Fairfax County General :
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.
^ The bane of commuters.
Ideally, all at-grade signalized intersections would be converted to limited-access interchanges and the parkway would be 6-laned. But I doubt that will ever happen.
Popes Head is far from the only "annoying" backup for commuters, but it does seem to get a large share of the rage around here.
The Fair Lakes Pkwy area used to get a lot of the blame, but that section has been fixed with the reconstruction and expansion.
It boils down to the Parkway wasn't designed for what it's become. Much of it follows the old Outer Beltway right-of-way (much like MD 200 over the river), but what was built wasn't designed to be an outer beltway. Yet it's sort of become that anyway due to commuter traffic.
It's in desperate need of across-the-board upgrading. The re-designation as a primary road (which prompted the change from Rt 7100 -> 286), the governor's transportation package (HB2313), and the county parkway study spearheaded by Supervisor Herrity should get the ball rolling, but it will be many years before fixes arrive.
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.
What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
Arnold Ziffel
()
Date: September 03, 2013 06:56PM
Their own traffic light to access the Parkway. Then when you get on the road west of the Parkway there are speed limit restrictions that add an additional $200 to the fine.
Re: What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
2 cents
()
Date: September 03, 2013 08:58PM
Arnold Ziffel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Their own traffic light to access the Parkway.
> Then when you get on the road west of the Parkway
> there are speed limit restrictions that add an
> additional $200 to the fine.
There has been extensive discussion of this issue in this forum. Look it up.
And those $200 fines apply to a number of roads on the outskirts of Clifton. That started a few years ago after, I believe, a particularly bad accident. But the only place I've seen police enforcement is from the Korean church at Popes Head and Colchester.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Their own traffic light to access the Parkway.
> Then when you get on the road west of the Parkway
> there are speed limit restrictions that add an
> additional $200 to the fine.
There has been extensive discussion of this issue in this forum. Look it up.
And those $200 fines apply to a number of roads on the outskirts of Clifton. That started a few years ago after, I believe, a particularly bad accident. But the only place I've seen police enforcement is from the Korean church at Popes Head and Colchester.
Re: What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
The Hard Truth
()
Date: September 03, 2013 09:04PM
2 cents Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> But the only place I've seen police enforcement ia
> from the Korean church at Popes Head and
> Colchester.
Trust me, they're needed there the most.
-------------------------------------------------------
> But the only place I've seen police enforcement ia
> from the Korean church at Popes Head and
> Colchester.
Trust me, they're needed there the most.
Re: What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
Dane Bramage
()
Date: September 03, 2013 09:16PM
Arnold Ziffel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Their own traffic light to access the Parkway.
> Then when you get on the road west of the Parkway
> there are speed limit restrictions that add an
> additional $200 to the fine.
Dunno.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/03/2013 09:19PM by Dane Bramage.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Their own traffic light to access the Parkway.
> Then when you get on the road west of the Parkway
> there are speed limit restrictions that add an
> additional $200 to the fine.
Dunno.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/03/2013 09:19PM by Dane Bramage.
Re: What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
Middle class Joe
()
Date: September 03, 2013 09:30PM
Why do the residents get special fines for speeders. Why shouldnt all streets in the county receive the same treatment when it comes to fining speeders.
Re: What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
Stop speeding
()
Date: September 03, 2013 09:37PM
We live off a two lane road with a blind curve.
Pay attention and stop talking and texting.
This is not much to ask for in a residential area where you are cutting thru.
Now blast me for buying my home here 20 years ago!
Pay attention and stop talking and texting.
This is not much to ask for in a residential area where you are cutting thru.
Now blast me for buying my home here 20 years ago!
Re: What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
Road Musings
()
Date: September 03, 2013 10:01PM
^ The bane of commuters.
Ideally, all at-grade signalized intersections would be converted to limited-access interchanges and the parkway would be 6-laned. But I doubt that will ever happen.
Popes Head is far from the only "annoying" backup for commuters, but it does seem to get a large share of the rage around here.
The Fair Lakes Pkwy area used to get a lot of the blame, but that section has been fixed with the reconstruction and expansion.
It boils down to the Parkway wasn't designed for what it's become. Much of it follows the old Outer Beltway right-of-way (much like MD 200 over the river), but what was built wasn't designed to be an outer beltway. Yet it's sort of become that anyway due to commuter traffic.
It's in desperate need of across-the-board upgrading. The re-designation as a primary road (which prompted the change from Rt 7100 -> 286), the governor's transportation package (HB2313), and the county parkway study spearheaded by Supervisor Herrity should get the ball rolling, but it will be many years before fixes arrive.
Re: What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
LMGTFY
()
Date: September 03, 2013 10:22PM
Re: What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
Beltway headache
()
Date: September 03, 2013 10:37PM
The problem with Popes Head is it is on a curve and if cars are turning then it becomes deadly as you cannot see past the turning traffic. That and that it backs up traffic for over a mile at rush hour to let one or two cars access the Parkway.
Re: What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
Mr GFR
()
Date: September 04, 2013 01:40AM
Middle class Joe Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why do the residents get special fines for
> speeders. Why shouldnt all streets in the county
> receive the same treatment when it comes to fining
> speeders.
Popes Head is not the only road with additional $200 speeding fine for speeding. There are several streets in the county that has the enhanced penalty. Its because the roads are dangerous and speeding is an issue on them. Prosperity Ave has the same thing.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why do the residents get special fines for
> speeders. Why shouldnt all streets in the county
> receive the same treatment when it comes to fining
> speeders.
Popes Head is not the only road with additional $200 speeding fine for speeding. There are several streets in the county that has the enhanced penalty. Its because the roads are dangerous and speeding is an issue on them. Prosperity Ave has the same thing.
Re: What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
Rodeo.
()
Date: September 04, 2013 07:32AM
Isn't speeding on any road just as dangerous as any other. If the road cannot handle 35 mph then lower it to 25 instead of giving one neighborhood preference over another because someone with connections live there.
Re: What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
Huey
()
Date: September 04, 2013 08:49AM
Mr GFR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Middle class Joe Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why do the residents get special fines for
> > speeders. Why shouldnt all streets in the
> county
> > receive the same treatment when it comes to
> fining
> > speeders.
>
>
> Popes Head is not the only road with additional
> $200 speeding fine for speeding. There are several
> streets in the county that has the enhanced
> penalty. Its because the roads are dangerous and
> speeding is an issue on them. Prosperity Ave has
> the same thing.
As does Sydenstricker.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Middle class Joe Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why do the residents get special fines for
> > speeders. Why shouldnt all streets in the
> county
> > receive the same treatment when it comes to
> fining
> > speeders.
>
>
> Popes Head is not the only road with additional
> $200 speeding fine for speeding. There are several
> streets in the county that has the enhanced
> penalty. Its because the roads are dangerous and
> speeding is an issue on them. Prosperity Ave has
> the same thing.
As does Sydenstricker.
Re: What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
MBF
()
Date: September 04, 2013 11:03AM
It doesn't look as though you have to have "connections" considering any community can ask the county for them if their street has a posted limit of 35 mph or less and it meets traffic volume/speed requirements.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/rtap.htm#speeding
The signs are also on Hunter Village Drive in Springfield.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/rtap.htm#speeding
The signs are also on Hunter Village Drive in Springfield.
Re: What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
Road Musings
()
Date: September 04, 2013 05:01PM
Rodeo. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Isn't speeding on any road just as dangerous as
> any other. If the road cannot handle 35 mph then
> lower it to 25 instead of giving one neighborhood
> preference over another because someone with
> connections live there.
Speed is supposed to be set via two factors 1) the design speed of the road and 2) the average speed of traffic at the 85th percentile.
Most interstates were designed for 70 to 75 mph (much of the Beltway, incidentally was not - most notoriously the "silver spring rocket" area between the I-270 and the I-270 spur in Montgomery). But that's why it doesn't really feel all that dangerous going say 75 on I-95 - because it really isn't all things being equal.
I'm not sure what the Parkway's engineering speed was, but the 85th percentile is clearly higher than 50 in free-flowing conditions. VDOT tends to be pretty conservative with setting limits, but in the case of the Parkway I'm not sure I'd post it much higher than it is. Maybe 55, given the buffer most cops give folks in Virginia.
Incidentally, studies have shown that if you set the speed limit artificially low, people speed (go figure!) but they don't "keep speeding" anymore than they otherwise would. That is, they no are no more reckless than anyone else, they simply are reacting to the rational conditions of the road.
/roadrant.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Isn't speeding on any road just as dangerous as
> any other. If the road cannot handle 35 mph then
> lower it to 25 instead of giving one neighborhood
> preference over another because someone with
> connections live there.
Speed is supposed to be set via two factors 1) the design speed of the road and 2) the average speed of traffic at the 85th percentile.
Most interstates were designed for 70 to 75 mph (much of the Beltway, incidentally was not - most notoriously the "silver spring rocket" area between the I-270 and the I-270 spur in Montgomery). But that's why it doesn't really feel all that dangerous going say 75 on I-95 - because it really isn't all things being equal.
I'm not sure what the Parkway's engineering speed was, but the 85th percentile is clearly higher than 50 in free-flowing conditions. VDOT tends to be pretty conservative with setting limits, but in the case of the Parkway I'm not sure I'd post it much higher than it is. Maybe 55, given the buffer most cops give folks in Virginia.
Incidentally, studies have shown that if you set the speed limit artificially low, people speed (go figure!) but they don't "keep speeding" anymore than they otherwise would. That is, they no are no more reckless than anyone else, they simply are reacting to the rational conditions of the road.
/roadrant.
Re: What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
Dobbs.
()
Date: September 04, 2013 06:58PM
Unless prodded by some other source I cannot believe a traffic engineer would put signals on a somewhat blind turn going southbound on a 50mph road.
Re: What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
yEEkk
()
Date: September 04, 2013 08:09PM
Arnold Ziffel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Their own traffic light to access the Parkway.
> Then when you get on the road west of the Parkway
> there are speed limit restrictions that add an
> additional $200 to the fine.
TOO MANY FUCKING PEOPLE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY. The only thing wrong with the Fairfax County Parkway is that there are too many people on it.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Their own traffic light to access the Parkway.
> Then when you get on the road west of the Parkway
> there are speed limit restrictions that add an
> additional $200 to the fine.
TOO MANY FUCKING PEOPLE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY. The only thing wrong with the Fairfax County Parkway is that there are too many people on it.
Re: What important person lives on Popes Head Rd
Posted by:
Mr GFR
()
Date: September 04, 2013 10:15PM
Rodeo. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Isn't speeding on any road just as dangerous as
> any other. If the road cannot handle 35 mph then
> lower it to 25 instead of giving one neighborhood
> preference over another because someone with
> connections live there.
That's the point. Nobody goes the speed limit on these streets. Lowering the limit won't do any good. People will still speed. The $200 additional fine is meant to give people a "reason" to slow down. Get nailed once or twice with a $300 to $400 speeding ticket and I bet you don't speed on that road ever again.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Isn't speeding on any road just as dangerous as
> any other. If the road cannot handle 35 mph then
> lower it to 25 instead of giving one neighborhood
> preference over another because someone with
> connections live there.
That's the point. Nobody goes the speed limit on these streets. Lowering the limit won't do any good. People will still speed. The $200 additional fine is meant to give people a "reason" to slow down. Get nailed once or twice with a $300 to $400 speeding ticket and I bet you don't speed on that road ever again.