A few months ago we ran a series (part 1 and part 2) discussing how land use and transportation planning could be coupled at Seven Corners (literally the intersection) to create an amenity and safety improvement for pedestrians and residents. At the time several community members were meeting with Fairfax County planning officials to discuss the overall scope of the region as part of their Seven Corners Revitalization Plan. Since that time Fairfax County and VDOT have conducted studies and plans to improve signalling across the often maligned and chaotic intersection.
The intersection plans are, to say the least, complicated. What is currently a network nightmare of interwoven and mis-connected side roads over top of Route 50 will become a future safety crisis if the current plans are continued. No modifications to the actual road system has been proposed. Instead a new signalling system and cross walks will be provided at key points that could theoretically allow residents and pedestrians enough time to cross the intersection.
We applaud the signal designer for finding a solution out of the chaos. I have been provided conditions in my career which were less than desirable and been told to find a solution. It is an uncomfortable position to be in, especially when addressing something out of the designers control could relieve much of the problem. In this case unfortunately the solution is simply not good enough. The existing conditions being imposed on the intersection design are contradictory to the end goals that the community wants.
Several studies have come out in the last few years, including one from Brittain and another from researchers at Virginia Tech, showing too many visual cues cause effective distractions and safety risks to drivers. That will be the future of this intersection, and the victims will be continued poor traffic flow and by result pedestrian safety. The amount of dependence on knowledgeable drivers is far too great in this condition. It will only take as long as the first uncomfortable driver, unfamiliar with his surroundings, and the first pedestrian in the wrong place at the wrong time, for this intersection to be shown for its flaws. We need to take out the complexity of the situation first. If the phasing requires such detailed descriptions to the ones who design and review it, imagine the havoc it will reek when implemented on users.
We still believe this is too big of a problem for VDOT alone, via intersection design guidance, to solve. It must be a holistic land use change for Seven Corners.
When VDOT is involved, the selection made will be the most effective theoretical solution for the most efficient price. This isn’t VDOTs fault, or the designer’s fault, but instead is simply out of scope for just one department to correct. It has to be addressed via a revitalization plan which finds funding from private sources so that the decisions don’t have to be made on what is the least expensive but rather what is the best condition for the future.
That was the focus of our concept, to draw funds from those who would benefit from better pedestrian access, private development and retail, in a responsible way (with height and density limits) which would provide the additional funding to correct this disastrous intersection. Without a correction to the network itself, any improvement to crosswalks will only create an illusion of safety.
We originally proposed a round about as an efficient way to reduce vehicle/pedestrian incidents. These have been implemented successfully in many intersections with multi-directional flows without disruption to traffic flow. By limiting the interaction between vehicles and people to specific locations that are visible and clear, you can avoid confusion, the real killer. We can create order with lighted cycles for pedestrians when crossing to the round about center (keeping a preference for vehicles at these points via significantly slower timing for the pedestrian), and include stop signs at the entry points around the circle with preference to pedestrians. This encourages the pedestrian to go the radial direction via a safe and not significantly longer route, while allowing others who want to use the circle to do so at a full stop light that might take a bit longer for them to cross.
We want Fairfax County to understand that the current VDOT design remains a superficial modification to Seven Corners. The concept must be expanded so we don’t end up having to do another improvement a few more years down the line. More signals and signs on the existing web of roads will only further congest and confuse drivers. It will keep neighborhoods isolated from the great retail centers they are so close to, forcing more people into cars for errands less than 1/2 mile. Most importantly it puts at risk the lives of those who remain unengaged by real improvements to the community. This is simply not acceptable.