FABB encourages local riders to support demands for Route 7 safety improvements in Bailey’s Crossroads at a Pedestrian Safety Public Meeting and rally this Thursday, August 4. The meeting will be held at Bailey’s Elementary School, 6111 Knollwood Drive, Falls Church, at 7:00 pm. There will be a pre-meeting rally at 6:30 pm for walkers, riders, and others to show their support for urgent action to improve safety.
As you may recall, FABB is supporting the Safe Streets for Bailey’s Crossroads campaign led by CASA, an immigrant advocacy group, and the Coalition for Smarter Growth (CSG). The campaign is intended to publicize the dangers along Route 7, especially to Culmore community residents who rely on public transportation, walking, and biking.
CSG’s and CASA’s efforts have prompted the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), in collaboration with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation and Supervisor Penny Gross, to hold this meeting to hear community requests for potential safety improvements to make Route 7 safer for the residents of Culmore and everyone who travels the road.
Participants should ask for several fixes that can make the area safer now while longer-term plans are developed. We recommend demanding:
- Lowering the speed limit and adding driver speed feedback signs.
- Installing a temporary, in-street sidewalk connection until a permanent one can be built in front of the gas station where a woman was struck and killed in December.
- Adding high visibility crosswalks across Route 7 and all side streets and driveways in the corridor.
- Providing brighter pedestrian-scale lighting.
- Reprograming the traffic signals to give pedestrians a headstart and more time to cross Route 7.
If unable to attend the rally and meeting, please send an email asking for these improvements to Fairfax County and VDOT using this CSG action form.
The time is now to demand action to save lives and enhance safety for all road users.
