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Fairfax County is advancing a plan to make Prosperity Avenue safer for cyclists and pedestrians, but a proposed high-density development near the Dunn Loring Metro station could force changes to the design.
The county’s road diet would reduce Prosperity Avenue from four vehicle lanes to two between Hilltop Road and Gallows Road. Buffered bicycle lanes, safer pedestrian crossings and transit upgrades are also planned along the Merrifield corridor.
At a Jan. 27 public meeting, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation outlined the latest proposal and said the changes should cause only modest traffic delays.
A potential obstacle emerged with plans to redevelop the aging Prosperity Business Campus at 2750 Prosperity Avenue. Property owner Link Logistics and an EYA Development affiliate have proposed a mixed-use project that could include 1,500 to 1,800 homes.
Their initial application calls for removing buffers from the bike lanes and adding street parking instead. County transportation officials say they will press the developers to preserve the buffers.
Active transportation planner Hannah Cacner said FCDOT considers that separation essential for cyclist safety and plans to work with the development team to keep it in place.
Closing a dangerous gap near Metro
The project is intended to fill a major break in Fairfax County’s bicycle network. Existing bike lanes disappear near the Dunn Loring Metro station, pushing cyclists into fast-moving vehicle traffic.
Under the proposed design, concrete barriers and flexible delineator posts would protect portions of the bike lanes. The county would also build pedestrian refuge islands at two mid-block crosswalks.
Those islands would allow pedestrians to cross two vehicle lanes at a time and wait in a protected area for another opening in traffic. Currently, people must find a gap across all four lanes.
Right turns on red would be prohibited at signalized intersections to reduce conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians.
All four Fairfax Connector stops along this stretch of Prosperity Avenue would receive accessible boarding areas and upgraded signs.
The county is also working with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to relocate private shuttle stops serving Defense Health Headquarters at 7700 Arlington Boulevard and Inova. The shuttles currently block a travel lane near Gallows Road. Moving the stops closer to the Metro station is expected to improve access and ease congestion.
Drivers could face slightly longer waits
A county traffic study found that the lane reduction would add about 1.5 seconds of peak-hour delay at Merrilee Drive and seven seconds at Gallows Road.
FCDOT says those increases remain well within the acceptable limits established by the county’s comprehensive plan. Officials also believe the road diet could improve traffic flow by discouraging speeding and aggressive lane changes.
With fewer lanes to cross, drivers entering Prosperity Avenue from side streets could turn more easily and safely. Reducing lane changes may also limit sudden braking that can slow traffic along the corridor.
FCDOT is accepting public feedback through Feb. 14 and expects to make final design adjustments later in the year.
The Virginia Department of Transportation has reviewed the proposal and submitted feedback, so portions of the plan could still change before construction. If the project receives approval, Fairfax County must then secure construction funding. No firm schedule has been established.