pedestrian | FFXnow

Range of factors driving Richmond Highway pedestrian safety ‘crisis,’ analysis finds

Published May 28, 2026 at 3:05PM

Richmond Highway in Mount Vernon (Staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

More than 60 pedestrians and cyclists have been killed or seriously injured in crashes on Richmond Highway over the past decade — and conditions appear to be worsening instead of improving, a new analysis says.

Skimpy lighting and crossings, along with alcohol intoxication, appear to be driving factors behind the frequent serious crashes that occur in the approximately 14-mile corridor from the Alexandria border down to the Occoquan River south of Lorton, according to Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS).

News

Key Reston Midline buildings in limbo, slowing improvements to area’s walkability

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 27, 2026 at 10:00AM | Updated May 27, 2026 at 6:50PM

Reston Station Blvd passing the office building at 1861 Wiehle Avenue in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Once expected to be demolished in 2025, the vacant office buildings at 1831 and 1861 Wiehle Avenue in Reston are still standing almost half a year later, with not even a construction fence to signal their future demise.

Plans to redevelop the two parcels with a senior living facility and apartment buildings, including one anchored by The Fresh Market, have ground to a halt after developer Comstock Companies reportedly relinquished control of the properties.

News

Lane removal, pedestrian refuges proposed to make Herndon High School road safer

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 15, 2026 at 1:45PM

Bennett Street outside Herndon High School (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Herndon is considering a number of changes to Bennett Street intended to make walking and cycling around the local high school safer.

Mike Shindledecker, the town’s transportation engineer, unveiled a preferred concept at a community meeting in the Herndon High School cafeteria on Wednesday (May 13) that would narrow the four-lane road to one travel lane in each direction.

News

Columbia Pike pedestrian dangers remain years after student’s death, residents say

By Rossy Soto, Jasmin Dinh and Jeff Plungis

Published May 4, 2026 at 3:45PM

Two people cross Columbia Pike at the Barcroft View Terrace intersection (photo by Jasmin Dinh/Youthcast Media Group)

In 2022, Justice High School junior Lesly Diaz-Bonilla was struck and killed as she was leaving the Barcroft View Apartments, on her way to school. Just four years earlier, in the same Fairfax County location, a mother and daughter were injured by a hit-and-run driver.

Diaz-Bonilla’s death drew attention to a safety problem that continues to plague a 4-mile stretch of Columbia Pike between Bailey’s Crossroads and Annandale, where poor design and inattentive drivers often put pedestrians at risk.

News

Fairfax City seeks input on how to improve crash-prone Main Street intersection

By Nolan Stout

Published April 27, 2026 at 10:00AM

The pedestrian crosswalk across Main Street at Lyndhurst Drive in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The City of Fairfax is seeking public input on possible improvements to a wonky intersection along Main Street.

The city is studying the intersection of Main Street at its terminus with Lyndhurst Drive and Trapp Road. The intersection is just west of Carter G. Woodson High School.

Countywide

Process for prioritizing sidewalk, crosswalk projects needs fixing, Fairfax officials agree

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 8, 2026 at 2:45PM

Fairfax County Department of Transportation director Gregg Steverson (screenshot via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County transportation officials think they have found a better way to prioritize and manage sidewalk, trail and crosswalk improvements after several rocky years.

Yesterday (Tuesday), the Board of Supervisors informally ratified a proposal for Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) staff to develop a three-year cycle for listing all potential projects, then prioritizing them based on cost and community impact considerations.

News

Herndon’s first flashing pedestrian beacon coming to W&OD crossing

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 30, 2026 at 11:45AM

The W&OD Trail crossing at Crestview Drive in Herndon (via Google Maps)

A new pedestrian safety measure will soon help slow down drivers as they approach a Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail crossing in Herndon.

The Town of Herndon announced last week that it’s working to install a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) for the crosswalk connecting the trail across Crestview Drive near Old Heights Road.

News

County seeking public feedback on proposed Idylwood Road walkway

By Acacia James

Published March 27, 2026 at 1:45PM

Fairfax County's proposed walkway on Idylwood Road will extend from Idylwood Court to Hillside Drive (via Fairfax County Department of Transportation)

Fairfax County officials are seeking public feedback on a proposed walkway along Idylwood Road to improve pedestrian and bicycle access.

The project will replace existing sidewalk and asphalt trail segments to form a continuous walkway along the northwest side of the road, extending about 100 feet of sidewalk east of Idylwood Court and 170 feet of trail west of Hillside Drive.

Countywide

Compromise on ActiveFairfax plan aims to ease tensions between trail users, nature advocates

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 20, 2026 at 1:45PM

Bicycle riders on trail (via Vito Natale/Unsplash)

Fairfax County staff have revised language in the proposed Active Transportation and Trails Plan in an effort to smooth out friction between advocates for pedestrians/bicyclists and environmental issues.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission on Wednesday night (March 18) reviewed the proposed changes and recommended approval of the new plan by the Board of Supervisors when the issue is addressed in May.

Countywide

FCDOT seeks feedback on proposed pedestrian, bicyclist improvement projects

By Jared Serre

Published March 11, 2026 at 11:15AM

A crossing on Ridge Heights Road outside Langston Hughes Middle School in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County officials are seeking input on how to allocate millions of dollars in funding for improvements to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) unveiled a list of proposed projects last month and is now actively accepting survey responses until 4:30 p.m. on March 31.