Sunday, October 21, 2018
Fairfax County Transportation Status Report
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) released its bi-annual Fairfax County Transportation Status Report (FCTSR) this month and it’s a great compendium of county transportation projects, programs and initiatives. Some of the bicycle and pedestrian highlights for the period between March and August 2018 included:
- The ongoing projects for the I-495 Tysons Pedestrian Bridge, Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Trail, Transform I-66 Outside the Beltway Regional Trail, and VDOT Summer Paving and Restriping Program. The repaving program added over 30 miles of on-road bike facilities this year, bringing the total to more than 90 miles of on-road bike facilities since the program began.
- Three Safe Routes To School-funded sidewalk projects under construction or in design.
- The April 2018 Street Smart Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Media Campaigns.
- An April 2018 pedestrian safety enforcement campaign with the Fairfax County Police Department in high pedestrian crash areas countywide.
- Bicycle parking added at several bus stops on Little River Turnpike in Annandale and the upgrade of existing bike racks to meet County design guidelines at the Patrick Henry Library and the Sherwood Library.
- The completion of the design of “Bike-and-Ride” facilities at Phase II Silver Line Stations and at the Springfield Community Business Center Commuter Parking Garage.
- The installation of bicycle wayfinding signage for the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail Station, and along the Fairfax County Parkway Trail.
- Finalizing of the locations of Phase II of Reston Bikeshare, which will add 11 more stations to Reston with a majority of those stations located south of the Dulles Toll Road. In addition, preliminary discussions with businesses in Merrifield are underway to place bikeshare stations around the Mosaic District and at the Dunn Loring Metrorail Station with the support of private funds. Mosaic District will launch with seven stations in this fall.
- Fairfax County expanded 2018 Bike to Work Day pit stops at which it participates from two to seven, serving residents in McLean, Chantilly, Lorton, Annandale, and Huntington.
Learn more about these and other important multimodal transportation projects at the FCDOT website here: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/news/t31_18.
Labels: FCDOT, fcdot bicycle program
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Make Your Time Count
To participate volunteers need to log in and sign up for the specific location, date and time through the Fairfax County Volunteer portal here.
The name of the project is “Counts for state funding – Bicycle and Pedestrian.” Opportunities are currently available to participate on October 10, 11, 23, 24 and 25 in the morning and afternoon (times are location dependent and are listed in the volunteer calendar).
Counts are set to occur at the following locations:
- Little River Turnpike at I-495 ramps
- Little River Turnpike at Conwell Drive
- Columbia Pike at Lincolnia Drive
- South Lakes Drive at Tanbark Drive (East)
- Franklin Farms Road at Thorngate Drive
- Franklin Farms Road at Old Dairy Road
- Bluemont Way at Democracy Drive
- Fry Rd, 300 feet North of Richmond Highway
If you live near these locations, won’t you please help FCDOT and your community by volunteering to do a bike count?
And, if you can’t do a bike count, get some friends and family together and go for a ride past one or more of the eight locations.
Thanks!
Labels: bike count, FCDOT
Monday, September 24, 2018
Inaugural Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail Ride with Bike Fairfax
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation and Bike Fairfax want you to join them in celebrating Bike Your Park Day this Saturday with a six-mile family ride from Wakefield Park to Lake Accotink via the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail.
Congressman Connolly is expected to officially kick off the ride, which will start and finish at the Audrey Moore RECenter, 8100 Braddock Road, Annandale, beginning at 10 a.m.
Bike Fairfax is part of FCDOT's bicycle and pedestrian programs. The Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail is a 40-mile long hiking and biking trail that begins in Occoquan and ends in Great Falls.
To RSVP for the ride, please send a note to bikefairfax@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Labels: bike your park day, bikefairfax, congressman connolly, cross county trail, FCDOT
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
New Bike Routes in Reston
VDOT is finishing up work on new bike lanes on South Lakes Drive in Reston as part of the 2018 repaving season. South Lakes Dr was changed from having 2 lanes in each direction to having a single travel lane in each direction and buffered bike lanes. During the public meeting held in March of this year, residents were opposed to county's proposal, even though traffic counts indicated that traffic flow would be minimally impacted.As a compromise, VDOT did not reduce the lanes the section of road that includes South Lakes High School as residents felt strongly that full capacity was needed there. As a compromise, an alternate route was identified using Ridge Heights Rd and Soapstone Dr. Ridge Heights will be getting bike lanes later this year and there are already bike lanes on Soapstone.
Today we noticed that FCDOT has placed South Lakes Bike Route signs along the section where the route deviates from South Lakes Dr. Thanks to VDOT and FCDOT for implementing this project and installing wayfinding signs. The massive traffic jams that some residents predicted would occur once school was back in session have not happened; traffic seems to be flowing just fine and we're seen more cyclists using the road. Let's hope that once people discover this new bike facility that many more will join them.
Here is a photo of one of the new bike route signs.
In south Reston there is now an almost complete network of bike routes leading to the village centers, the W&OD Trail, the Metro station, and other destinations. Soon there will be a new separated bike facility along Sunrise Valley Dr that will be important as new residential units are being constructed. Here's a map that we just put together showing the major on-road bike facilities (except for the trail shown along Sunrise Valley Dr leading to the Metro station.
Labels: FCDOT, repaving, reston, vdot, wiehle-reston east
Friday, August 3, 2018
Bike and Walk to Worship Week
In another innovative approach to promoting biking and walking, Fairfax County Department of Transportation's Bicycle and Pedestrian team will be celebrating the county's first Bike and Walk to Worship Week from August 13th through 19th. Local congregations of all faiths are invited to host events (such as a "blessing of the bikes," prayer walks, or breakfasts) throughout the week.
The FCDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian team will help by providing a toolkit document, branding for the event, and advice on bike routes and safety. FCDOT will even promote groups’ participation in Bike and Walk to Worship Week on social media.
If you or someone you know might be interested in participating, you can get more information by emailing bikefairfax@fairfaxcounty.gov. FABB stands ready to assist with advice on planning rides. Contact us at info@fabb-bikes.org.
Labels: bike to worship week, FCDOT
Monday, May 21, 2018
Bike-Ped Count Volunteers in Reston Needed
Reston friends! The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is looking for volunteers to help count bicycles and pedestrians at the intersection of South Lakes Drive and Springwood Drive during June 2-4, 2018. Can you help?
The collected data will determine the need for a crosswalk at the intersection. School bound bike traffic turns left at the intersection as do cyclists going to the trail that goes to the underpass under Soapstone. The count will provide a helpful snapshot of current numbers of people walking and biking along this corridor before improvements are implemented.
Counting forms and instructions will be provided. No prior experience is necessary. If you are interested, you can sign up here.
Labels: bike count, FCDOT, reston, soapstone drive, springwood drive
Monday, April 2, 2018
Springfield District Paving and Restriping Meeting on April 5
Springfield-area FABB members are encouraged to attend the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) public meeting on proposed paving and restriping changes in the Springfield District this Thursday, April 5, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Springfield Governmental Center, 6140 Rolling Road, in West Springfield. This meeting, which was postponed from its original February date, gives community members the chance to provide feedback on general traffic safety concerns regarding roads scheduled for repaving and the proposed striping changes.
Proposed striping changes to increase traffic safety for all road users in the Springfield District include wider shoulders on Hooes Road, buffered bike lanes on Huntsman Boulevard, and road redesign with buffered bike lanes on Legato Road between West Ox Road and Fair Lakes Parkway, as well as on Post Forest Drive.
If unable to attend, you can still submit comments at this FCDOT website through April 15, 2018.
Labels: FCDOT, repaving, springfield district, vdot
Monday, March 12, 2018
Meeting on Major Bike Infrastructure Additions For Hunter Mill District
Among the changes FCDOT and VDOT are proposing for North Reston, there will be bike lanes added to Bennington Woods Drive, Temporary Road, Explorer Street; buffered bike lanes on Bluemont Drive, Bracknell Road, Bennington Woods Road, Fountain Drive and Walnut Branch Road; and a northbound bike lane and southbound shared lane markings (sharrows) on North Short Drive and Bowman Town Drive.
For South Reston, FCDOT and VDOT have proposed extending the existing bike lanes on Lawyers Road west to Reston Parkway and east to Hunter Mill Road with a buffer between the bike lanes and travel lanes where space allows. The county and state transportation planners also are are proposing to upgrade existing lanes to or add new buffered bike lanes to Pinecrest Road, Soapstone Drive, and South Lakes Drive. Finally, bike lanes also will be added to Ridge Heights Road and Braeburn Drive.
Labels: FCDOT, hunter mill district, north reston, south reston, vdot
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Mason District Repaving and Restriping Meeting Set
FABB encourages its Mason District members and other interested residents to take advantage of this opportunity to speak up in support of the proposals. Your ideas are valuable to the VDOT and FCDOT planners for future restriping opportunities. If unable to attend, you can still provide comments through April 2, 2018 at the FCDOT website here.
Labels: FCDOT, gallows road, mason district, vdot
Monday, March 5, 2018
Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Trail Meeting Scheduled
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation will host a community information meeting on the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Trail project from 7:00 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. The meeting will be in the auditorium of Mount Vernon High School, 8515 Old Mount Vernon Road in Alexandria. Local residents and other potential trail users will be able to learn about the project and give feedback to FCDOT before it proceeds with a more detailed design.
The project, which is still in the design phase, will create two miles of 10-foot wide path to fill in missing segments of the National Heritage Scenic Trail and will include a pedestrian bridge over Dogue Creek. Other improvements include marked crosswalks and curb ramps that meet American with Disabilities Act standards. Once complete, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail will provide a continuous facility for bicyclists and pedestrians along the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway from Route 1 to the Mount Vernon Estates.
FABB encourages local bicyclists to attend and speak up on behalf of better bike infrastructure and multimodal transportation options. If unable to attend, community members can give feedback online via the comment form on the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Trail project page. Comments will be accepted through April 8, 2018.
Labels: FCDOT, mount vernon memorial highway trail, national heritage scenic trail
Thursday, March 1, 2018
Lee District Repaving/Restriping Meeting on March 7
The latest in the ongoing series of public meetings by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will focus on repaving and restriping plans for Lee District. It will be held on Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. at the Franconia Governmental Center, 6121 Franconia Road, in Alexandria.
VDOT and FCDOT use the repaving and restriping process to implement Fairfax County’s Comprehensive Plan to improve traffic safety and provide more transportation options. Proposed striping changes in the Lee District include: bike lanes on Bland Street, Brandon Avenue and Lake Village Drive; striped parking lanes and shared lane markings (sharrows) on Castlewellan Drive and Fairchild Drive; buffered bike lanes, sharrows and a center turn lane on Frye Road; and sharrows and bike lanes on Buckman Road. Details on the proposed changes can be found here.
FABB encourages Lee District bicyclists to speak up at the meeting in support of the proposals and provide ideas to the VDOT and FCDOT planners for future restriping opportunities. If you can’t attend, you can still provide comments through March 23, 2018. Submit you comments on Lee District improvements here.
Labels: FCDOT, lee district, repaving, restriping, vdot
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Dranesville Repaving and Restriping Meeting on February 22
FABB is asking local bicyclists and other interested residents in the Dranesville District to attend the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) community meeting to discuss this year's paving and restriping efforts in the Dranesville District. The meeting will be on Thursday, February 22, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Franklin Sherman Elementary School Cafeteria, 6633 Brawner Street, in McLean.
Proposed striping changes in the Dranesville District include a bike lane and shared lane markings, also known as sharrows, on Beverly Road and Elm Street; striped parking lanes and sharrows on Fleetwood Road and Ingleside Avenue; and bike lanes, sharrows and striped parking lanes on Churchill Road. No existing on-street parking will be affected.
At the meeting, residents will have the opportunity to speak directly with road engineers and transportation planners about the paving program, proposed striping changes, and general traffic safety concerns. Information about paving and restriping in the Dranesville District will be on display in an open house format with a presentation starting at 7:15 p.m.
For more information on the 2018 Paving and Restriping Program, visit the FCDOT web page here. The Dranesville District information page includes maps, sample photos, the proposed list of roads being considered for paving and a link to the comment submission form.
See you there!
Labels: dranesville district, FCDOT, repaving, restriping, vdot
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Springfield, Mt. Vernon, and Sully Repaving and Restriping Meetings Update
Last week’s postponed Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) meeting on repaving and restriping in the Springfield District has been rescheduled for Thursday, April 5, 2018, at the West Springfield Government Center. The comment period has been extended until April 15.
Also, please remember that VDOT and FCDOT are hosting another community information meeting to discuss this year’s paving and restriping efforts in the Mount Vernon District this Monday, Feb. 12, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., in the Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria. Information about paving and restriping in the Mount Vernon District will be on display in an open house format with a presentation at 7:30 p.m.
Finally, Sully District community members can still give feedback through February 17 on general traffic safety concerns regarding roads scheduled for repaving and the proposed striping changes by submitting comments online.
Labels: FCDOT, mt. vernon district, repaving, restriping, springfield district, sully district, vdot
Friday, February 2, 2018
Mount Vernon District Paving and Restriping Meeting, February 12
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will host another in the series of community information meeting to discuss this year’s paving and restriping efforts on Monday, February 12. This meeting will be on plans for the Mount Vernon District and will be held at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane in Alexandria starting at 7:00 p.m. Bicyclists and local residents will have the opportunity to speak directly with road engineers and transportation planners about the paving program, proposed striping changes, to include the addition of bicycle lanes and sharrows, and general traffic safety concerns. Information about paving and restriping in the Mount Vernon District will be on display in an open house format with a presentation at 7:30 p.m.
Portions of nearly 40 streets with be repaved with Furnace Road from Lorton Road to Route 1 and Hooes Road between Ox Road and the Fairfax County Parkway being two of the longest sections. A nearly three-mile long section of Pohick Road from Southrun Road to Rolling Road also will be repaved.
If unable to attend, community members are invited to give feedback on general traffic safety concerns regarding roads scheduled for paving, and the proposed striping changes by submitting comments online via the comment form on the paving and restriping program page here. Comments will be accepted through March 2, 2018.
Also, please mark you calendars to note that FABB's March monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 21, will be on Mount Vernon and Lee District bicycle developments and will be held at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center.
Labels: FCDOT, mt. vernon, repaving, restriping, vdot
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Springfield District Paving and Restriping Meeting on February 6
FABB members are encouraged to plan now to attend the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) public meeting on proposed paving and restriping changes in the Springfield District on Tuesday, February 6, at the Springfield Governmental Center. This is the second in a series of district meetings on paving and restriping where community members are invited to give feedback on general traffic safety concerns regarding roads scheduled for repaving, and the proposed striping changes. This and future meetings will start at 7 p.m. with an Open House followed by a formal presentation at 7:30 p.m.
Starting in April VDOT will be repaving several roads in the Springfield District through November 2018 (exact dates will be available about ten days prior to work starting). Proposed striping changes in the Springfield District include buffered bike lanes on Huntsman Boulevard, Legato Road, and Post Forest Drive. The plans also will provide wider shoulders on Hooes Road. These changes will improve safety for all users and have no or minimal impact on traffic speeds.
This is a big deal, and bicyclists need to be out in force to support the bike lanes and prevent NIMBY reactions from derailing the plans.
See VDOT’s interactive paving map for more information on road specific project status and contact information, which is updated weekly during the paving season.
Labels: FCDOT, restriping, springfield district, vdot
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Sully District Repaving and Restriping Community Meeting
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will host a community information meeting to discuss this year’s paving and restriping efforts in the Sully District on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., in the Richard Frank Community Room of the Sully Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly.
VDOT has scheduled several roads in the Sully District for repaving starting in April and concluding in November 2018. This meeting will provide local bicyclists and other residents an opportunity to speak directly with road engineers and transportation planners about the repaving program, proposed striping changes and general traffic safety concerns.
This will be the only chance to do this in person in Sully District. FCDOT has informed us that this year’s repaving and restriping meetings will broadly review all of the plans for a specific district. So, only one meeting per district will be held rather than the multiple meetings for the numerous projects within a district that occurred in the past.
Please plan now to attend and provide input on the roads scheduled for repaving and the proposed striping changes, including the creation of bike lanes and sharrows. If unable to attend, you can submit comments online via the comment form on the paving and restriping program page. Comments will be accepted through February 17, 2018.
To learn more about efforts in the Sully District, including a proposed list of roads to be included in the work, visit: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/2018-paving-and-restriping/sully-district.
Labels: FCDOT, repaving, restriping, sully district, vdot
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Job Openings for Transportation Planners
Our friends at the Fairfax County Department of Transportation asked us to help spread the word that two full-time positions with benefits with FCDOT’s Capital Projects and Traffic Engineering Division are available for qualified applicants. These are excellent opportunities for the right individuals to have a direct impact on making bicycling better in Fairfax County.
The first position is for a Bicycle Pedestrian Transportation Planner, who is responsible for project management for bicycle and pedestrian transportation capital projects and non-capital program areas and outreach. A competitive candidate will need a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, urban, regional or transportation planning, or a closely related field plus two years of experience related to transportation planning. More details about the position, requirements, and pay and benefits can be found here. The job listing closes this Friday at 5:00 pm.
The next opening is for a Bicycle Program Coordinator, who directly manages and oversees the county's comprehensive bicycle program BikeFairfax. This includes supervising other planners and managing capital projects, Capital Bikeshare, County Bike Parking, non-capital program areas and outreach. For this position, a competitive candidate needs four years of transportation-related planning experience in addition to a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, urban, regional or transportation planning, or a closely related field. More details on the position, requirements, and pay and benefits can be found here. This listing ends on February 9 at 5:00 pm.
Labels: bikefairfax, fairfax bicycle program, FCDOT, fcdot bicycle program
Monday, September 25, 2017
Merrifield Bike Lanes Meeting in October
The new bikeway will consist of wayfinding signage, sharrows, bike lanes and buffered bike lanes on Merrilee Drive from Prosperity Avenue to Strawberry Lane. The project is limited to striping changes, and the proposed striping plan will be available soon.
FABB encourages members to attend the hearing and support this cost-effective approach to adding bike facilities to the Merrifield area. If you can’t attend, you can still provide your comments on the project by using the comment form on the FCDOT project page, by writing the FCDOT Bicycle Program at 4050 Legato Road, Suite 400, Fairfax, VA 22033, or by calling 703-877-5600. Even a short message stating your support for and appreciation of FCDOT efforts to expand biking infrastructure in the county helps build and maintain momentum for better bicycling in Fairfax.
Labels: dunn loring, FCDOT, merrifield, mosaic district, public meeting
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Input on Proposed FY 2019 Transportation Alternatives Projects
FABB encourages members to attend a Fairfax County public meeting on September 14, 2017, where county staff will be soliciting comments on the proposed FY 2019 Transportation Alternatives Projects. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, 4050 Legato Road, Suite 400, Fairfax, VA 22033. At the meeting, a presentation about the program will be given, followed by a question-and-answer session.
 |
After approval by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the program’s projects will be eligible for submission to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for funding under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, also known as the FAST Act. This program provides 80 percent of the funds for each eligible project. A 20 percent local match is required. Any project presented to the board for endorsement must have an identified source of funding for this match.
Activities or improvements eligible under the FAST Act Transportation Alternatives provision that FABB will be promoting include:
- Construction, planning, and design of on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized forms of transportation. These include sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle signals, traffic calming techniques, lighting and other safety-related infrastructure, and transportation projects to achieve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
- Conversion and use of abandoned railroad corridors for trails for pedestrians, bicyclists, or other non-motorized transportation users.
- Infrastructure-related projects-planning, design, and construction of infrastructure-related projects on any public road or any bicycle or pedestrian pathway or trail in the vicinity of schools that will substantially improve the ability of students to walk and bicycle to school.
- These projects can include sidewalk improvements, traffic calming and speed reduction improvements, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, on-street bicycle facilities, off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities, secure bicycle parking facilities, and traffic diversion improvements in the vicinity of schools.
For more information on the proposed program or to request reasonable ADA accommodations, contact the Fairfax County Department of Transportation at 703-877-5725, TTY 711.
Labels: fast act, FCDOT, transportation alternatives
Sunday, August 20, 2017
Bike Count Volunteers Needed for September Survey
Just wanted to remind FABB members that there are still some slots available for volunteer bike counters for the Fairfax County Department of Transportation and BikeFairfax bike and pedestrian count.
This year's annual bicycle and pedestrian counts, which are part of the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project, will be held on Thursday, September 14, from 5-7pm and on Saturday, September 16, from 12-2pm.
To sign up, please visit this Fairfax County volunteer site.
Please sign up soon. Orientation training is scheduled for Thursday, September 7, from 6:30-7:30pm at 4050 Legato Road, Suite 400, in Fairfax. If you are unable to attend the orientation, the county will be able to provide you with training materials via email.
Labels: bike count, bikefairfax, FCDOT
