By Brian Trompeter
Fairfax County supervisors are open to implementing a permit program to let residents enter and leave neighborhoods where cut-through traffic is banned during certain hours.
But at a Feb. 13 meeting of the Board of Supervisors’ transportation committee, supervisors wanted more information on how such a program would be operated and enforced.
Supervisor Jimmy Bierman (D-Dranesville), who chairs the committee, requested an update from county staff. His district has several major cut-through neighborhoods.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) already have a cut-through mitigation program to help neighborhoods that serve as shortcut routes for motorists trying to skirt heavy traffic on major roads. Restrictions implemented in select communities prohibit turns into some streets at certain times of day and apply to all drivers, including those who reside there.
Cut-through traffic has become “much more prevalent” because of way-finding apps such as Waze, said Henri Stein McCartney, a transportation planner with FCDOT’s Traffic Engineering Section.
Three Fairfax County communities with 355 residences restrict cut-through traffic:
• No right turns are allowed to access Carolyn Drive and Nicholson Street in Mason District on weekdays between 6:30 and 9:30 a.m.
• Motorists cannot make left turns on weekdays between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. from Columbia Pike to access Oxford and Downing streets in Mason District. Drivers also may not make left turns from Old Columbia Pike to access Downing Street between 6:30 and 9 a.m. Mondays through Fridays.
• Drivers may not make right turns from 7 to 10 a.m. on weekdays to access Thomas Avenue in Dranesville District near the Loudoun County border.
County officials are processing requests for similar restrictions in three areas with a total of 412 residences: Weirich Road/Starlit Ponds Drive in Braddock District, Dead Run Drive/Carper Street in Dranesville District and Allen Avenue in Mason District. Several other requests are either on hold or inactive.
Fairfax County in 2019 received General Assembly authority to implement a resident cut-through permit program, and some supervisors said the board should not let that power go to waste.
To develop a permit program, staff has drafted a new section of county code, as well as program policies and procedures, and these now are under review, McCartney said. The most critical element is program-administration software, she added.
Based upon research of fees charged by surrounding jurisdictions, county officials are suggesting a permit fee of $25.
Program revenues would be minimal. If all 355 currently eligible homes now obtained one permit each, they would pay a total of $8,875. Even if each residence in all 10 neighborhoods, including ones approved for cut-through restrictions and those that are in process or on hold, bought one permit, total revenues would be $33,051.
It is likely that not every eligible residence would obtain permits, McCartney said. Factors involved in these decisions include permit costs and times of day when restrictions are in force, she said.
The cities of Alexandria and Fairfax and towns of Herndon and Vienna have turning restrictions on some streets, but do not offer resident permits. Residents on eight connected streets in Falls Church cany obtain drive-through permits from the city’s police department.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay asked county staff to find out why several local jurisdictions do not offer residency permits and inquire as to how they do enforcement.
“What I don’t want to do is to put in place a program and then have our constituents angry that the program isn’t working and we don’t have the people power to be able to do the enforcement that’s necessary,” McKay said.
Supervisor Walter Alcorn (D-Hunter Mill) inquired as to the possibility of automated enforcement in such cases. McCartney said the county would need to seek more authority from the state to implement automated enforcement and added the initiative would have some up-front costs for cameras and installation.
Revenue from a permit program likely would go to the county’s general fund, McCartney said, but Supervisor Andres Jimenez (D-Mason) said he would prefer that it be used for pedestrian-safety initiatives.
Bierman thought implementing restrictions would have a beneficial effect, regardless of enforcement.
“Even if there were no officer to come by ever, this would still help with cut-through traffic,” he said.
County staff are expected to provide supervisors with an update in June.
