Fairfax County Puts $11 Million Toward Pedestrian Improvements Near Alexandria

Thanks to a reallocation of some funds and savings on two big Fairfax County projects , the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has identified about $11 million to complete planned improvements to pedestrian and road projects across the county.

“The new projects will enhance safety, reduce bottlenecks and improve bike and pedestrian opportunities,” Board Chairman Sharon Bulova said in a statement.

The following projects are very close to Alexandria and could help West End residents in Alexandria city:

• I-395 southbound off-ramp to Route 236 westbound ($500,000): To deal with anticipated additional traffic due to the Mark Center, this project will improve the signage on this off-ramp. It will alert drivers, in advance, that Quantrell Avenue, with direct access from the ramp, can be used to access Beauregard Street, Lincolnia Road and the Plaza at Landmark shopping center. This project is one of the Mark Center spot improvements.
• Beauregard Street ($50,000): Due to expected traffic impacts from the Mark Center, the westbound left turn lane on Route 236 at Beauregard Street could be channelized. This would prevent cars leaving the Landmark shopping center from accessing the left turn lane, crossing three through lanes of traffic in a short distance. Instead, it would shift those vehicles to another plaza exit, such as Beauregard Street. This improvement is part of the Mark Center spot improvements.
• Cherokee Avenue/Route 236 ($700,000): This project would build an exclusive northbound right turn lane from Cherokee Avenue onto Route 236. This could offer Mark Center commuters an alternative route to and from the south.  This project is one of the Mark Center spot improvements.

The money became available when two other large transportation projects were unexpectedly completed under budget.

Burke Centre’s Virginia Railway Express parking was finished with $3.9 million to spare in federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds; another $7 million in federal Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) money was left over after the widening of Route 29 and Gallows Road to three lanes.

Supervisors also approved the use of $1.65 million in commercial and industrial (C&I) taxes for the projects.

Combined, the funding will go towards finishing more than 10 planned transportation projects around the county, including sidewalk and intersection fixes along Route 50 and bridge replacements in Chantilly and Reston, among others.

The largest sum of money will help pay for pedestrian and intersection improvements on Route 50 from Jaguar Trail to Seven Corners at Olin Drive. Approximately $3.7 million will go towards improving three intersections and eight sections of sidewalk there.

For a full list of projects, click here.

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