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Fairfax Underground
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
(3) Options for Herndon Pkwy/Van Buren Street Intersection Presented
Posted by:
Sprawl and Crawl
()
Date: July 18, 2013 07:12AM
Town Hall: 3 Options for Herndon Pkwy/Van Buren Street Intersection Presented
Town will accept feedback from local residents and business owners through July 31.
http://herndon.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/town-hall-3-options-for-herndon-pkwyvan-buren-street-intersection-presented
A packed room turned out for Wednesday night’s meeting with engineers and Town of Herndon representatives to discuss potential improvements for one of Herndon’s busiest and most traffic-congested intersections – Herndon Parkway and Van Buren Street.
Director of Public Works Bob Boxer and Doug Kennedy of the engineering firm Pennoni and Associates presented the audience with three design concepts, which they then asked for feedback on.
Boxer said the Town will be accepting feedback by e-mail, mail or in person through July 31. He said all feedback will be considered before the Town drafts its official recommendation, which will be presented to the Town Council at a future date.
The three options presented were:
•Option 1 (Cost Estimate: $1.016 million): Adding an additional northbound right lane, and lengthening the westbound left lane.
•Option 2 (Cost Estimate: $2.199 million): Dual westbound left lanes and dual northbound right turn lanes.
•Option 3 (Cost Estimate: $1.287 million): Building a two-lane roundabout (which would get rid of the traffic signal).
An additional idea, "option 2-C," was also discussed, which would be somewhat of a hybrid between options one and two.
Option two seemed to resonate the most positively with the audience – and is what several Patch readers themselves suggested on our Facebook page on Wednesday morning before the meeting.
Most that spoke out said they thought option one was “too little,” and that option three, the roundabout, would not work well at all.
One male resident, who said he has driven in countries throughout the world, spoke out during the public comment period, saying a roundabout was a non-viable option he didn’t think should even be considered.
“Americans do not do well with roundabouts. It’s pathetic how they do with roundabouts,” he said.
He added, by his impression, “Developers usually put roundabouts in to slow down traffic. That’s not what we want to do here.”
He also said he felt that, in winter, rain and snow could increase potential for accidents with a roundabout.
Kennedy said he understood some of the opposition toward the roundabout option, though he said VDOT is increasingly encouraging roundabouts because they offer free-flow traffic, and because traffic signals are expensive to maintain; roundabouts eliminate the need for signals.
Some audience members expressed concern that constructing such a “massive intersection” would make it more unfriendly to pedestrians, particularly nearby residents who want to walk their kids to the park.
When asked if extending signal cycle times was being considered, he said the current average of between 110 to 120 seconds would continue.
Kennedy also pointed out that these improvements would not replace a potential future project of extending Worldgate Drive, which he said was still on the radar in the next 10 years or so. He said, eventually extending Worldgate Drive would help relieve traffic on Van Buren. This current project could provide immediate relief in the meantime, he said.
When can residents expect to see improvements implemented?
It does not appear improvements will be coming in 2013, but plans will move steadily forward, Kennedy said.
He said more information, including FAQs (frequently asked questions) will be added to the Town’s website by the beginning of August, and that the team will be going before the Town Council to share the feedback and their recommendations soon – possibly by mid-September.
“The timetable is dependent on a lot of things…but I don’t see us breaking ground on this any time this year,” he said.
Once an option is decided upon and funding is secured, he said, depending on the option chosen and working out a temporary relocation of utilities needed for construction, Kennedy estimated one season, or six to nine months, for the construction period.
Feedback can be sent to the Town on the three options by sending an e-mail to publicworks@herndon-va.gov; mailing a letter to P.O. Box 427, Herndon, VA 20172; or delivering a letter in person to the Municipal Building at 777 Lynn St.
Engineer Doug Kennedy discusses design concept options for traffic relief improvements to the intersection of Herndon Pkwy. and Van Buren St. with locals at a town hall meeting. (Photo: Jennifer van der Kleut)
Attachments:
Town will accept feedback from local residents and business owners through July 31.
http://herndon.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/town-hall-3-options-for-herndon-pkwyvan-buren-street-intersection-presented
A packed room turned out for Wednesday night’s meeting with engineers and Town of Herndon representatives to discuss potential improvements for one of Herndon’s busiest and most traffic-congested intersections – Herndon Parkway and Van Buren Street.
Director of Public Works Bob Boxer and Doug Kennedy of the engineering firm Pennoni and Associates presented the audience with three design concepts, which they then asked for feedback on.
Boxer said the Town will be accepting feedback by e-mail, mail or in person through July 31. He said all feedback will be considered before the Town drafts its official recommendation, which will be presented to the Town Council at a future date.
The three options presented were:
•Option 1 (Cost Estimate: $1.016 million): Adding an additional northbound right lane, and lengthening the westbound left lane.
•Option 2 (Cost Estimate: $2.199 million): Dual westbound left lanes and dual northbound right turn lanes.
•Option 3 (Cost Estimate: $1.287 million): Building a two-lane roundabout (which would get rid of the traffic signal).
An additional idea, "option 2-C," was also discussed, which would be somewhat of a hybrid between options one and two.
Option two seemed to resonate the most positively with the audience – and is what several Patch readers themselves suggested on our Facebook page on Wednesday morning before the meeting.
Most that spoke out said they thought option one was “too little,” and that option three, the roundabout, would not work well at all.
One male resident, who said he has driven in countries throughout the world, spoke out during the public comment period, saying a roundabout was a non-viable option he didn’t think should even be considered.
“Americans do not do well with roundabouts. It’s pathetic how they do with roundabouts,” he said.
He added, by his impression, “Developers usually put roundabouts in to slow down traffic. That’s not what we want to do here.”
He also said he felt that, in winter, rain and snow could increase potential for accidents with a roundabout.
Kennedy said he understood some of the opposition toward the roundabout option, though he said VDOT is increasingly encouraging roundabouts because they offer free-flow traffic, and because traffic signals are expensive to maintain; roundabouts eliminate the need for signals.
Some audience members expressed concern that constructing such a “massive intersection” would make it more unfriendly to pedestrians, particularly nearby residents who want to walk their kids to the park.
When asked if extending signal cycle times was being considered, he said the current average of between 110 to 120 seconds would continue.
Kennedy also pointed out that these improvements would not replace a potential future project of extending Worldgate Drive, which he said was still on the radar in the next 10 years or so. He said, eventually extending Worldgate Drive would help relieve traffic on Van Buren. This current project could provide immediate relief in the meantime, he said.
When can residents expect to see improvements implemented?
It does not appear improvements will be coming in 2013, but plans will move steadily forward, Kennedy said.
He said more information, including FAQs (frequently asked questions) will be added to the Town’s website by the beginning of August, and that the team will be going before the Town Council to share the feedback and their recommendations soon – possibly by mid-September.
“The timetable is dependent on a lot of things…but I don’t see us breaking ground on this any time this year,” he said.
Once an option is decided upon and funding is secured, he said, depending on the option chosen and working out a temporary relocation of utilities needed for construction, Kennedy estimated one season, or six to nine months, for the construction period.
Feedback can be sent to the Town on the three options by sending an e-mail to publicworks@herndon-va.gov; mailing a letter to P.O. Box 427, Herndon, VA 20172; or delivering a letter in person to the Municipal Building at 777 Lynn St.
Engineer Doug Kennedy discusses design concept options for traffic relief improvements to the intersection of Herndon Pkwy. and Van Buren St. with locals at a town hall meeting. (Photo: Jennifer van der Kleut)
Attachments:
Re: (3) Options for Herndon Pkwy/Van Buren Street Intersection Presented
Posted by:
Review Board
()
Date: July 18, 2013 07:43AM
Sprawl and Crawl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The three options presented were:
> •Option 1 (Cost Estimate: $1.016 million):
> Adding an additional northbound right lane, and
> lengthening the westbound left lane.
> •Option 2 (Cost Estimate: $2.199 million): Dual
> westbound left lanes and dual northbound right
> turn lanes.
> •Option 3 (Cost Estimate: $1.287 million):
> Building a two-lane roundabout (which would get
> rid of the traffic signal).
>
What about a combination of Option #2 and Option #3?
-------------------------------------------------------
> The three options presented were:
> •Option 1 (Cost Estimate: $1.016 million):
> Adding an additional northbound right lane, and
> lengthening the westbound left lane.
> •Option 2 (Cost Estimate: $2.199 million): Dual
> westbound left lanes and dual northbound right
> turn lanes.
> •Option 3 (Cost Estimate: $1.287 million):
> Building a two-lane roundabout (which would get
> rid of the traffic signal).
>
What about a combination of Option #2 and Option #3?
Re: (3) Options for Herndon Pkwy/Van Buren Street Intersection Presented
Posted by:
Fairfax Bob
()
Date: July 18, 2013 09:06AM
Roundabouts confuse Americans. I imagine it looking like something like this every rush hour:
Re: (3) Options for Herndon Pkwy/Van Buren Street Intersection Presented
Posted by:
lolwtf
()
Date: July 18, 2013 10:27AM
I know this intersection pretty well. One big problem this road has is that from Van Buren (headed from say World Gate Drive) towards Herndon Pkwy -- the right lane is straight or turn right. It's one of those stupid intersections in Herndon where there is no right turn lane or a little cut out that curves and lets people turn right. So you have one guy going straight at the light and the next 50 people all want to turn right.. but that one person blocks all the traffic until the light turns green. Same thing at Herndon Pkwy and Spring St.
Even stupider is a little further down Van Buren right before it makes a T .. there is an all way stop (3 directions) that's immediately before the stop light where Van Buren turns right onto Spring St or Left to continue on Van Buren (street name is absolutely retarded in Henrdon). You get a huge line of cars that all need to turn left off Spring St.. only to be immediately stopped by a stop sign. It completely fucks up traffic.
Even stupider is a little further down Van Buren right before it makes a T .. there is an all way stop (3 directions) that's immediately before the stop light where Van Buren turns right onto Spring St or Left to continue on Van Buren (street name is absolutely retarded in Henrdon). You get a huge line of cars that all need to turn left off Spring St.. only to be immediately stopped by a stop sign. It completely fucks up traffic.
Re: (3) Options for Herndon Pkwy/Van Buren Street Intersection Presented
Posted by:
<><<><><>
()
Date: July 18, 2013 06:27PM
lolwtf Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I know this intersection pretty well. One big
> problem this road has is that from Van Buren
> (headed from say World Gate Drive) towards Herndon
> Pkwy -- the right lane is straight or turn right.
> It's one of those stupid intersections in Herndon
> where there is no right turn lane or a little cut
> out that curves and lets people turn right. So you
> have one guy going straight at the light and the
> next 50 people all want to turn right.. but that
> one person blocks all the traffic until the light
> turns green. Same thing at Herndon Pkwy and Spring
> St.
>
> Even stupider is a little further down Van Buren
> right before it makes a T .. there is an all way
> stop (3 directions) that's immediately before the
> stop light where Van Buren turns right onto Spring
> St or Left to continue on Van Buren (street name
> is absolutely retarded in Henrdon). You get a huge
> line of cars that all need to turn left off Spring
> St.. only to be immediately stopped by a stop
> sign. It completely fucks up traffic.
Oh I know and I hate the setup. I wonder what the people designing it were thinking?
-------------------------------------------------------
> I know this intersection pretty well. One big
> problem this road has is that from Van Buren
> (headed from say World Gate Drive) towards Herndon
> Pkwy -- the right lane is straight or turn right.
> It's one of those stupid intersections in Herndon
> where there is no right turn lane or a little cut
> out that curves and lets people turn right. So you
> have one guy going straight at the light and the
> next 50 people all want to turn right.. but that
> one person blocks all the traffic until the light
> turns green. Same thing at Herndon Pkwy and Spring
> St.
>
> Even stupider is a little further down Van Buren
> right before it makes a T .. there is an all way
> stop (3 directions) that's immediately before the
> stop light where Van Buren turns right onto Spring
> St or Left to continue on Van Buren (street name
> is absolutely retarded in Henrdon). You get a huge
> line of cars that all need to turn left off Spring
> St.. only to be immediately stopped by a stop
> sign. It completely fucks up traffic.
Oh I know and I hate the setup. I wonder what the people designing it were thinking?
Re: (3) Options for Herndon Pkwy/Van Buren Street Intersection Presented
Posted by:
wnrsm
()
Date: July 18, 2013 10:35PM
They need to open up that traffic flow so they can write some speeding tickets.
Re: (3) Options for Herndon Pkwy/Van Buren Street Intersection Presented
Posted by:
hee hee hee
()
Date: July 19, 2013 12:49AM
wnrsm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They need to open up that traffic flow so they can
> write some speeding tickets.
this guy. this guy. this guy right here. always breakin' tha law and hatin
-------------------------------------------------------
> They need to open up that traffic flow so they can
> write some speeding tickets.
this guy. this guy. this guy right here. always breakin' tha law and hatin