Citizens for Traffic Calming on Old Courthouse Road

 

Meeting Summary

DRAFT Concerns/Suggested Responses

Transportation Town Meeting on Old Courthouse Road
(Creek Crossing Road)

September 30, 2008

 

1. Concern: Longstanding safety concerns about speeding, pedestrian safety, crossing guard safety etc at  Pine Valley Drive and Old Courthouse Road intersection.  30% of students are walkers, one adult in wheelchair, school crossing guard endangered, non-stop rush hour commuter traffic.

 

Suggested responses: Staff will review:

 

·        VDOT – stripe road for two lanes with parking lane on each side to visually narrow road

·        “Wink-o-matic” request.

          Response: VDOT – does not install where road is posted 25 mph.       Will reevaluate.

·        Speed limit signs painted in road

·        Additional signage

·        Multi-way stop request for Pine Valley Drive and Old Courthouse Road.

     Ask VDOT to review again.

 

2. Concern: Line-of-site obstructions – overgrown vegetation at various locations along the road blocks visibility. Irwin Street.

Response: VDOT – will alert VDOT maintenance and trim back vegetation

 

3. Concern: Drivers regularly travel in excess of the 25 mph posted speed limit. Enforcement questions among jurisdictions.

Response:

 

·        Staff suggestion for implementation of the R-TAP “$200 Fine for Speeding signs that increase fines for speeding in specific locations.”

     (In process)

·        Narrow travel lanes in specific locations and stripe for parking

     a) at Old Courthouse Road and Pine Valley Drive

     b) At Freedom Hill

·        Consistent Speed Limit of 25 mph on Old Courthouse Road

·        Paint speed limit on road.

·        Targeted enforcement on side streets

·        Additional signage in designated locations, “School” “Watch for Children” etc.

 

4. Concern:  Area is caught between two jurisdictions, Town of Vienna and Fairfax County. Traffic regulations differ; Vienna Police cannot enforce over the line and vise versa so speeders get away without being cited. Can jurisdictions cooperate on enforcement?)

Response: Vienna does not have concurrent jurisdiction. They own a small stretch of Old Courthouse. The State owns the remainder. There is no current provision for mutual enforcement.

 

5. Concern: Lack of driver respect for stopped school buses/crossing guards

Response: Additional signage at specific locations, enforcement.

 

5. Concern: Why do the police not issue citations for accidents that have damage less than $1000 and/or no injuries.

Response: Legislation needed.

 

7. Concern: No law in Virginia that requires drivers to stop at pedestrian crosswalks as opposed to the District of Columbia and Maryland. Confusing for drivers.

Response:

 

·        Reinforce the need with state elected officials to support “stop for pedestrians at designated crosswalks” law in County’s 2008 & 2009 Legislative Program but not approved by the General Assembly

·        Implement County “Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalk $100 - $500 Violation Fine”  Signs at designated locations.

 

8. Concern: What are the statistics for safety for roads with speed humps vs roads without? Do speed humps make a quantifiable difference?

Response: Staff review

 

9. Concern:  Traffic calming needed at Drewlaine Drive and Old Courthouse Road. With turning lanes creating additional road width, through traffic speeds around turning traffic creating safety problem.

Response: Staff review

 

10. Concern: Sidewalk improvement needed at Westbriar Court and Old Courthouse Road, Country Club Drive and Drewlaine Drive.

Response:  Contact HMD Trails and Sidewalk Committee representative. Put in sidewalk process.

 

11. Concern: Sidewalk and bike lane needed for Old Courthouse Road

Response: Inform community of process for prioritizing and funding. Contact HMD Sidewalk and Trails Committee Member, County Pedestrian and Bicycle Coordinators.

 

12. Concern: Need additional crosswalks

 

·        Freedom Hill Park between Gosnell Drive and the Town of Vienna Line

·        Locations on Old Court House Road, esp. Pine Valley Drive

 

Response: Staff review

 

13. Concern: Speeding on Creek Crossing Road and concern with intersection at Old Courthouse Road.

Response: VDOT has declined multi-way stop at intersection with Old Courthouse Road.  Road probably qualifies for RTAP program.  Association contacted about submitting formal request to begin process.

 

Suggestions:

 

Comprehensive review of Old Courthouse Road including Creek Crossing and other roads from its terminus with Gosnell Road to the intersection at Trap Road and Beulah Road in cooperation with Town of Vienna for traffic calming, signage, lane striping, trails, sidewalks, crosswalks, etc.