Pedestrian, Bicyclist Projects Funded By Fairfax County Supervisors

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Funding to make roadway safety improvements in Fairfax County was approved by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

The $5 million in funding was recommended by County Executive Bryan Hill to fund transportation projects that improve pedestrian and bicycle facilities and add more speed display signs. Crosswalk improvement projects will get $2.7 million in funding, while the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services will get $1 million for maintenance of county-owned trails and the Fairfax County Park Authority will get $1 million for maintenance of trails and sidewalks. Another $200,000 was approved as the required local cash match for the Virginia Department of Transportation's $800,000 for a Bush Hill Elementary School Safe Routes to School project. There was also $100,000 for the Fairfax County Police Department to add more speed display signs to notify drivers of their vehicle speed.

Hunter Mill Supervisor Walter Alcorn told the board the $5 million in funding for projects was the beginning of a process. The Board of Supervisors set a goal to find projects and $100 million in funding over six years to fund projects for pedestrian and bicycle improvements. The board had directed the Fairfax County Department of Transportation to make a list of potential project and prioritization process. The board recently put $25.21 million in its pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements capital fund through the carryover budget.

The $2.7 million for crosswalk improvements is the first phase of funding. According to the county's transportation department, the first phase projects were chosen "by screening documented crosswalk improvement needs for projects that are likely feasible within the right-of-way or with minimal land acquisition, without significant design challenges, and without known utility impacts."

Here are the first phase projects:

• Guinea Road at Rutherford Park, Fairfax: Install curb ramps, curb extension, and Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacon
• Guinea Road at Bronte Drive, Burke: Install refuge with lane narrowing, marked crosswalks on east and west sides and relocate bus stop
• Westmorland Street at Rosemont Drive, McLean: Install refuge and Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacon, relocate bus stop
• Georgetown Pike at Great Falls Library, Great Falls: Install refuge and ramps near Bucks Lane on the west side of the driveway to El Tio Tex-Mex Grill.
• Kingstowne Village Parkway and Park Village Drive, Kingstowne: Install refuge and relocate bus stop
• Kingstowne Village Parkway and Cross Gate Lane, Kingstowne: Install refuge and relocate bus stop
• Bluemont Way at Explorer Street, Reston: Install refuge and ramps and possible Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacon
• Green Range Drive at Pyrenees Court/Dogwood Pool, Reston: Install ramps and marked crosswalk
• Braddock Road at Witch Hazel Road, Lincolnia: Install refuge with truncated domes
• Murray Lane at Early Street, Annandale: Install marked crosswalk and ramps
• Hooes Road at South Run Stream Valley Trail, Springfield: Install Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacon
• Hooes Road at Dudley Drive/Laurel Cress Drive, Lorton: Install new crosswalk and ramps
• Blake Lane at Bushman Drive, Oakton: Install refuge, Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacon, channelized right and crosswalks
• Woodburn Road at Pine Ridge Park entrance, Annandale: Install refuge
• Silverbrook Road at Crosspointe Drive, Crosspointe: Install refuge, ramps and Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacon
• Stringfellow Road at Foxfield Pool, Fairfax: Install refuge with truncated domes
• Stone Heather Drive at Franklin Farm Shopping Center/Launch Trampoline Park, Herndon: Install marked crosswalk and ramps

See other pedestrian projects underway in Fairfax County.