Advocacy Efforts to Make Arterials Safe for All Users

Advocacy Efforts to Make Arterials Safe for All Users September 13, 2022 Presentation to Regional Vision Zero Summit Sonya Breehey Northern Virginia Advocacy Manager sonya@smartergrowth.net NoVA Families for Safe Streets, Board Member

Dangerous arterials in Northern Virginia Why are arterials so dangerous?

• High volume of traffic • 40-45 mph speed limits • 5-10 + lanes • Missing sidewalks • Few safe crossings • No pedestrian medians • No bike Infrastructure • Bus stops without crosswalks

Route 7 – Leesburg Pike Falls Church (Fairfax County)

Route 1 Richmond Highway Alexandria (Fairfax County)

How to design a safer Richmond Highway?

Major Multimodal Redesign Planned

Project Includes: • Widening Richmond Highway from four to six lanes • Center running Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) operating in dedicated buy-only lanes • Adding separated two-way cycle tracks and sidewalks on both sides of the road

Major Multimodal Redesign Planned

Safety Concerns Persist: • Crossing distance is extensive. Expected to take two light cycles.

• Oversized Intersections w/multiple turn lanes exacerbates crossing distance – 12-13 lanes at some intersections.

• Distance between signalized intersections are too far apart.

Gum Springs Community, Residents, and Advocates Push Back

Where things stand…

• VDOT is lowering the speed limit to 35mph!

• Using 50th Percentile instead of usual 85th citing factors such as high risk road, high levels of pedestrian activities, urbanizing land uses

• FCDOT revaluated 13 intersections to see if turn lanes could be removed • Recommended removing turn lanes from about half the intersections they reviewed.

• Driver delay and queuing (length of back up) major consideration • Not clear how pedestrian safety and delay was considered • FCDOT recommendations must be approved by VDOT

• Mid-block crossings still not yet addressed

How to design a safer Route 7?

Safe Streets for Bailey’s Crossroads CSG and CASA, a leading immigrant advocacy organization, are partnering together to work with the local community to identify safety issues and win needed safety improvements for the community.

Bailey’s Crossroads Walkability Survey & Audit Report

Needed Safety Improvements Short Term Fixes: •Lower the speed limit and add speed feedback signs •Install a temporary, in-street sidewalk connection until a permanent one can be built •Give pedestrians a head start and more time to cross Route 7 •Add high visibility crosswalks across Route 7 and all side streets and driveways in the corridor •Provide brighter lighting on Route 7 and in neighborhoods Within the next 2-3 years: •Add more signalized crossing options across Route 7 •Provide crosswalks on all legs of intersections •Fix missing sidewalk gaps Long Term: Route 7 should be redesigned as a complete street that is walkable, bike-friendly, and provides safe and easy access to transit while also providing safe movement for drivers.

Culmore-Route 7 Pedestrian Safety Rally & Public Meeting

Where things stand…

• Speed Study initiated. Outcome unknown.

• Temporary fixes inadequate.

• VDOT won’t install a temporary sidewalk connection.

Painted hash marks along shoulder.

• Added pedestrian signs • More time for peds to cross one intersection (but not others, and no leading pedestrian interval) • Pedestrian Crossing Safety Study initiated but recommendations and timeline unknown.

• Three sidewalk completion projects identified and preliminary scoping done, but funding and timeline unknown.

The Challenges Faced Advocating to Make Arterials Safer Campaigns are hard fought and hyper local. Not always consistent across the region.

Lack of urgency to make life saving improvements. It takes so long!

Prioritizing convenience and driving over people’s safety.

Victim blaming Communicating with transportation engineers.

Unwillingness to even pilot new ideas, while other jurisdictions readily use them.

Lack of funding cited What else?

Fairfax – Arlington – Alexandria www.novasafestreets.org Near Miss/Dangerous Location Survey

Sonya Breehey Northern Virginia Advocacy Manager sonya@smartergrowth.net Twitter: @sbreehey Website: smartergrowth.net Coalition for Smarter Growth PO Box 73282 2000 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20009

ActiveFairfax & Safe Streets for All

Fairfax County’s draft Safe Streets for All Program Recommendations

VDOT’s Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

Map from VDOT’s Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

Safety Improvements Taking Too Long

Advocating for walkable, bikeable, inclusive, and transit-oriented communities as the most sustainable and equitable way for the Washington, DC region to grow and provide opportunities for all.