pedestrian | FFXnow

Prosperity Avenue road diet plan faces obstacle from proposed development

Published January 30, 2025 at 9:45AM

Prosperity Avenue approaching the noise wall along I-66 in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

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.

News

Georgetown Pike improvements could ease access to Great Falls Library

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 24, 2025 at 11:30AM

Traffic heading west on Georgetown Pike approaching Bucks Lane (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is considering a number of upgrades on Georgetown Pike to make a trip to the library less hazardous for pedestrians.

The proposed improvements will be presented by the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) at a community meeting next Thursday, Jan. 30. Held at the Great Falls Grange (9818 Georgetown Pike), the meeting is scheduled to last an hour from 7-8 p.m.

Countywide

New FCPS traffic safety pilot program sparks mixed reactions from school board

By James Jarvis

Published January 15, 2025 at 3:45PM

A crossing guard watches a crosswalk outside Daniels Run Elementary School in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County Public Schools is rolling out a new plan to tackle traffic and pedestrian safety concerns at its 200 schools, but not everyone on the school board is sold on the idea.

The School Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Assessment Program, discussed during a school board work session on Tuesday (Jan. 14), aims to streamline how schools identify and address issues like clogged “Kiss and Ride” loops, bus congestion and pedestrian safety.

News

Reston Row developer proposes pedestrian bridge between new office buildings

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 30, 2024 at 9:45AM | Updated January 13, 2025 at 5:14PM

Comstock has proposed allowing a pedestrian bridge between the two office buildings under construction in Reston Row (via Urban Ltd/Fairfax County)

With construction progressing on Reston Row, developer Comstock is looking to add a pedestrian amenity that it hopes will attract office tenants to the growing neighborhood near the Wiehle Metro Station.

Comstock submitted plans to Fairfax County on Dec. 22 for a potential pedestrian bridge over an internal road that would enable workers to cross from one upcoming office building to another.

Countywide

Pedestrian and cyclist fatalities have doubled in Fairfax County this year, study finds

By Jared Serre

Published December 11, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated December 20, 2024 at 7:18PM

A Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department ambulance (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The number of pedestrians and cyclists killed in traffic crashes in Fairfax County have doubled this year, one study says.

A total of 19 pedestrians have died this year through November — a substantial increase from the 10 tallied in 2023, according to data compiled by the advocacy group Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets (NOVA FSS). In addition, a bicyclist was killed on West Ox Road in October, the county’s first cyclist fatality since 2021.

News

Pedestrian bridge opens over W&OD Trail near Reston Town Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 8, 2024 at 9:00AM

The Reston Town Center expansion looms behind officials walking on a newly opened pedestrian bridge over the W&OD Trail (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A new route is now available to help pedestrians and bicyclists travel between Reston Town Center and its paired Metro station.

The newly completed pedestrian bridge over the Washington & Old Dominion Trail near the Reston Town Center Transit Station (12051 Bluemont Way) drew “lots of people” when it opened over the last weekend (Nov. 2-3), one reader told FFXnow.

News

Work on pedestrian connection to Innovation Center Metro Station begins

By Fatimah Waseem

Published October 3, 2024 at 8:15AM

Fairfax County officials participate in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Innovation Station North Neighborhood Access Project (courtesy FCDOT)

Work will start this month on improvements to pedestrian and bicyclist connectivity around the Innovation Center Metro Station.

Fairfax County public officials broke ground yesterday (Wednesday) on the Innovation Station North Neighborhood Access Project, which will directly link the Metro station’s kiss-and-ride parking lot to adjacent neighborhoods at Farougi Court and Apgar Place.

Countywide

New report finds hot spots for ‘near miss’ traffic incidents in Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 27, 2024 at 9:00AM

Signs indicate pedestrian crossings are ahead on Beulah Road (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

If you nearly get swiped by a turning car while walking across a street in Fairfax County, there’s a good chance that you or another community member has had a similar experience in that same spot before, newly released survey data indicates.

The inaugural “Near Miss/Dangerous Location” summary report from the Fairfax chapter of Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets (NOVA FSS) found that 90% of the incidents recorded by pedestrians and cyclists since 2020 were recurring events — a higher rate than in Arlington (82%) or Alexandria (74%), the two other jurisdictions analyzed by the volunteer-run nonprofit.

News

VHC Health promises new medical option, pedestrian upgrades with Graham Center overhaul

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 23, 2024 at 2:30PM

VHC Health and Intuitive Health are looking to redevelop Graham Center in West Falls Church with a combined emergency room and urgent care facility (via Fairfax County)

A joint emergency room and urgent care center that Virginia Hospital Center (VHC) says will be the first facility of its kind in Virginia took a step closer to becoming a reality last week.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval on Wednesday, Sept. 18 of VHC Health’s proposal to redevelop Graham Center (7234 Arlington Blvd) in West Falls Church with a new medical facility — a project that county staff agreed will “significantly improve pedestrian safety” compared to the existing, aging shopping center.

Countywide

Fairfax transportation planners seek public input on major trail and bicycle network overhaul

By James Jarvis

Published September 3, 2024 at 12:15PM | Updated September 4, 2024 at 10:40AM

The Washington & Old Dominion Trail in Herndon (staff photo by James Jarvis)

After two years of meticulous data collection and analysis, Fairfax County’s Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is moving into the second phase of its ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan.

Starting today (Tuesday) at 6 p.m. at the Graham Road Community Center in West Falls Church, FCDOT will host a series of in-person and virtual open houses throughout the fall to gather input from residents on enhancing the county’s extensive network of pedestrian trails and bicycle pathways.