Op-Ed: Pedestrian Safety, Accessibility Can't Be An Afterthought

By Supervisor Andres Jimenez (D-Mason)

As a newly elected supervisor, I’m often asked about my vision for Mason District. It’s one of my favorite questions because I’m genuinely excited about our potential here in the Mason District. I view us as Fairfax County’s cultural hub, a vibrant and welcoming place where you can travel the world without leaving your ZIP code. To achieve that vision, our community needs to be accessible and safe for folks on the ground.

Residents highlighted pedestrian safety as a top concern at nearly every event or meeting I’ve attended since taking office in January. Mason District has seen the highest number of pedestrian fatalities in Fairfax County in recent years, and we can’t reach our potential until we directly address this public health and safety issue. My office prioritizes working closely with residents, local stakeholder organizations, and Fairfax County staff on this front. It’s clear from their experiences that we should double down on infrastructure improvements to mitigate risks and hazards. We need to meet people where they are and design our community to promote pedestrian and bicycle traffic in a way that prioritizes safety.

This issue isn’t new to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS). In 2021, the BOS pledged $100 million in pedestrian and bicycle safety infrastructure with special priority for areas near schools, parks, public transit stations, and revitalization centers. To date, $54 million of that has been allocated, with about $5.5 million invested directly here in Mason District projects. The process to identify where and how to invest the remainder of the funding should be data-informed rather than data-driven. Here, we have an advantage. Whether it’s data that’s been collected by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT), or the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD), we can make informed decisions because of the years of amassing and analyzing information about traffic crashes and fatalities. That analysis most recently led us to discussions about road diets — road reconfigurations that significantly reduce crashes — and increased street lighting. In Mason we’re already taking direct action by finalizing an additional $10,000 street lighting investment in the Culmore community.

Another element is enforcement. Last year, FCPD launched an initiative focused on heavy DUI enforcement, cracking down on excessive speeding, and distracted driving education. FCPD data shows that pedestrian fatalities from 2022 to 2023 were down 60 percent. In addition to enforcement, FCPD regularly promotes public safety campaigns to educate drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists on road safety.

My vision for Mason District is for us to be a destination rather than a waypoint, and achieving that goal means we must continue investing in the diversity and culture that makes us unique. Any development we consider in Mason District needs to contribute to our community’s economy and our cultural richness. That value is lost when our neighbors and visitors feel unsafe crossing a street or riding a bike. We simply can’t afford for pedestrian safety and accessibility to be an afterthought; we’ve got to take a proactive, wholistic approach.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on the BOS and members of our community to continue and address these issues and create proactive solutions. Prioritizing pedestrian safety not only saves lives, but also strengthens the fabric of our community, making Mason District a safer and more vibrant place to live, work, and play.

Fairfax County’s $100 Million Funding Transportation Projects

The Board of Supervisors in 2021 set a goal to identify in six years $100 million investments in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. These investments prioritize areas near schools, parks, activity and revitalization centers, and transit stations.

There have been three rounds of funding so far:

• Round 1: $5 million
• Round 2: $25 million
• Round 3: $24 million

• Total investment to-date in Fairfax County: $54 million
• Total investment to-date in Mason District: $5.5 million

To view approved projects by District and learn more, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/bike-walk/100-million-funding

Andres Jimenez represents Mason District on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. His four-year term began in January. Andres resides in Mason District with his wife, two girls, and a gaggle of pets. He can be reached at Mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.