Fairfax County’s plan to add protected bicycle lanes and pedestrian safety features to Prosperity Avenue is moving ahead, but a new high-density development along the Merrifield corridor could complicate the design.
At a public meeting on Monday (Jan. 27), the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) shared the latest updates on its road diet project, which would reduce the road from four to two lanes, add buffered bike lanes, and introduce pedestrian safety improvements in front of the Dunn Loring Metro station between Hilltop Road and Gallows Road.
While county officials expect only minor increases in traffic delays, a developer’s recently submitted plan to replace the aging Prosperity Business Campus at 2750 Prosperity Avenue with a mixed-use development that could deliver 1,500- to 1,800 residential units.
With their initial proposal, property owner Link Logistics and an affiliate of EYA Development say they would remove the bike lane buffers in favor of street parking, potentially undoing some of the project’s safety improvements.
However, FCDOT officials say they intend to push back against changes, arguing that the bike lane buffers are necessary for safety.
“In their application, the developer proposed removing the buffers from existing bike lanes and also adding street parking,” Hannah Cacner, an active transportation planner with FCDOT, said during the public meeting. “But we plan to work with the developer to keep those bike lane buffers there.”
Bike, pedestrian and transit upgrades planned
The road diet is designed to close a major gap in the county’s bike network, where existing lanes disappear near the Metro station, forcing cyclists into high-speed traffic.
To improve safety, the county plans to install concrete barriers and flexible delineator posts along the bike lanes. Two new pedestrian refuge islands will also be added at mid-block crosswalks, making it safer to cross Prosperity Avenue.
“Right now, someone crossing has to wait for a gap in traffic and all four lanes of traffic, but with the proposed design, that person would really only need to cross two vehicle travel lanes and would have additional buffer space to wait for gaps in traffic,” Cacner said.
Right turns on red will also be banned at signalized intersections to reduce vehicle-pedestrian conflicts.
Beyond bike and pedestrian improvements, the project would upgrade all four existing Fairfax Connector bus stops along Prosperity Avenue with ADA-compliant boarding areas and improved signage.
The county is also coordinating with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to relocate two private shuttle stops — used by Defense Health Headquarters (7700 Arlington Blvd) and Inova — that currently block a travel lane near Gallows Road. The new shuttle stop locations would be closer to the Dunn Loring Metro station, improving access and reducing congestion.
Minimal traffic impact expected
Though the modifications aim to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety, Cacner noted that drivers will see a slight increase in travel times.
A traffic study found that reducing Prosperity Avenue from four lanes to two will add 1.5 seconds of delay at Merrilee Drive and seven seconds at Gallows Road during peak hours.
FCDOT says the increased wait times still fall well within the county’s “acceptable limits” under the county’s comprehensive plan and could even improve traffic flow by reducing speeding and limiting aggressive lane switching.
“There are some benefits for drivers that are associated with road diets,” Cacner said. “For one, it’s easier and safer for drivers turning onto the road from side streets, just because there are fewer lanes to cross.”
Fewer lanes also help traffic flow by preventing sudden braking by drivers accommodating lane changes, which often slows down entire stretches of road, she added.
What’s next?
FCDOT is currently collecting public feedback on the project through Feb. 14, with final design adjustments expected later this year.
The Virginia Department of Transportation has already reviewed the plans and provided feedback, meaning some elements may still change before the project moves to the construction phase.
If the road diet project is approved, the county will need to secure funding for construction, though no firm timeline has been set.
