Thursday, October 4, 2018
W&OD Trail Bridge Over Route 29 Meeting
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| Simulation of proposed bridge. |
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will host a community meeting this month to present the final design and aesthetic details for the Washington & Old Dominion Trail Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge over U.S. Route 29 (Lee Highway) in Arlington. The trail bridge is being built as a component of the I-66 Inside the Beltway Eastbound Widening Project. It will separate trail users from motorists at the signalized intersection, enhancing safety for both. This section of the W&OD Trail serves approximately 1,500 trail users on weekdays, and over 2,000 on weekends.
The meeting is set for Thursday, October 11, 2018, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm with the main presentation to start at 7:00 pm. It will be held at Yorktown High School, 5200 Yorktown Boulevard, in Arlington.
Plan now to attend, show support for bicycle infrastructure, and offer your ideas to make the bridge even better.
Labels: route 29, Route 29 bridge, vdot, w&od trail
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
Monday, August 20, 2018
Tysons-Old Meadow Road Bicycle-Pedestrian Improvement Project Update
In June the Virginia Department of Transportation held a Design Public Hearing on the Tysons-Old Meadow Road project. This project, in cooperation with Fairfax County, will build a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over I-495 and shared-use path in the vicinity of Route 123 to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and connectivity in the Tysons area.
VDOT recently completed a required Environmental Studies Memo (ESM) to assess the impacts of changes in the project and determine the significance of any new potential impacts since the approved environmental document in 2006.
The ESM is now available for public review at the project website: http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/resources/NorthernVirginia/ESM_-_Signed.pdf
FABB supports this project as an important step in making biking in the Tysons area easier and safer. If you have any questions or comments, please email Steven Warner, Environmental Specialist, at Steven.Varner@vdot.virginia.gov by September 4, 2018. Please reference "Tysons/Old Meadow Road Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements" in the subject line.
Labels: i-495 bike/ped bridge, old meadow road, vdot
Saturday, July 14, 2018
myVDOT More Bike-Friendly
Good news! The Virginia Department of Transportation’s myVDOT webpage has been updated in a way to make it more useful for cyclists and pedestrians. The best tool to report problems on VDOT maintained roads, sidewalks, and paths, myVDOT recently added an option titled "I need to report an issue on a sidewalk, or pedestrian or bicycle path." This will make it easier to draw VDOT’s attention to problems you encounter on your rides.
Of course, VDOT does not maintain all sidewalks or pedestrian and bike paths in Virginia, but the new option and the existing ability to enter locations and details will speed the process of repairs. If you are reporting multiple problems, VDOT asks that you submit a separate report for each request. Also, if your request is related to a road hazard that needs immediate attention, please call 1-800-367-7623 (FOR-ROAD).
Friday, June 8, 2018
Public Hearing Notice Fairfax County Secondary Six-Year Plan
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will conduct a joint public hearing on the Secondary Six-Year Improvement Plan for fiscal years 2019 through 2024.
If you would like an advanced look at the proposed plan, copies may be reviewed at VDOT’s Northern Virginia District Office, 4975 Alliance Drive, in Fairfax.
The hearing will be on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at 3 p.m. in the Board Auditorium, Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax.
Labels: fairfax county board of supervisors, secondary six-year improvement plan, vdot
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Tysons-McLean Bike/Ped Improvements Meeting in June
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| Tysons/Old Meadow Road project. |
FABB encourages members and other interested residents in the Tysons and McLean areas to attend a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) public hearing on the project to connect Rt. 123 and Tysons Corner Center. The meeting will be on Thursday, June 14, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the George C. Marshall High School, 7731 Leesburg Pike, in Falls Church.
Based on the results of the preliminary engineering phase of the study, which included earlier public outreach meetings, the final design plans include a 10’ shared-use path along Old Meadow Road from the McLean Metro Station leading to a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over I-495 to connect to Tysons One place and Fashion Boulevard. This $6.2 million project is tentatively scheduled to begin and be completed in 2020.
This will be great opportunity to speak up in favor of much needed bike improvements and show state and transportation officials the strength of county residents’ support for multimodal transportation options.
If unable to attend, you can also email comments to meetingcomments@VDOT.virginia.gov. Please reference “Tysons/Old Meadow Road Bike/Ped Improvements” in the subject line.
Labels: bridge over i-495, mclean, old meadow road, Tysons, vdot
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
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
Monday, January 29, 2018
Rolling Road Widening Public Hearing, February 27.
VDOT will hold a public hearing in late February on its plans to reduce congestion and improve safety by widening Rolling Road (Route 638) from two to four lanes between Viola Street and Old Keene Mill Road. This project includes a shared-use path to increase safety for bicyclists, pedestrians and other non-motorized users.
The hearing will be on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Irving Middle School, 8100 Old Keene Mill Road, in Springfield. As usual with these meetings, project staff will be available to answer questions and there will be displays for viewing between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. when the presentation starts.
Labels: road widening, rolling road, 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, December 31, 2017
Reminder: VDOT Meeting on Thursday
FABB encourages members and others from Vienna, Fairfax City, and nearby areas around I-66 in Fairfax County to attend this Thursday's VDOT public hearing. The hearing will focus on various projects that will affect cyclists and pedestrians. In particular, there will be information available on additions to the George Snyder Trail in Fairfax City, the planned multi-use trail along Nutley Street in Vienna, and pedestrian improvements along Monument Drive and Lee Highway.
There will be an open house at 6 p.m. with the hearing beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the VDOT Northern Virginia District Office, 4975 Alliance Drive, in Fairfax. If you cannot attend, you can email comments to meetingcomments@vdot.virginia.gov. Please reference “I-66 Concession Projects” in the subject line. You also can mail comments to Maria Sinner at VDOT’s District Office, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 through next Monday, January 8, 2018.
Labels: Fairfax City, i-66 outside the beltway, vdot, vienna
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
Upcoming Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Public Hearing
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| VDOT district office. |
VDOT will be holding a public hearing on various Concession Payment Projects of concern to local cyclists and pedestrians on Thursday, January 4, 2018. There will be an open house at 6 p.m. with the hearing begining at 6:30 p.m. at the VDOT Northern Virginia District Office, 4975 Alliance Drive, in Fairfax.
The purpose of the meeting is for the Commonwealth Transportation Board to gather comments on projects that will be funded by a concession fee to the Commonwealth as part of the financial agreement with Express Mobility Partners for the I-66 Express Lanes Outside the Beltway project. Based on public input, these projects, which are in the Commonwealth’s Six-Year Improvement Program, will be amended. Now is the time to speak up and make sure these new facilities are the best they can be.
Information on the following projects will be presented at the meeting:
- Commuter parking garage at Fairfax Corner
- George Snyder Trail in Fairfax City
- Jermantown Road (widen bridge over I-66 in Fairfax to four lanes)
- Monument Drive bridge pedestrian improvements in Fairfax
- Rt. 50/Waples Mill Road intersection improvements in Fairfax
- Poplar Tree Road (widen bridge over Route 28 in Fairfax to four lanes)
- Lee Highway pedestrian improvements in Fairfax
- Nutley Street Southwest multi-use trail to Metro in Vienna
FABB encourages members and other interested cyclists in the areas around these projects to attend the hearing. If you cannot attend, you can email comments to meetingcomments@vdot.virginia.gov. Please reference “I-66 Concession Projects” in the subject line. You also can mail comments to Maria Sinner at VDOT’s District Office, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 through January 8, 2018.
Labels: commonwealth transportation board, Express Mobility Partners, i-66 outside the beltway, vdot
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
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Rolling Road Public Hearing Next Week
Springfield-area FABB members have an excellent opportunity next week to speak up to make bicycling better in Fairfax County. VDOT is holding a public information meeting on Thursday, November 30, on the Rolling Road widening project, which includes bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
The project aims to reduce congestion and improve safety by widening Rolling Road (Route 638) from two to four lanes between Viola Street and Old Keene Mill Road. This project is being planned in two phases with the pedestrian and bicycle facilities being added during the second phase.
The public information meeting will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Rolling Valley Elementary School, 6703 Barnack Drive in West Springfield. We hope a number of local FABB members will attend to share their ideas on making the planned bike facilities as safe and easy to use as possible.
If you would like to provide feedback but are unable to attend the meeting, please send your thoughts to meetingcomments@vdot.virginia.gov. Please include “Rolling Road Widening” in the subject line.
Labels: old keene mill road, rolling road, springfield, vdot, west springfield
