Franconia-Springfield, Fairfax Parkway Virtual Meetings Planned

FRANCONIA, VA — In upcoming virtual meetings, the Fairfax County transportation department will release preliminary recommendations aimed to improve the Franconia-Springfield Parkway and Fairfax County Parkway.

Staff have been developing recommendations to address deficiencies and identify future needs on the corridor. The study area covers the 31-mile Fairfax County Parkway from Leesburg Pike in Herndon to Richmond Highway in the Fort Belvoir area, as well as the segment of Franconia-Springfield Parkway.

There have been two rounds of public feedback in the last two years, including surveys. Based on public feedback from a fall 2018 survey, county officials said they would not consider tolls as an option. A 2019 survey asked residents about the following potential improvements: expanded pedestrian and bicyclist paths, capacity improvements, widening without high occupancy vehicle (HOV), HOV feeder, and HOV-2+.

Preliminary recommendations and virtual meeting materials will be shared on the study website in the coming days. Public feedback will be accepted through online, mail and phone comments until Aug. 31 and a post-presentation survey from July 29 to Aug. 31.

The virtual meetings require registration and will happen on:

• Wednesday, July 29, 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. (lunch session)
• Thursday, July 30, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 4, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Transportation staff will test the preliminary recommendations using models to determine if they address future demand and commuter needs. Final recommendations will go to the Board of Supervisors in the fall. If the board endorses the study recommendations, a comprehensive plan amendment will be proposed in spring 2021.

See more information at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/study/fairfax-county-parkway.