“ Demarest said. “The last thing they should be worrying about is if they will be able to get across the street without getting hit by a car.”
PBI Program Manager Katie Wilson, who serves on the Fairfax Families for Safe Streets Board of Directors, lauded the collaborative effort to successfully advocate for pedestrian safety.
Related story: VDOT pursues safety improvements for Route 7 in Culmore
“The goal of the PBI Coalition,” she says, “is to bring together nonprofits, houses of worship, schools, businesses, grassroots groups, and local residents to foster more interconnectedness and facilitate resident-led systemic change at the community level.”
The Board of Supervisors also approved the following projects in the Annandale/Mason District area:
- Pedestrian refuge islands at Heritage Drive and Rectory Lane and at Heritage Drive and Commons Drive in Annandale – no funding amount specified.
- Replacement of a 40-foot wooden bridge with a fiberglass one in Deerlick Park – $30,000.
- Trail improvements in Bren Mar Park – $30,500.
- Renovation of an existing trail and replacement of a small bridge with culverts in Mason District Park – $35,000.
I like the flashing beacons more than the signal – it’s more attention grabbing and (I believe) you are allowed to proceed once pedestrians are clear whereas the red light is obviously a legal traffic control that you are not allowed to proceed through
People should not have to die to get FCDOT involved in implementing safety measures.
Unfortunately it’s the only time that the BoS pays attention, if we are lucky. I applaud the pedestrian flashing beeper at Columbia Pike and Tyler. Arlington (the smarter County) has many of these throughout the County and on Columbia Pike. For the most part, these beacons are effective. However, I have found that the nutty drivers here at times ignore these as well and fly right through the crosswalk/intersection without pause. What we need are cameras to nail these rogue drivers. If the police cannot patrol our roadways which they clearly do not. Then cameras are the answer.
BTW the police have stopped parking at the Mason District Park and Harris Teeter and now take their naps at SHRAH! Stop napping and start ticketing.
People need to learn several rules on how not to be hit by a car.
1- people around here can’t drive very well as a general rule.
2- learn to look both ways…not at your phone while in the road
3- don’t dress in all black at night and be in a roadway.
4 -a crosswalk sign won’t protect you from rule one
5- a pedestrian is always in danger while in the path of a vehicle .
Learn this and save the 1.9$
Spot on… morons walk into the street wearing all black and face in their phone. Even in parking lots –
Plenty of money in Fairfax to improve pedestrian safety. So easy to have flashing lights to catch drivers attention. Just like they have in England. BoS more concerned about giving themselves pay raises, a stupid COVID memorial, and other dumb “green” activities than for actual safety of citizens.