FABB Blog

 

Rolling Road widening project public hearing

Several members of FABB met with Supervisor Herrity on June 11, the day before the VDOT public hearing on the Rolling Road widening project. After Supervisor Herrity told us about his ride to work on Bike to Work Day we discussed our background and goals, including our support for both the wide outside curb lanes and the multiuse trail along the widened road. Supervisor Herrity was supportive of the wide curb lanes but not the trail. Instead he will likely recommend 5-foot sidewalks, depending on what he hears at the public hearing and from various constituents and county residents. He made it clear that he is not opposed to bike facilities. He has reservations about devoting excessive roadway to bicyclists in this situation with property frontage constraints.

FABB members also attended the public hearing the following evening. During the Q&A session there were many negative comments about the bicycle facilities, mostly from residents who live adjacent to the road. Because there are few cyclists riding on the road now, some think there is no need for the facilities. This ignores the fact that there are very few facilities now, and there will likely not be many new cyclists unless we provide facilities for all cyclists. We spoke out in favor of VDOT's plan and recognized VDOT and the County for finally including bike facilities in road plans. The plans should be supported in the long term interests of the county.

Cyclists need to let VDOT know there is a demand for bike facilities on Rolling Road. Please send comments to VDOT before June 22. Email your to Meeting_Comments@VDOT.Virginia.gov. Include "Rolling Road Widening" in the subject line.

Cyclists should also contact Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, Fairfax County Board Chairman Gerry Connolly, and other members of the Board of Supervisors and ask that on-road bicycle facilities be part of the VDOT plan. posted by Bruce Wright at 3:46 PM permalink