Friday, March 17, 2017
Support Needed for Reston Bike Projects
When the Lawyers Road and Soapstone Drive road diet projects were proposed, the same arguments were used against those roads. On Lawyers Road there was almost no impact on traffic throughput while at the same time crashes were deducted by over 60% during the 5 years since project completion.
The most vocal opposition was against the road diet project on Colts Neck Road. During repaving of the road this summer Fairfax Co is proposing to reduce the regular travel lanes from two in each direction to one lane in each direction with bike lanes. Current traffic volume is well below the recommended level for implementing a road diet and less than the volume on the successful Lawyers Road project. The Colts Neck project will provide dedicated bike facilities and a safer road for everyone, including the many pedestrians in that area who regularly cross to access the shopping center on the east side.
Please contact the Fairfax County bike program by March 31 with your supportive comments:
I strongly support the bike projects on Colts Neck Road, North Shore Drive, and Twin Branches Road will make those roads safer for all users while providing much needed bike facilities. The road diet on Colts Neck Road, where many cyclists currently ride, is especially important.
Byclists will have dedicated space on Colts Neck and pedestrians crossing the road will be safer, having to only cross one lane in each direction rather than two. Speeds should be reduced as well. When the Reston Town Center Metro station opens, Colts Neck will be a major bike route to that station. The bike lanes on Colts Neck will connect to the planned cycletrack on Sunrise Valley Dr. and connect to the many developments planned along Sunrise Valley Dr.
Byclists will have dedicated space on Colts Neck and pedestrians crossing the road will be safer, having to only cross one lane in each direction rather than two. Speeds should be reduced as well. When the Reston Town Center Metro station opens, Colts Neck will be a major bike route to that station. The bike lanes on Colts Neck will connect to the planned cycletrack on Sunrise Valley Dr. and connect to the many developments planned along Sunrise Valley Dr.
Labels: colts neck road, north shore drive, repaving, road diet, twin branches road
Friday, October 28, 2016
Public Meeting on Reston Repaving Projects
 |
| Crash reduction on Lawyers Road after road diet |
This is your chance to support better biking in Reston. There is very little cost to the county to improve safety for bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists. The bike lanes on Lawyers Road and Soapstone Drive were an outcome of repaving projects. Please consider attending this meeting and supporting the county's efforts to make biking safer and more convenient in Reston.
Roads under consideration include:
Where: Terraset Elementary School, Cafeteria, 11411 Ridge Heights Rd, Reston, VA 20191
- Glade Drive - Glade Bank Way to Twin Branches Rd
- Twin Branches Road - Lawyers Road to South Lakes Drive
- Colts Neck Road - Reston Parkway to Sunrise Valley Drive
- North Shore Drive - Ring Road to Oak Spring Way
Where: Terraset Elementary School, Cafeteria, 11411 Ridge Heights Rd, Reston, VA 20191
Monday, August 8, 2016
Randy Dittberner leaving VDOT
 |
| Randy receives FABB Recognition Award |
Randy oversaw the completion of the first road diet project in the county on Lawyers Road in Reston. The project was a great success, reducing traffic crashes by 80% and it was one of the examples used in the FHWA publication Road Diet Informational Guide. VDOT (Randy) also received a National Roadway Safety Award for that project.
Not long after that project was competed Randy managed the Soapstone Dr road diet project that connects to the Lawyers Road bike lanes on the south and the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station to the north via the Sunrise Valley Dr trail. As part of that project Randy installed a loop detector and bicycle symbol so that the presence of a cyclist would trigger the traffic signal to change. In 2012 FABB presented Randy with the FABB Recognition Award for his work on the road diet projects.
Over the past couple of years Randy worked with Fairfax Co DOT staff to complete several miles of bike lanes throughout the county as part of the summer repaving projects. We would see Randy at almost every major bike project meeting, either in his role as VDOT engineer or as in interested cyclist. Randy was a regular bike commuter to VDOT's NoVa offices on West Ox Road.
Randy embodies what any organization would want in a public official. He is hardworking and goes above and beyond the requirements of his position. He can clearly explain complex projects. He is patient and willing to take the time to answer the most detailed questions in a way that anyone could understand. And he's a great guy. Randy, thank you for everything you've done for cyclists in Fairfax County and good luck in your new endeavors.
Labels: lawyers road, Randy Dittberner, road diet, soapstone drive, vdot
Monday, November 16, 2015
VDOT Receives National Safety Award for Lawyers Road
Today VDOT received a National Roadway Safety Award for making Lawyers Road and Soapstone Drive safer by implementing a road diet that also created bike lanes. The Lawyers Road project was the first "road diet" in Virginia and has proven to be very successful. FABB was heavily involved in supporting the project. Congratulations to VDOT. Several more road diet projects were implemented this summer, in part based on the success of these two projects.
PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
November 16, 2015
(Washington, DC) -- During a national awards ceremony on Capitol Hill, the Roadway Safety Foundation (RSF) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today honored the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for its two Reston Road Diet projects, which were designed to increase safety by reducing the number of lanes on 2-mile segments of both Lawyers Road and Soapstone Drive in Fairfax County. Together, these projects jointly received one of 10 2015 National Roadway Safety Awards.
These heavily traveled sections of roadway carry about 10,000 vehicles per day and were prone to excessive speeding. VDOT implemented the Road Diets by cutting the number of through lanes in half to two and adding a center turn lane. There was virtually no cost since the projects were implemented in conjunction with other paving projects. In addition, the extra width of the roadways were converted into bicycle lanes, building on the multimodal transportation network in the Reston area focused on improving safety and mobility of cyclists, pedestrians and motorists. Following project completion, crashes decreased by 69 percent on Lawyers Road and 67 percent on Soapstone Drive.
“We are just pleased that in working with the community, we have been able to put in minor changes that make a major improvement to safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians,” said Helen Cuervo, Northern Virginia district administrator for VDOT. “We are making the best use possible of the pavement, and because we’re seizing the opportunity to adjust the designs during regularly scheduled work, these changes come at very low cost.”
CONTACT: Cathy Gillen
cell (443) 463-4449
cathy@thegillengroup.com
November 16, 2015
Virginia Department of Transportation Road Diets in Reston
Honored with a National Roadway Safety Award
(Washington, DC) -- During a national awards ceremony on Capitol Hill, the Roadway Safety Foundation (RSF) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today honored the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for its two Reston Road Diet projects, which were designed to increase safety by reducing the number of lanes on 2-mile segments of both Lawyers Road and Soapstone Drive in Fairfax County. Together, these projects jointly received one of 10 2015 National Roadway Safety Awards.
These heavily traveled sections of roadway carry about 10,000 vehicles per day and were prone to excessive speeding. VDOT implemented the Road Diets by cutting the number of through lanes in half to two and adding a center turn lane. There was virtually no cost since the projects were implemented in conjunction with other paving projects. In addition, the extra width of the roadways were converted into bicycle lanes, building on the multimodal transportation network in the Reston area focused on improving safety and mobility of cyclists, pedestrians and motorists. Following project completion, crashes decreased by 69 percent on Lawyers Road and 67 percent on Soapstone Drive.
“We are just pleased that in working with the community, we have been able to put in minor changes that make a major improvement to safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians,” said Helen Cuervo, Northern Virginia district administrator for VDOT. “We are making the best use possible of the pavement, and because we’re seizing the opportunity to adjust the designs during regularly scheduled work, these changes come at very low cost.”
CONTACT: Cathy Gillen
cell (443) 463-4449
cathy@thegillengroup.com
Labels: lawyers road, national roadway safety award, road diet, soapstone drive, vdot
Thursday, September 17, 2015
University Dr. Road Diet Public Hearing September 29
 |
| University Dr. at Sager Ave. looking north Image from Google Maps Streetview |
This section of University is an important bicycle connection between George Mason University and the City of Fairfax. Reducing the travel lanes from 2 lanes in each direction to 1 regular lane and a bike lane in each direction will greatly benefit cyclists traveling between the two destinations.
The project will be evaluated for one year to determine whether or not to make it a permanent change. Cyclists are encouraged to attend the hearing and speak out in support of the project.
To learn more about the project before the public hearing see a copy of the City Council presentation.
Labels: george mason university, road diet, university drive
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Pleasant Valley Road diet scheduled for next week
As part of the summer repaving process VDOT is creating new bike lanes on Pleasant Valley Road in western Fairfax Co from just north of Route 29 to Virginia Run Elementary School. From the VDOT news release:
PLEASANT VALLEY ROAD TO GO ON ANOTHER “ROAD DIET” NEXT WEEK
New striping for SB bike lane from Smithfield Pl/Martins Hundred Dr to Wetherburn Ct
New striping for SB bike lane from Smithfield Pl/Martins Hundred Dr to Wetherburn Ct
CENTREVILLE—On Monday, August 17, weather permitting, the Virginia Department of Transportation will begin converting the right lane of southbound Pleasant Valley Road to a five-foot-wide bicycle lane and seven-foot-wide buffer from the Smithfield Place/Martins Hundred Drive intersection to Wetherburn Court. The work is scheduled for completion Friday, August 21.
The new bike lane striping is being added in order to reduce speeding, improve safety and to give southbound cyclists another way to travel along Pleasant Valley Road. A shared-use path runs parallel to the northbound side of the road.
In 2005, concerns over speeding vehicles prompted northbound Pleasant Valley Road to undergo a similar “road diet” from Route 29 to just north of Martins Hundred Drive. The average speed of northbound vehicles declined as a result.
This “road diet” practice has been used successfully on several roads in northern Virginia, where in certain locations elements such as left-turn lanes and bicycle lanes can replace travel lanes to help reduce speeding, improve mobility for cyclists, and increase safety for all users.
Labels: pleasant valley road, road diet
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
VDOT News Release on Fairfax Bike Improvements - Update
Today VDOT sent out the following news release entitled Paving Brings Opportunity for Bicycle Improvements: New striping for bike lanes and other enhancements at 20+ locations. We've been reporting on the many meetings that Fairfax County and VDOT have been hosting to gather feedback on these projects, including the meeting tonight on plans for bike lanes on Park Run Drive in Tysons.It's great to see VDOT and Fairfax County working together to take advantage of the repaving of several roads in Fairfax to make them more bike friendly. The addition of bike facilities in these projects adds almost no additional cost and increases the safety for all road users.
From the News Release:
PAVING BRINGS OPPORTUNITY FOR BICYCLE IMPROVEMENTS
New striping for bike lanes and other enhancements at 20+ locations
New striping for bike lanes and other enhancements at 20+ locations
FAIRFAX—With the Virginia Department of Transportation’s largest season of paving for northern Virginia underway, there comes good news for bicyclists: About 20 road segments will see enhancements such as bike lanes and sharrows during this year’s regular surfacing and striping.
VDOT’s traffic engineers partnered with county staffs to identify segments, most in Fairfax County, that were scheduled for paving and that would be ideal for bicycle improvements such as:
- Slightly shifting or narrowing lanes to accommodate bike lanes
- Placing “sharrows”—shared-lane markings that help increase awareness of cyclist activity
- Several “road diets,” where in certain locations, a travel lane is replaced with elements such as left-turn lanes and bicycle lanes, which can help reduce speeding and increase safety for all users.
VDOT has seen successes with road diets on Soapstone Drive, Lawyers Road and Oak Street, and with sharrows on Westmoreland Street, says Randy Dittberner, VDOT’s traffic engineer for northern Virginia.
“These are minor changes with major benefit for bicyclists,” said Dittberner, “We are making the best use possible of the pavement, and because we’re seizing the opportunity to adjust the designs during regularly scheduled work, these changes come at very low cost.”
County and VDOT staff met with the public and local supervisors in each affected area to discuss the changes and solicit input and feedback.
Location highlights:
- Road diets on Kingstowne Village Parkway, Hinson Farm Road, Westbranch Drive and Greensboro Drive
- Improvements in the Tysons Corner area on Greensboro Drive, Westpark Drive, Westbranch Drive, Jones Branch Drive, Park Run Drive and Tysons Boulevard
- Bike lanes on Backlick Road, Amherst Avenue, Parkers Lane, Quander Road, Annandale Road, Burke Road, Shiplett Boulevard, and Sudley Manor Road
See a complete list of planned enhancements.
The paving and new striping will take place starting in June. More localized project details will be announced as paving schedules are finalized.
The paving and new striping will take place starting in June. More localized project details will be announced as paving schedules are finalized.
Follow VDOT Northern Virginia on Twitter: @vadotnova
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Tysons bike project meeting Wed. May 13
 |
| North Park Run Dr |
According to Fairfax County:
The original proposal included only a climbing lane between Jones Branch Drive and Westpark Drive. This new proposal includes bike lanes in both directions from Jones Branch Drive to Tysons Boulevard. The proposal changes the number of lanes and the lane configuration to provide room to add bike lanes. The parking would remain on Park Run Drive between Westpark Drive and Tysons Boulevard. View the concept.
 |
| Looking north toward Freddie Mac |
Labels: freddie mac, park run, repaving, road diet, Tysons
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Support needed to save Kingstowne bike lanes
The proposed Kingstowne Village Parkway road diet
and on-road bike lanes are in jeopardy unless we act now. Your help
is needed to show strong public support for the proposed bicycle improvements
before the public comment period closes on April 15, 2015.
Fairfax County Department of Transportation(FCDOT) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are proposing a
road diet on Kingstowne Village Parkway that would reduce the current four
travel lanes to two with one center turn lane and would provide on-road bike
facilities in both directions. The addition of bike lanes on Kingstowne Village
Parkway would help build out the County’s bike network as recommended in
Fairfax County’s Bicycle Master Plan and would provide needed connection to existing
bike lanes on Beulah Street.
 |
| Road Diet - Graphic by FCDOT |
At the second public meeting held April 8, there
was significant opposition for the proposed road diet. Opponents
voiced concerns that focused mostly on traffic volume and the effect a new
nearby development would have on local traffic. VDOT’s traffic study,
however, indicates Kingstowne Village Parkway has significant extra capacity
and is well below the 20,000 vehicles per day threshold for determining road
diet candidates.
Road diets and on-street bike lanes make streets
safer for all users - bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers alike. In 2010,
FCDOT and VDOT completed a road diet on Lawyers Road in Fairfax County, a very
similar roadway to Kingstowne Village Parkway. A before and after
study by VDOT found that while average travel times remained generally the
same, there was a 67% reduction in motor vehicle crashes, and it reduced the
number of people driving more than 15 mph over the speed limit.
 |
| FCDOT Views - Graphic by FCDOT |
Road diets provide traffic calming and the
addition of bike lanes offer people who bicycle a safe place on the road,
and an alternative to side paths that are often shared with pedestrians.
Let’s not allow a few vocal opponents to undermine efforts to make
Kingstowne Village Parkway safer and more accessible for all users.
Please email Fairfax County Supervisor Jeff
McKay (leedist@fairfaxcounty.gov),
and copy Adam Lind of FCDOT (adam.lind@fairfaxcounty.gov),
to let them know you support the road diet and bicycle lanes for
Kingstowne Village Parkway. Time is short so please provide your feedback
before the public comment period closes on April 15.
Labels: bicycle master plan, kingstowne village parkway, road diet
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Tysons proposed bike project meeting update
Local cyclists were well represented in a crowd of approximately three dozen attendees at the meeting last night on Fairfax County's efforts to provide dedicated bike facilities in Tysons. Fairfax County is working with VDOT to use this summer's planned repaving of deteriorated roads to re-stripe selected streets to create bike lanes, climbing lanes, and sharrows.
The county and state representatives expressed great confidence in their departments' assessments that improved safety for everyone, better traffic flow, and a more walkable and bikeable Tysons will result from the 8 proposed projects--3 road diets that will create new bike lanes in both directions, lane diets to add 3 climbings lanes, and 2 sharrows, which are listed and shown on the Fairfax County government website and in the image on the right.
The speakers stressed that these improvements were interim low to no cost solutions until the ultimate development of Tysons is completed, more biking and walking facilities are added, and the bike lanes are connected. They also emphasized that the re-striping will not change the configuration of any intersections, which they cited as one reason why traffic flow will not be affected by the new street designs.
In response to questions from the attendees, the speakers said that signage will accompany the new bike lanes but not the sharrows, that the speed limit on West Park will be reduced from 45 to 35 mph to bring it in line with other streets in Tysons, and that the County, VDOT, and local businesses are working together to publicize the changes. A representative from TyTran, the Tysons transportation management association, confirmed that local businesses were aware of the changes and were committed to improving safety for bikers and walkers in Tysons.
The County and VDOT have completed the conceptual design and traffic analysis stages of the process and are now in the public outreach and comment period, which will last through 1 April 2015. After public comments are reviewed, plans will be reevaluated as needed with the goal of completing the design in April. Submit comments to Adam Lind of the bicycle program.
The County and VDOT have completed the conceptual design and traffic analysis stages of the process and are now in the public outreach and comment period, which will last through 1 April 2015. After public comments are reviewed, plans will be reevaluated as needed with the goal of completing the design in April. Submit comments to Adam Lind of the bicycle program.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Complete Streets references
One of the cities featured is Memphis, Tennessee, which in 2008 and 2010 made the list of Bicycling's Worst Cities. Since then the Mayor has committed to adding 55 miles of new bike lanes and hired the city's first bike coordinator. Bicycling recently featured Memphis in the brief article America's Most Improved Bike City. The city now has a Complete Streets Manual that is helping transform the city into a more bike- and ped-friendly place.
Another great Complete Streets resource is Rethinking Streets: An Evidence-Based Guide to 25 Complete Streets Transformations. It contains some excellent ideas for remaking our streets into safer, more bike-friendly places. Several of the transformations consist of road diets similar to those in Reston on Lawyers Road and Soapstone Drive that are featured in a new Federal publication, the Road Diet Informational Guide.
MWCOG conducted a survey of local jurisdictions to determine which had Complete Streets, Survey Finds Number of Local "Complete Streets" Policies in the Region Growing. According to the survey, Fairfax County said they have a Complete Streets policy, the Transportation Policy Plan.
Labels: complete streets, memphis, road diet, tennessee
Monday, December 15, 2014
US DOT Secretary Foxx blog's about Reston road diets
Recently we mentioned a new Federal Highway Administration publication, "Road Diet Informational Guide," that uses Lawyers Road in Reston as a case study of how road diets improve safety and can provide better bike access. Today US Dept. of Transportation Secretary Foxx featured the guide in his blog Fast Lane: A diet you can live with:
One community where a road diet was a good fit is Reston, Virginia, where two roads recently shrank, and motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians are safer for it. In Reston, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) implemented a road diet on a two-mile segment of Lawyers Road during an already scheduled 2009 repaving project. Reaction among residents was mixed before the project, but views shifted to strong support after the project helped reduce crashes in the corridor by 67 percent—that’s a full 2/3 reduction! A second road diet was installed on nearby Soapstone Drive in 2011, and that diet resulted in a 65 percent crash reduction.
I first heard about road diets when I was mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. They’ve become popular features there, and FHWA has singled them out as one of nine proven safety countermeasures for cutting fatalities and serious injuries on America’s roadways.
Better roads, more options, and safer travel – that’s a diet we can all live with.
I first heard about road diets when I was mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. They’ve become popular features there, and FHWA has singled them out as one of nine proven safety countermeasures for cutting fatalities and serious injuries on America’s roadways.
Better roads, more options, and safer travel – that’s a diet we can all live with.
Labels: anthony foxx, road diet
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Lawyers Road featured in national road diet guide
The Federal Highway Administration recently published the "Road Diet Informational Guide" that users Lawyers Road as the case study. VDOT staff provided input to the guide's authors based on their experience with road diets in Virginia. In 2011 a second road diet in Reston converted Soapstone Drive from four lanes to two lanes and bike lanes, providing good bike access to the new Wiehle-Reston East Silver Line station.
See our coverage of the Lawyers Road and Soapstone Drive projects.
We are fortunate to have some very forward thinking engineers in the Northern Virginia District of VDOT who are willing to experiment with new road treatments that make some of our roads safer for everyone.
See our coverage of the Lawyers Road and Soapstone Drive projects.
We are fortunate to have some very forward thinking engineers in the Northern Virginia District of VDOT who are willing to experiment with new road treatments that make some of our roads safer for everyone.
Labels: lawyers road, road diet, soapstone drive, vdot
Monday, July 28, 2014
Meeting tonight to discuss bike lanes on Ridge Top Road
We just learned about a public meeting tonight, July 28, on a proposal to create bike lanes on Ridge Top Road. The meeting starts at 7:30pm at Fairfax County Government Center, Conference Rooms 2-3. Ridge Top Road extends parallel to Waples Mill Rd from Random Hills Rd to Route 29/Lee Hwy. We encourage cyclists to attend the meeting to support this project that will help reduce speeding, add on-street parking, and add bike lanes. |
| Ridge Top Road Image from Google Maps Street view |
TONIGHT: Ridge Top Road
Community Meeting
|
VDOT and Fairfax County Supervisor Cook have heard concerns from the community surrounding Ridge Top Road: there is not enough on-street parking, there is too much speeding, and the road is not bicycle friendly. VDOT is considering ways to change the pavement markings to address these concerns and we want the community's input before taking any action.
There will be an open informational meeting for anyone interested in learning about the plans for a road diet and lane restriping along Ridge Top Road.
Ridge Top Road Meeting
Date: Monday, July 28
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Government Center on Government Center Parkway (Conference Rooms 2-3)
Representatives from VDOT and Fairfax County DOT will be there to talk about the project and to explain how this will affect traffic patterns in the area.
In particular, Ridge Top is currently marked with two lanes in each direction, but the amount of traffic is so low that it would fit in one lane. Taking a travel lane away in each direction would help slow traffic and make room for on-street parking and bicycle lanes. Public input is essential, so please let us know your views.
Please note that:
If you have any questions, please call Ann Sharp at Supervisor Cook's offices, 703-425-9300.
|
Labels: bike lanes, ridge top road, road diet, vdot
Friday, November 22, 2013
Road diet on River Birch Rd includes bike lanes
 |
| River Birch Rd bike lanes Photo: VDOT |
This is the third road diet in the county that has resulted in new bike lanes being installed. The others are Lawyers Road and Soapstone Drive, both in Reston. They are all examples of how we can make better use of our existing roads to provide space for bicyclists. There are many similar roads throughout the county. We hope that the success of these projects leads to more bike lanes in the future.
From VDOT:
VDOT’s latest road diet was implemented today, on River Birch Road between Dulles Technology Dr. and Sunrise Valley Dr. The project took away a through lane in each direction in favor of bike lanes and on-street parallel parking. Over the years the adjacent community has repeatedly requested additional parking because of a shortage of off-street parking, and the project helps address the shortfall. The reduction of a travel lane also will help control speeding, improve safety, and improve cyclist accommodations.River Birch carries at most about 4,000 vehicles per day, an amount of traffic that can be easily accommodated in a single travel lane. The entire 0.7-mile length of the street was treated.
The project was tailored to accommodate the needs of Coates Elementary School, where a queue of vehicles forms daily to enter the kiss-and-ride lot. The parking and southbound bike lane were discontinued for about 500’ in this queuing area, and shared-lane markings were installed to bridge the gap in the bike lane. The number and configuration of approach lanes were maintained at the stop signs at each end and the middle of the street.
The project was implemented after VDOT and Supervisor Foust held a community meeting on October 2, at which residents showed overwhelming support for the proposed change.
This is VDOT’s first road diet that was installed as a stand-alone project, rather than in conjunction with roadway repaving. As such, the project was configured so it did not require any changes to the existing centerline and very little eradication of existing markings.
A few photos of the finished project are attached. Many thanks to Ivan Horodyskyj for managing the project, to Bobby Mangalath for preparing the in-house pavement marking plan, Lew Graef for fine-tuning the signs, and to VDOT’s pavement marking and sign crews for their quick action to get the project implemented before winter weather sets in.
Labels: bike lanes, Randy Dittberner, River Birch Road, road diet
Monday, September 23, 2013
Community meeting to discuss proposed road diet on River Birch Rd
A public meeting is scheduled for Oct. 2. See below for more information;
River Birch Road: Community Meeting on Changes to Pavement Markings
VDOT and Fairfax County Supervisor Foust have heard concerns from the community surrounding River Birch Road: there is too much speeding traffic, and there is not enough parking. VDOT is considering ways to change the pavement markings to help address these concerns and wants the community’s input before taking any action.
In particular, River Birch is currently striped with two lanes in each direction, but the amount of traffic is so low that it would easily fit in one lane. Taking a lane away would make room for other uses of the pavement, such as on-street parking and bike lanes. Public input is essential in deciding if and how to reconfigure the street, so please consider attending to let VDOT know your views.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013, 7:00 p.m.
Coates Elementary School, Cafeteria
2480 River Birch Rd., Herndon, VA, 20171
Questions? Please contact Ivan Horodyskyj, VDOT Traffic Engineering, ivan.horodyskyj@vdot.virginia.gov
River Birch Road: Community Meeting on Changes to Pavement Markings
VDOT and Fairfax County Supervisor Foust have heard concerns from the community surrounding River Birch Road: there is too much speeding traffic, and there is not enough parking. VDOT is considering ways to change the pavement markings to help address these concerns and wants the community’s input before taking any action.
In particular, River Birch is currently striped with two lanes in each direction, but the amount of traffic is so low that it would easily fit in one lane. Taking a lane away would make room for other uses of the pavement, such as on-street parking and bike lanes. Public input is essential in deciding if and how to reconfigure the street, so please consider attending to let VDOT know your views.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013, 7:00 p.m.
Coates Elementary School, Cafeteria
2480 River Birch Rd., Herndon, VA, 20171
Questions? Please contact Ivan Horodyskyj, VDOT Traffic Engineering, ivan.horodyskyj@vdot.virginia.gov
Labels: River Birch Road, road diet, vdot
Thursday, May 23, 2013
New bike lanes in Herndon
Initially there was a proposal to install a roundabout at the Dranesville/Park intersection but residents were vocal in their opposition.
The second photo shows the bike lanes and new raised median on Dranesville Rd headed north toward the Herndon Parkway intersection.
The final photo shows where the bike lanes end at Herndon
Let's hope the new bike lanes are a sign of good things to come in Herndon.
Labels: bike lanes, herndon, road diet
Monday, April 15, 2013
Oak Street road diet being striped this week
The very successful road diet projects in Reston on Lawyers Rd and Soapstone Dr have proven to help reduce crashes and lower vehicle speeds. Kudos to VDOT for implementing another road diet project. From the VDOT press release:
“ROAD DIET” COMING TO OAK STREET
Eliminating lanes is a gain for motorists and bicyclists
“We are making smarter use of the wide pavement on Oak Street,” said VDOT traffic engineer Randy Dittberner. “By taking away the second travel lane in each direction, we make room for left-turn lanes, dedicated bike lanes, and on-street parking. All these features will help eliminate the most extreme speeders and improve safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.”
The project begins east of Gallows Road where Oak Street is 40 to 48 feet wide and two lanes in each direction, which is much more capacity than needed to handle 3,000 vehicles a day. The pavement freed up by removing one lane in each direction will instead be used for new left-turn lanes, designated parking on the south side of Oak, and bike lanes in each direction.
Residents have been concerned about traffic conditions and speeds on Oak Street for some time. With the support of residents and local officials, designed a road diet and was able to incorporate it into a paving project
About two-thirds of drivers on Oak Street exceed the 30 mph speed limit, and nearly 15 percent of vehicles travel over 40 mph. One of the benefits of road diets is a reduction in the fastest speeds.
This is VDOT’s third road diet project in northern Virginia. Diets on Lawyers Road and Soapstone Road in Reston have resulted in fewer crashes and reduced speeds.
Update 4/17/2013: Here is a photo of Oak street ready to be restriped with bike lanes.
 |
| Photo: Justin Antos |
Labels: oak street, road diet, vdot
Monday, March 25, 2013
More good news about Lawyers Road bike lanes
In 2009 VDOT changed Lawyers Road from a dangerous four lane road to a two lane road with bike lanes and a center turn lane. See our many blog entries about the project. While the new bike lanes are a great benefit for cyclists, the primary advantage of the new road is that is is a much safer road. Car crashes have significantly decreased, as have the speeds. Here is a report from VDOT that includes the latest crash statistics for the first two years after the project was implemented:
In the four years prior to the road diet, this part of Lawyers averaged 15 crashes per year. The literature suggested that we might see a crash reduction of 20% to 40%, but in fact, in the first two years after implementation, Lawyers averaged only 3 crashes per year, an 80% drop. Attached is a chart showing the crash history.
In addition to the crash reduction, the project also helped slow the worst speed offenders without negatively impacting travel time. Public support was mixed prior to the change, but after one year, 74% of survey respondents felt the change was an improvement to Lawyers Road.
In addition to the crash reduction, the project also helped slow the worst speed offenders without negatively impacting travel time. Public support was mixed prior to the change, but after one year, 74% of survey respondents felt the change was an improvement to Lawyers Road.
Labels: lawyers road, road diet, vdot
Friday, October 14, 2011
Soapstone bike lane project starts Monday
 |
| Soapstone Dr. |
Work will begin on the southern-most segment of the road from south of Lawyers Rd to Glade Dr which is currently only 2 wide lanes. That configuration will not change. This project will link up with the new bike lanes on Lawyers Rd, giving cyclists from the south a very good route leading toward the new Reston-Wiehle Avenue station on the Silver Line.
A big thank you to VDOT for having the vision to modify Soapstone and Lawyers, making both roads safer for everyone and creating dedicated bike facilities for cyclists.
Labels: road diet, soapstone drive
