Tuesday, October 9, 2018
First Fairfax County & Franconia-Springfield Parkways Meeting Tonight
The first of three public meetings on the Fairfax County & Franconia-Springfield Parkways Alternatives Analysis and Long Term Planning Study will be held tonight. Fairfax Co DOT wants input on future corridor enhancements for the Parkways, based on residents’ personal experiences and desires for multimodal access, connectivity and overall operations. You can also send feedback to the project team via a form on the county website.
Here is the list of times and places for the three meetings:
- Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, at Navy Elementary School, 3500 West Ox Road, Fairfax
- Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, at Sangster Elementary School, 7420 Reservation Drive, Springfield
- Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, at Armstrong Elementary School, at 11900 Lake Newport Road, Reston
Labels: fairfax county parkway, fairfax county parkway trail, franconia-springfield parkway
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
FFX Co Pkwy/Franconia-Springfield Pkwy Meetings Oct. 9 and 11
The existing paved trail needs to be improved. At several intersections sight distances are poor. If the road is widened and bridges are built at intersections, the trail should be improved at the same time. Where the trail detours off the Parkway, such as at the I-66 interchange, the trail should be parallel to the road.
From Fairfax County:
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will hold two public information meetings on the Fairfax County & Franconia-Springfield Parkways Alternatives Analysis and Long Term Planning Study to seek input on future corridor enhancements for the Parkways, based on residents’ personal experiences and desires for multimodal access, connectivity, and overall operations.
- Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, at Navy Elementary School, 3500 West Ox Road, Fairfax
The meetings will begin with a presentation at 7 p.m., followed by a question and answer period at 7:30 p.m., and time for public input activities at 8 p.m. Both meetings contain the same agenda and format to allow for more community participation along the corridor.
- Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, at Sangster Elementary School, 7420 Reservation Drive, Springfield
Labels: fairfax county parkway, fairfax county parkway trail, franconia-springfield parkway
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Fairfax Co Parkway Widening Meetings Sept. 25, 27, and Oct 3
VDOT is planning to widen Fairfax Co Parkway between Route 29 and Route 123. The parallel bike trail diverts from the parkway in this section between Burke Center Parkway and Route 123. As part of the project the trail a new trail will be built to fill in that gap. From VDOT:This project aims to reduce congestion and improve safety by widening the Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) from four to six lanes between Route 29 (Lee Highway) and Route 123 (Ox Road). The project also includes building an interchange that will consolidate Popes Head Road and the future Shirley Gate Road extension.
In addition to the roadway widening, improvements will be made to the existing Fairfax County Parkway Trail. Where there is no trail currently, a new shared-use path will be constructed to make the trail continuous within the project limits.
- Fairfax County Parkway Widening - Northern Section: Tuesday, Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m., Willow Springs Elementary School, 5400 Willow Springs School Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030
- Fairfax County Parkway Widening - Southern Section: Thursday, Sept. 27, 6:30 p.m., Fairview Elementary School, 5815 Ox Rd, Fairfax Station, VA 22039
- Fairfax County Parkway Widening - Central Section/Popes Head: Wednesday, Oct. 3, 6:30 p.m., Oak View Elementary School, 5004 Sideburn Rd, Fairfax, VA 22032
Labels: fairfax county parkway, fairfax county parkway trail
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Comments Needed for Rolling Road Widening Project
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The VDOT public meeting on November 30 on the Rolling Road widening project covered a couple of issues affecting the project and its planned shared use path.
The good news is that the shared use path, which will only be on one side of Rolling Road, will be extended beyond Viola Street (the end of the widening project) to the Fairfax County Parkway. The bad news is that some property owners do not want a 10-foot shared use path or a 6-foot sidewalk in their front yards. There was significant group at the meeting asking VDOT to build something narrower.
FABB is encouraging members in the area to submit comments to VDOT to let them know that bicyclists and other users need a wider path. In addition to your own ideas, you can highlight:
- The shared use path should be designed to support a heavy volume of users since it will be a major bicycle transportation route.
- Federal design standards specify that heavily used paths should be 12- to14-feet wide with a 2-feet graded area on both sides of path.
- Standard shared use paths are 10-feet wide. With the planned path serving as a commuter route and access way to an elementary school, unless there are exceptional circumstances, the path should not be built less than the 10-foot standard.
- Building anything narrower would endanger the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists.
Labels: fairfax county parkway, rolling road, vdot
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Cyclists Needed to Fill Out Short FFX Co Pkwy Survey
If you use the Fairfax County Parkway or Franconia-Springfield Parkway trails, Fairfax County DOT wants you to fill out a Parkway survey about your priorities for those roads/trails. Unlike the W&OD Trail, the parkway trails do not have a manager or a dedicated budget for maintenance or to ensure that safe access is a priority.
While FABB worked with VDOT to fund maintenance for the northern half of the trail two years ago, work on the souther half has stalled. Many of the street or ramp crossings are dangerous, with limited sight distance, speeding motorists, and motorists turning right on red without looking right.
If you use or would like to use the Parkway trails, please consider filling out the short 11-question survey and tell VDOT to do more to make biking along the Parkway trails safer and more convenient. When we filled out the survey we asked for dedicated funding for trail maintenance (including snow plowing), better, grade-separated ramp crossings, and ensuring that a safe, well-maintained trial is a priority.
These are the questions asked on the survey (emphasis added):
2. On an average weekday, how do you currently use Fairfax County Parkway and/or Franconia-Springfield Parkway (the Parkways)? Check all that apply.
Drive
Walk
Bike
Transit
Other (please specify)
8. What strategies would you like to see for meeting the future transportation needs along the Parkways? Check all that apply.
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes
High Occupancy Tolling/Express Lanes
Technology/Traveler Information
Transit
Adding Capacity (more lanes)
Adding Capacity (new interchanges)
Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities
Other (please specify)
9. Should the Parkways have a consistent design or have area specific designs? Does a drive end-to-end along the Parkways need to have the same feel or should it change depending on the location?
Consistent Design
Area Specific Designs
Please suggest locations
10. What strategy should be considered for the potential widening of the Parkways? Check one of the following.
Minimal right-of-way (ROW) impacts (limited private property acquisitions)
Unconstrained by ROW (provide sufficient number of lanes to match traffic demand)
Other (please specify)
11. What other comments or suggestions do you have regarding the goals and objectives of the long-term planning study?
These are the questions asked on the survey (emphasis added):
1. Where do you live (neighborhood)?
2. On an average weekday, how do you currently use Fairfax County Parkway and/or Franconia-Springfield Parkway (the Parkways)? Check all that apply.
Drive
Walk
Bike
Transit
Other (please specify)
3. What time of day do you typically use the Parkways? Check all that apply.
Morning (before 10 am)
Midday (10 am to 2 pm)
Afternoon (2pm to 7 pm)
Evening (after 7 pm)
Morning (before 10 am)
Midday (10 am to 2 pm)
Afternoon (2pm to 7 pm)
Evening (after 7 pm)
4. How far is your typical trip on the Parkways?
Short (0-2 miles)
Medium (2-5 miles)
Long (5+ miles)
5. How many times a day do you use the Parkways (enter a number)?
6. How would you like to use the Parkways? Check all that apply.
Drive
Walk
Bike
Transit
Other (please specify)
7. What do you think should be prioritized? Choose top two
Top Priority:
Short (0-2 miles)
Medium (2-5 miles)
Long (5+ miles)
5. How many times a day do you use the Parkways (enter a number)?
6. How would you like to use the Parkways? Check all that apply.
Drive
Walk
Bike
Transit
Other (please specify)
7. What do you think should be prioritized? Choose top two
Top Priority:
Second Priority:
Traffic on the Parkways
Traffic crossing the Oarkways
Traffic turning onto the Parkways
Other (please explain in box below)
8. What strategies would you like to see for meeting the future transportation needs along the Parkways? Check all that apply.
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes
High Occupancy Tolling/Express Lanes
Technology/Traveler Information
Transit
Adding Capacity (more lanes)
Adding Capacity (new interchanges)
Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities
Other (please specify)
9. Should the Parkways have a consistent design or have area specific designs? Does a drive end-to-end along the Parkways need to have the same feel or should it change depending on the location?
Consistent Design
Area Specific Designs
Please suggest locations
10. What strategy should be considered for the potential widening of the Parkways? Check one of the following.
Minimal right-of-way (ROW) impacts (limited private property acquisitions)
Unconstrained by ROW (provide sufficient number of lanes to match traffic demand)
Other (please specify)
11. What other comments or suggestions do you have regarding the goals and objectives of the long-term planning study?
Labels: fairfax county parkway, fairfax county parkway trail, franconia-springfield parkway
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Upcoming Meetings on Fairfax County and Franconia-Springfield Parkways
FCDOT and VDOT are holding three community meetings this month to discuss the Fairfax County Parkway and Franconia-Springfield Parkway. The DOT’s have been evaluating existing transportation issues and are developing recommendations for short-term multimodal improvements that can be implemented within the next one to ten years.
The meetings will be held next Monday, November 14, in Herndon, next Wednesday, November 16, in Burke, and on Monday, November 21, in Alexandria. The meetings all begin at 7 p.m. Please visit this link for information and specific meeting locations.
It would be great if some FABB members could attend each of the meetings (and, yes, we know that our Dranesville District meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday). But, we need to spread out and advocate. In particular, we need someone to attend to reemphasize that on Fairfax Co Parkway there are especially dangerous ramp crossings at Spring Street, the Dulles Toll Road, and Route 50. In addition, the unsigned detours need to be signed and the detours and trail in general need to be improved.
Members also can provide comments until close of business on Wednesday, December 7, 2016, by e-mail: meetingcomments@vdot.virginia.gov or mail: Mr. Abraham Lerner, P.E., Virginia Department of Transportation, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030. Please reference "Fairfax County Parkway & Franconia-Springfield Parkway Corridor Study" in the subject line.
Labels: fairfax county parkway, franconia-springfield parkway
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Faces of Fairfax - William Clougherty and Donald Curran
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| Donald Curran and William Clougherty |
William Clougherty of Oak Hill and Donald Curran of Burke posed together when FABB approached them on Bike to Work Day in Burke. William said he does most of his riding on the W&OD Trail. Donald, who was featured in Faces of Fairfax last year, regularly bikes to work but also rides for enjoyment. He said that he enjoys the feeling of freedom he gets when he bikes. Both men said they would like to see more bike lanes and trails to make riding easier and safer in Fairfax County.
In 2016 FABB has been active advocating for Fairfax County and VDOT to continue making multimodal improvements to improve side trails and ramp crossings and add bike lanes, shoulders and wide curb lanes to routes such as the Fairfax County and Franconia-Springfield parkways and the Little River Turnpike inside the Beltway. FABB continues to encourage people who ride bikes or love someone who does to make their voices heard on improving bicycling infrastructure and safety at public hearings publicized on this blog site.
Labels: bike to work day, burke, Faces of Fairfax, fairfax county parkway, fairfax county parkway trail, franconia-springfield parkway, little river turnpike, oak hill, w&od trail
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Vesper & Ashgrove Trails and Fairfax Co Parkway meetings Monday
Two important meetings are planned for Monday, June 13: |
| Ashgrove Trail - 25 Vesper Trail - 24 |
Fairfax Co Parkway - The Virginia Department of Transportation, in cooperation with Fairfax County, is holding a public information meetings on a multimodal study of the 31-mile Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) corridor from Route 7 to Route 1, as well as a 3.5-mile portion of the Franconia-Springfield Parkway. The study is assessing existing transportation issues and developing short-term multimodal improvements that can be implemented within the next one to ten years. The public is invited to stop by to learn more about the study, view displays and discuss questions with VDOT and Fairfax County staff. See the Fairfax Co Parkway Corridor Study page. This is an opportunity to ask that the Fairfax County Parkway Trail be maintained and made safer. 6:30-8:30pm at Sangster Elementary School, 7420 Reservation Dr, Springfield, VA 22153.
Labels: fairfax county parkway, fairfax county parkway trail, vesper trail
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
It's Time to Fix the Fairfax County Parkway Trail
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| Fairfax Co Parkway Trail in Reston |
Please consider attending one of the following meetings or submit comments to: meeting_comments@vdot.virginia.gov?subject= Fairfax County Parkway/Franconia-Springfield Parkway Corridor Study. Please include “Fairfax County Parkway/Franconia-Springfield Parkway Corridor Study” in the subject line.
The sections under study are Fairfax County Parkway from Route 7 to Route 1 and Franconia-Springfield Parkway From – Fairfax County/ Franconia- Springfield Parkways interchange west of I-95 To – Route 613 (Beulah Street). See the meeting presentation.
From VDOT:
Fairfax County Parkway & Franconia-Springfield Parkway Corridor Study
Assessing short-term multimodal improvements in Fairfax County
Public Information Meetings
The public is invited to attend one of three public information meetings about the study:
Meeting Times: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Presentation: 7 p.m.
June 8: Hayfield Secondary School - 7630 Telegraph Road, Alexandria
June 9: Oak Hill Elementary School - 3210 Kinross Circle, Herndon
June 13: Sangster Elementary School, 7420 Reservation Drive, Springfield
E-mail or mail your comments by July 5, 2016 to Mr. Abi Lerner, P.E. at 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22030.
About the Project The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), in cooperation with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, is conducting a multimodal corridor study for the Fairfax County and Franconia-Springfield Parkways. The Fairfax County Parkway portion of the study corridor is approximately 31 miles in length, while the Franconia-Springfield Parkway portion is 3.5 miles long. The study is evaluating existing transportation issues and is developing recommendations for short-term multimodal improvements that can be implemented within the next one to ten years.
Project Activities and Schedule
The project is expected to be completed by early 2017 and includes the following activities:
Assessing short-term multimodal improvements in Fairfax County
Public Information Meetings
The public is invited to attend one of three public information meetings about the study:
Meeting Times: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Presentation: 7 p.m.
June 8: Hayfield Secondary School - 7630 Telegraph Road, Alexandria
June 9: Oak Hill Elementary School - 3210 Kinross Circle, Herndon
June 13: Sangster Elementary School, 7420 Reservation Drive, Springfield
E-mail or mail your comments by July 5, 2016 to Mr. Abi Lerner, P.E. at 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22030.
About the Project The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), in cooperation with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, is conducting a multimodal corridor study for the Fairfax County and Franconia-Springfield Parkways. The Fairfax County Parkway portion of the study corridor is approximately 31 miles in length, while the Franconia-Springfield Parkway portion is 3.5 miles long. The study is evaluating existing transportation issues and is developing recommendations for short-term multimodal improvements that can be implemented within the next one to ten years.
Project Activities and Schedule
The project is expected to be completed by early 2017 and includes the following activities:
- Traffic/Safety Data Analysis - Spring 2015
- Identify Issues - Spring 2015
- Analysis of Existing Conditions - Fall 2015/Winter 2015-2016
- Identify & Evaluate Improvements - Winter 2015-2016/Spring 2016
- Public Information Meetings - June 2016
- Finalize Evaluations/Final Project Documentation - Winter 2016/2017
Labels: fairfax county parkway, fairfax county parkway trail, franconia-springfield parkway
