This aint Fast & Furious Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ever heard of a racetrack?. Your putting other
> lives at risk. I could care less about your life.
> You obviously, "Don't give a shit".
>
> You think at a high rate of speed you'll have time
> to react when a deer jumps out in front of you on
> that two lane sinuous road?. ESPECIALLY AFTER
> DARK?.
>
> GROW UP & WAKE UP, kid.

If I posted as "Drag Strip Racer"...then CLEARLY I've heard of a racetrack. So, you could care LESS about my life and yet you responded... If you didn't care about my life, you'd get the fuck outta' my way and see if I'm turning myself into that aforementioned greasy spot. "Your putting other lives at risk..."??? Well, YOU'RE putting lives at risk with your horribly incorrect syntax. It's "you're" in that context you ignorant sister-fucker. "Grow up & wake up"????. I'm 30...growing up is no longer an option for me and it never was. And since I just pwned your ass...I'd say I'm awake. Now go ask your Mom to jerk you off again.

Attack at my use of Your & You're is your only resort? I wasn't aware i was back in English class writing and essay. Last i checked this was a forum for casual conversation. I hope to run into around these parts. I'll be sure to either kick your head in, or put several rounds of JHP in your chest. A life that has no compassion for others is one that does not deserve life to begin with.

Your the driver of that 90's Mustang( White, with the red Racing stripe, right?)
Hope to see you soon.

Drag Strip Racer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Attack at my use of Your & You're is your only
> resort? I wasn't aware i was back in English class
> writing and essay. Last i checked this was a forum
> for casual conversation. I hope to run into around
> these parts. I'll be sure to either kick your head
> in, or put several rounds of JHP in your chest. A
> life that has no compassion for others is one that
> does not deserve life to begin with.
>
> Your the driver of that 90's Mustang( White, with
> the red Racing stripe, right?)
> Hope to see you soon.



My response^.

Drag Strip Racer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Attack at my use of Your & You're is your only
> resort? I wasn't aware i was back in English class
> writing and essay. Last i checked this was a forum
> for casual conversation. I hope to run into around
> these parts. I'll be sure to either kick your head
> in, or put several rounds of JHP in your chest. A
> life that has no compassion for others is one that
> does not deserve life to begin with.
>
> Your the driver of that 90's Mustang( White, with
> the red Racing stripe, right?)
> Hope to see you soon.

Another internet tough guy.

Notice how i did not use one single obscenity. He, The thirty year old, educated intellectual, has to resort to name calling and juvenile tactics.

This aint fast & furious Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Notice how i did not use one single obscenity. He,
> The thirty year old, educated intellectual, has to
> resort to name calling and juvenile tactics.

Just go eat a bullet, will ya please? I also noticed how your reaction was to threaten me with your gun...which I'm sure you own in order to compensate for your two inch penis. It's no wonder the only one who touches it beside you is your Mom.

As to your syntax and your lack of education...it's not my problem you didn't pay attention in class enough to know the difference between "you're" and "your". Maybe if you spent more time on your school work and less time fingering your ass while you looked at the pictures in the gun periodicals counting down the days until you'd FINALLY be a man by getting a REAL gun in your hand then your life wouldn't be such a struggle.

One in the real world too, pal. Just rub shoulders with me to find out.

Whatever you say. I guess you'll learn the hard way soon enough. Oh, i also threatened you with my bare hands when i said; "i would kick your head in". Gun would come into play if you were armed as well. I'm not a pussy. I'm all for a fist fight if the guy is hard headed like yourself, and does not want to debate the topic at hand, but instead resorts to name calling and child like behavior.

Thirty years old, huh?

Stay safe.

Was I right about the car? You did not answer.

Not a good idea to assume such and such about a person and begin to antagonize that individual. Could be someone who has nothing to lose. Golden rule: You don't F with someone who truly has nothing to lose.

funny how you hide behind your tough guy keyboards and bitch at each other..trolls both of you.

This aint fast & furious Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Was I right about the car? You did not answer.

No, you were incorrect about the car.

> Not a good idea to assume such and such about a
> person and begin to antagonize that individual.
> Could be someone who has nothing to lose. Golden
> rule: You don't F with someone who truly has
> nothing to lose.

You might be right about the golden rule...but then, you don't really know WHO has nothing to lose in this situation. Remember, I'm the guy out hooning it up on Popes Head who could "end it all in a horrible blaze" against the side of venison at ANY MOMENT...Perhaps there's a reason for that beyond "what a dumbass he is"...???

this aint fast & furious Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One in the real world too, pal. Just rub shoulders
> with me to find out.


I rest my case, and this is not "Drag Stip Racer", just an objective observer.


"You both R IDIOTS" nailed it.

So, are only those living on Popes Head legitimate to use that road? How about any of the roads directly off of it? (where else would they go?) Houses within 1-2 miles south and north on 123 just next to it?

Yes, we all pay taxes to maintain it. Meanwhile, 30 cars was a conservative estimate. I've counted over 50 cars waiting for the light to turn red there at 8:15 the past two mornings. Remove the light, and you'll have more accidents on this horrendous road. Horrendous, in large part, probably due to the very angry drivers on it, as evidenced here. Hopefully police are monitoring this site, as this intersection needs some extra surveillance.

BurkeRes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> no you are wrong Wrote:
> > That traffic is mostly cut through from 123,
> they
> > do not live on Popes Head. I know because I
> > sometimes use it as well. Or are you telling me
> > all those trucks and cars are from the few
> houses
> > located on Popes Head east of the Parkway.
>
> +1 I live west of Ox road and I use that
> cut-through all the time. I have 5 alternatives
> to get on 7100 that I will happily use if/when
> they take that light out.
> There's big money though with the residents of
> Pope's Head. The Saudi Academy of indoctrination
> for Jihad probably chipped in a bit as well. It's
> not surprising that there's a light there and it
> would be more surprising if it went away :(

enough already Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So, are only those living on Popes Head legitimate
> to use that road? How about any of the roads
> directly off of it? (where else would they go?)
> Houses within 1-2 miles south and north on 123
> just next to it?
>
> Yes, we all pay taxes to maintain it. Meanwhile,
> 30 cars was a conservative estimate. I've counted
> over 50 cars waiting for the light to turn red
> there at 8:15 the past two mornings. Remove the
> light, and you'll have more accidents on this
> horrendous road. Horrendous, in large part,
> probably due to the very angry drivers on it, as
> evidenced here. Hopefully police are monitoring
> this site, as this intersection needs some extra
> surveillance.
>
> BurkeRes Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > no you are wrong Wrote:
> > > That traffic is mostly cut through from 123,
> > they
> > > do not live on Popes Head. I know because I
> > > sometimes use it as well. Or are you telling
> me
> > > all those trucks and cars are from the few
> > houses
> > > located on Popes Head east of the Parkway.
> >
> > +1 I live west of Ox road and I use that
> > cut-through all the time. I have 5
> alternatives
> > to get on 7100 that I will happily use if/when
> > they take that light out.
> > There's big money though with the residents of
> > Pope's Head. The Saudi Academy of
> indoctrination
> > for Jihad probably chipped in a bit as well.
> It's
> > not surprising that there's a light there and
> it
> > would be more surprising if it went away :(


A few of the streets that empty onto Popes Head between the Parkway and 123...

Beach ridge Cr
W Ridge view Dr
Mcduffie Ln
Prestwick Dr
O’faly Rd
Meath Dr
Meath Ct
Hexagon Pl
Ladue Ln
Lewisham Rd
Bantry Terrace
Dungannon Rd
Popes Head View Ln
Octagon Ct


I'd care to bet that's a fair number of people, and there are even more on the other side of the Parkway. Converting the intersection into an interchange would be ideal, but current budget constraints prevent that from happening anytime soon.

Eliminating the traffic light would be idiotic.

I think they should probably put the light on a longer timer during rush hour, atleast longer than it is right now. It doesn't make sense to switch at a fixed rate especially when the left turn lane is not backed up or slowing down traffic. That seems like a simple solution, I'm not sure why it doesn't get done (they could also put a sensor at the end of the left turn lane to let the light know when it is backed up)
* There really is no reason to have the back up that they do at that road and I think that most would agree with that.

Walk the walk, people.

A few of the streets that empty onto Popes Head between the Parkway and 123...

Beach ridge Cr
W Ridge view Dr
Mcduffie Ln
Prestwick Dr
O’faly Rd
Meath Dr
Meath Ct
Hexagon Pl
Ladue Ln
Lewisham Rd
Bantry Terrace
Dungannon Rd
Popes Head View Ln
Octagon Ct

The point is those streets have the opportunity to enter the Parkway at a light further up or down the road. But they demand their own special light and to bring four lanes of rush hour traffic to a halt while five cars pass through.

There are whole subdivisions on the Parkway that do not have their own light.

The initial point of the Parkway was to move large volumes of traffic with the least amount of lights. If you travel the Parkway going south from Fair Lakes you will see how few lights there are and how the plan was supposed to work until you get to Popes Head.

Not sure if the horse is dead yet, but as I was traveling up the parkway this morning from Sydenstricker to 66, I noticed three more intersections that weren't controlled by lights:

Modisto (just south of Huntsman), Pilothouse and Waterline (both between Lee Chapel and OKM).

The main difference (that I could tell) between them and Popes Head is that they are residential roads whereas Popes Head is designated by VDOT as a secondary road. I would imaging *that* is the reason there's a light there (well, that and the fact that there's a lot more traffic).

I don't have a dog in this hunt as the only time I pass by there is on the way to my folks house in Springfield.

The other difference is access to/from those streets. Modisto, Pilothouse and Waterline all are part of a subdivision with other nearby ways out. Popes Head can be reached from 123 and the Parkway, all the streets in between go nowhere. On the west side of the Parkway you have to go all the way to Colchester to get another exit and they did add a light at Braddock and Colchester because the high volume of traffic.

Of course, the lack of other access is probably why it is a secondary road as well.

Seems that the cheapest solution is to get rid of the whiners instead of the light.

theShadowToo Wrote:

> The main difference (that I could tell) between
> them and Popes Head is that they are residential
> roads whereas Popes Head is designated by VDOT as
> a secondary road. I would imaging *that* is the

VDOT has only two designations for roads:

1)Primary

2)Secondary

Anything that is not a primary road is a secondary road. Nearly all residential roads are secondary roads. Fairfax County Parkway itself, by the way, is considered a secondary road.

Yes but not all roads in FFX are state roads. State roads will have a route number assigned. In the end you can discuss this all you want but until you convince the FFXC BS and or VDOT nothing is going to change. Good luck.

Bean brain Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes but not all roads in FFX are state roads.
> State roads will have a route number assigned. In
> the end you can discuss this all you want but
> until you convince the FFXC BS and or VDOT nothing
> is going to change. Good luck.


Um, every road has a route number assigned.

:-)

Shadow Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bean brain Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Yes but not all roads in FFX are state roads.
> > State roads will have a route number assigned.
> In
> > the end you can discuss this all you want but
> > until you convince the FFXC BS and or VDOT
> nothing
> > is going to change. Good luck.
>
>
> Um, every road has a route number assigned.
>
> :-)


What is the Route number of Fairfax Station Road, Freds Oak Road, New Road...
In the end who cares.

Bean brain Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Shadow Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Bean brain Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Yes but not all roads in FFX are state roads.
> > > State roads will have a route number assigned.
>
> > In
> > > the end you can discuss this all you want but
> > > until you convince the FFXC BS and or VDOT
> > nothing
> > > is going to change. Good luck.
> >
> >
> > Um, every road has a route number assigned.
> >
> > :-)
>
>
> What is the Route number of Fairfax Station Road,
> Freds Oak Road, New Road...
> In the end who cares.

I have no idea, but you can go look for yourself.

Here's a sign that shows a route # for a road.
Attachments:

What is the Route number of Fairfax Station Road, Freds Oak Road, New Road...
In the end who cares.

Ffx Station Rd is 660, Freds Oak is 5580; I can't remember New Road's but I'm sure it's on the sign (like the one in the post above mine) as you enter from the parkway.

How about the morning when you think you will have 20 minutes to spare before work and you sit at that effin light for 20 minutes..

Shadow Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bean brain Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Yes but not all roads in FFX are state roads.
> > State roads will have a route number assigned.
> In
> > the end you can discuss this all you want but
> > until you convince the FFXC BS and or VDOT
> nothing
> > is going to change. Good luck.
>
>
> Um, every road has a route number assigned.
>
> :-)

Yeah, but only the 3-digit ones really matter.

Drizzle off Popeshead Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How about the morning when you think you will have
> 20 minutes to spare before work and you sit at
> that effin light for 20 minutes..

Apparently, you're not leaving early enough...You know the light's there, don't you? You know you might get "caught" in it, huh? But, you just KEEP on leaving to start your day at the...same...time...DON'T YOU?!?!? Because there was that ONE DAY, where you got the green as you arrived, wasn't there? So, logically because that happened ONE DAY...it really might happen EVERYDAY, shouldn't it?

...... Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> theShadowToo Wrote:
>
> > The main difference (that I could tell) between
> > them and Popes Head is that they are
> residential
> > roads whereas Popes Head is designated by VDOT
> as
> > a secondary road. I would imaging *that* is
> the
>
> VDOT has only two designations for roads:
>
> 1)Primary
>
> 2)Secondary
>
> Anything that is not a primary road is a secondary
> road. Nearly all residential roads are secondary
> roads. Fairfax County Parkway itself, by the way,
> is considered a secondary road.

My bad...I was under the impression that 600-level roads are secondary and all others (e.g., most four- and five-digit roads) are urban in nature. I've been searching high-and-low for a page that explains the what differentiates 600-level roads from those with four- or five-digits.

I know there has to be a difference as the signage is different. IIRC, state primary rods are on a shield (e.g., 123, 7, 237, etc.), whereas (for the most part) only 600-level secondary roads are marked by a white circle in a black square (I say for the most part as 7100 was recently remarked with this type of marker as VDOT accepted it into the 600-level signage type of the secondary road category...if that makes sense).

Any links that explain the the reason behind the signage would be appreciated.

What you guys do not realize is that the majority of the people coming to the popes head light are people cutting through. They are not even residents along popes head. I own a house along popes head and I constantly see people speeding on that road. And it is not just 5 over, it is 15 over and 20 over. What VDOT needs to do to popes head is put speed bumps and other hinderances on popes head to discourage traffic from going on it. If the traffic going to the light was only the residents, the light would not back up as much as it does.

A Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What you guys do not realize is that the majority
> of the people coming to the popes head light are
> people cutting through. They are not even
> residents along popes head. I own a house along
> popes head and I constantly see people speeding on
> that road. And it is not just 5 over, it is 15
> over and 20 over. What VDOT needs to do to popes
> head is put speed bumps and other hinderances on
> popes head to discourage traffic from going on it.
> If the traffic going to the light was only the
> residents, the light would not back up as much as
> it does.


Fuck anybody and everybody who thinks speedbumps should be installed so people who do not live on the road are inconvenienced as they use it. The road is curvy enough already that the retards who speed on Popes Head will crash.

Popes Head/Fairfax County Parkway needs to be a right in/right out intersection (with crossover for emergency vehicles). End of discussion.

A Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What you guys do not realize is that the majority
> of the people coming to the popes head light are
> people cutting through. They are not even
> residents along popes head. I own a house along
> popes head and I constantly see people speeding on
> that road. And it is not just 5 over, it is 15
> over and 20 over. What VDOT needs to do to popes
> head is put speed bumps and other hinderances on
> popes head to discourage traffic from going on it.
> If the traffic going to the light was only the
> residents, the light would not back up as much as
> it does.

Thanks A. I live on Popes Head too and my driveway has poor visibility of the road. You are right, it's not 5 miles over its 15 to 20. At least once a week I pull out in front of someone I could not see and who could not see me because of his speed. I usually get the horn and finger for this. One morning a jackass passed me while I was driving along at 30 mph. by going into the opposite lane going up the hill past the bridge at west ridge view, I almost crapped my pants. Yates Ford has speed bumps to discourage cut thru traffic and speeding. My vote is to take out the light and make it a dead end with no access or an overpass without access. The reality is that nothing. will. ever. be. done.

Let me tell you slack-jawed clown monkeys what's up...Last Friday when a huge storm raged through the area the Pope Head light was out of service at 5:30 PM. Traffic has NEVER...EVER...MOTHER FUCKING NEVER EVER...flowed so smoothly. Traffic in EVERY MOTHER FUCKING direction flowed smoothly. Vehicles stopped to allow people to turn onto Popes Head in both directions and traffic stopped to allow traffic to cross the parkway, but the traffic on the parkway stopped only long enough to allow one or two vehicles to turn or cross, not 240 or 300 MOTHER FUCKING SECONDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FUCK THAT POPES HEAD LIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

right as rain Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Let me tell you slack-jawed clown monkeys what's
> up...Last Friday when a huge storm raged through
> the area the Pope Head light was out of service at
> 5:30 PM. Traffic has NEVER...EVER...MOTHER FUCKING
> NEVER EVER...flowed so smoothly. Traffic in EVERY
> MOTHER FUCKING direction flowed smoothly. Vehicles
> stopped to allow people to turn onto Popes Head in
> both directions and traffic stopped to allow
> traffic to cross the parkway, but the traffic on
> the parkway stopped only long enough to allow one
> or two vehicles to turn or cross, not 240 or 300
> MOTHER FUCKING SECONDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FUCK THAT
> POPES HEAD LIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tell us how you REALLY feel!

tHAT INTERSECTION BACKS UP TRAFFIC 3 TO 4 MILES BOTH DIRCTIONS EVERY DAY......

so there's a new light at the light LoLz

if yr coming from 123 on Popes Head , when you get to the Parkway, there's a new light that will give ya a right turn arrow now - pretty cool for morning cut thru, I reckon.

may not be what I want but at least they are trying...............

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> so there's a new light at the light LoLz
>
> if yr coming from 123 on Popes Head , when you get
> to the Parkway, there's a new light that will give
> ya a right turn arrow now - pretty cool for
> morning cut thru, I reckon.
>
> may not be what I want but at least they are
> trying...............

What possible difference can that new light make? The only time it will be green is when southbound 7100 traffic has a left-turn arrow to turn left onto Pope's Head. 99.9% of people turning right onto northbound 7100 from Pope's Head will still be doing so via right-turn-on-red.

@Makes - no, they wired the light for the right turners. you can see it in the pavement. I'm betting it will be kinda like the way it is at 7 and Old Gallows - it will hold up traffic on the Parkway after awhile if someone's sitting waiting for a right turn long enough..................

I have not seen this yet, but VDOT was going to change the pavement markings/light to allow for a LEGAL right turn from the center lane of westbound Popes Head onto 7100 (it will be a long time before I call is 286) north.

During the morning commute cars would be backed up on Popes Head well past the garden center and a lot of people would just "cut the line" and use the center lane to head north. Now, however, cars should be able to use both lanes. I know that some mornings this intersection can add 10 minutes to my commute to Herndon, so this should benefit a lot of drivers at a relatively low cost.

10 minutes? When I have to go thru this hunk of shit, it's adding anywhere from 15-30 minutes on my time.

And yes, I've seen the ppl swing out into that thru lane to make that right. Damn shame this intersection is even here. Never been designed correctly..............

i wouldnt mind the lights so much if they weren't timed so stupidly.

was travelling down there on friday morning heading toward 95 south in a clot of easily 50 cars that was created because the lights turn red as soon as one guy shows up to turn onto 7100 (or 123 for that matter) from one of the neighborhoods.

if they'd turn off the damn lights outside of rush hour you wouldn't need it to come out of the neighborhood because you wouldn't generate huge traffic jams to accomodate one dude.

at least make the residents wait a minute so unlucky drivers on the main roads don't pile up.

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 10 minutes? When I have to go thru this hunk of
> shit, it's adding anywhere from 15-30 minutes on
> my time.
>
> And yes, I've seen the ppl swing out into that
> thru lane to make that right. Damn shame this
> intersection is even here. Never been designed
> correctly..............

I was trying to be conservative, but 15-20 is probably about right if you get there at the wrong time.

Apart from eliminating this intersection completely, how can it be corrected short of flyover which would have little chance of being funded? Does it make sense to eliminate the crossing traffic on Popes Head and just make this a merge onto 7100? I could easily exit at Braddock or Burke Center Parkway in the evening if that was the case. However, getting on 7100 from Braddock in the morning is a non-starter since 123 is a parking lot from Zion heading north and BCP can be a mess as well.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/24/2012 02:19PM by TomMadison.

personally, I want it eliminated. Overpass with no ramps or access between the two roads. My second choice would be right turns only - block the median there and make it impossible to cross. My third choice would be to cul-de-sac the ends of Popes Head at the Parkway.

I dunno if ppl on Popes Head want Parkway access or not - that's up to them, But me, I dont think it's done that area any good to have Parkway access and would think that maybe that part of the county would like to remain kinda rural and avoid development - well, shutting off access to Popes Head would help in that.

Either way, yr wrong about 123. If you only see if parked from Zion you are lucky. Sometimes it starts at Station Break (the Parkway interchange) all the way up to Braddock. In fact, it used to do that back in the day when Parkway was Pohick. Funny how all the widening and new roads been done and at the end of the day, traffic still sucks in the EXACT same way LoLz.

Maybe if they fixed the actual problem (i.e. the FAIL LIGHT at 123 and Braddock) then maybe.......................oh who am I kidding? LoLz

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe if they fixed the actual problem (i.e. the
> FAIL LIGHT at 123 and Braddock) then
> maybe.......................oh who am I kidding?
> LoLz


Is that for the left turn from 123 North to Braddock, or just the light in general? I used to have an office off Judicial and often found it faster take 7100 to 29 to 236 since the light on Sideburn at Braddock was backed up and then Braddock itself was a parking lot.

Does that light mess with traffic in all directions? If so, what could be done there?

Although I am an Urban Designer and not an Urban Planner I took two different courses in my studies based around the planning and placement of roads in developments new and old, have a deep interest in the subject of traffic and congestion in urban/suburban regions, and live in Burke Center.

I believe that it would make a lot of sense to have a diamond interchange here to replace the light. I think that as the now outlying suburbs of DC grow and develop this is going to become a true traffic hazard and headache. An interchange similar to that of Fairfax County Parkway and Fair Lakes Parkway (although on a smaller scale as Popes Head is an obviously much smaller artery) with a stop sign at the bottom of the ramps will allow a more smooth and much safer merge with the parkway as well as lessen congestion on the uninterrupted stretches of road before and afterwards.

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> personally, I want it eliminated. Overpass with
> no ramps or access between the two roads. My
> second choice would be right turns only - block
> the median there and make it impossible to cross.
> My third choice would be to cul-de-sac the ends
> of Popes Head at the Parkway.
>
> I dunno if ppl on Popes Head want Parkway access
> or not - that's up to them, But me, I dont think
> it's done that area any good to have Parkway
> access and would think that maybe that part of the
> county would like to remain kinda rural and avoid
> development - well, shutting off access to Popes
> Head would help in that.
>
YES, Please shut off the access.

@resident - yeah.............I figured LoLz
@Urban - I think it would be the other way around, with Popes Head over and Parkway under. And I dont think an interchange is actually needed (or even wanted LoLz) but other than that, I think it's a plan that should be studied, if not implemented.
@Tom - I interned with VDOT over two decades ago. And I can tell you that ALL APPROACHES to 123/Braddock have been a fail for years. They upgraded to the current light that's there about 10-15 years ago and raised the level to a D I think. But that has long since gone back to fail. They have had plans for an interchange there on the books. Now here's the kicker......................the new redevelopment of University Mall should allow County and VDOT to get the ball rolling. If you notice, Mason has never developed that part of their campus next to the intersection. So maybe we will see some action soon on this.

of course, I woulnd hold my breath on that LoLz

We should have more lights in that stretch, not fewer. People already drive too fast on 286, and recent deaths right in that area show that traffic needs to slow down. Removing the light will just enable more reckless driving there.

The no-tolerance police enforcement of speed on then-7100 last year was a joke. We saw cops for the first few days and then not again until the last few days of the program. Speed limit enforcement can't be relied upon, so having the light there is one step that can help. It didn't prevent the deaths that have already occurred, but probably prevented five times that by making traffic slow down.

Erase the facts of deaths there and I'd agree to remove it, but the evidence is plain.

@just - what recent deaths? No death on Parkway since........................well since the 50 means 50 dealie-yo. Might have been a joke, yeah - but I cant think of a fatality on Parkway since then (I may be wrong on that though)

There was a wreck near there a cpl weeks ago, but that was cause some kid fell asleep and crossed the median, not speeding.

Parkway is designed as an Expressway - lights shouldnt be on an Expressway................

justsayin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We should have more lights in that stretch, not
> fewer. People already drive too fast on 286, and
> recent deaths right in that area show that traffic
> needs to slow down. Removing the light will just
> enable more reckless driving there.
>
> The no-tolerance police enforcement of speed on
> then-7100 last year was a joke. We saw cops for
> the first few days and then not again until the
> last few days of the program. Speed limit
> enforcement can't be relied upon, so having the
> light there is one step that can help. It didn't
> prevent the deaths that have already occurred, but
> probably prevented five times that by making
> traffic slow down.
>
> Erase the facts of deaths there and I'd agree to
> remove it, but the evidence is plain.

Majorly flawed logic. Any lights you add will cause more deaths than they prevent. I'll take speeders over red-light runners any day.

This light is the single biggest timewaster on the FFX County Parkway. Whenever I go past it I see two or three cars waiting on Popes Head road. And that is during rush hour. Compare that to the fifty or more that are waiting when it turns red for the parkway. I hate to think of how much gas is wasted by cars sitting waiting for it as a few rich people drive to their big houses off Popes Head.

Get rid of it and put stop signs on Popes Head. It will save time and energy.

There are several very rich people living in mansions on Popes Head. The light stays.

BAck when the parkway first opened in the mid 90s, there was a double fatality at Popes Head and the FFX Cty Pwy. Back then there was only a stop sign and I think two Seniors from Robinson were killed. Parents petioned VDOT who put in the traffic light. Then somebody died trying make a left hand turn onto Popes Head from the Parkway and some dumbass ran the light so the red light camera was installed. Thanks to the traffic light, the intersection backs up all the way to 66 on some evenings.

When first designed the FFX Cty Pwy was a limited access road with on ramps and off ramps at I-95, Rolling Road, Burke Centre Pwy, (Burke Center residents demanded access) 123, Braddock Road, Route 50, Dulles Toll Road and Route 7. Now its a fuc#ing cluster with ill-timed lights and a$$hats from PW and Loundon counties using it as a cut through when 95 and the Beltway are f'ed up!

make it an overpass, or a flyover, or God forbid, a roundabout!

Fatality is the reason Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BAck when the parkway first opened in the mid 90s,
> there was a double fatality at Popes Head and the
> FFX Cty Pwy. Back then there was only a stop sign
> and I think two Seniors from Robinson were killed.
> Parents petioned VDOT who put in the traffic
> light. Then somebody died trying make a left hand
> turn onto Popes Head from the Parkway and some
> dumbass ran the light so the red light camera was
> installed. Thanks to the traffic light, the
> intersection backs up all the way to 66 on some
> evenings.
>
> When first designed the FFX Cty Pwy was a limited
> access road with on ramps and off ramps at I-95,
> Rolling Road, Burke Centre Pwy, (Burke Center
> residents demanded access) 123, Braddock Road,
> Route 50, Dulles Toll Road and Route 7. Now its a
> fuc#ing cluster with ill-timed lights and a$$hats
> from PW and Loundon counties using it as a cut
> through when 95 and the Beltway are f'ed up!


You are incorrect. The Burke Center Parkway entrance wasnt added until years after the Parkway opened. The entrance at Popes Head has always been there, but it started without a light.

The Burke Center Parkway light was part of the original construction.

Popes Head has limited traffic and does not deserve a light.

Did the BCP intersection start out without a light. I swear I remember that light being added years after that section opened.

I know it was there as early as 1995.

That light aint going nowhere. Someone that lives off that road is well connected in the government I suspect. It serves no purpose. Stopping four lanes of traffic traveling at 50mph to let one car cross. The purpose of the Parkway was to keep traffic moving with as few lights as possible. This light does nothing but cause large backups during rush hour. If drivers want to access the Parkway from here all they have to do is go to Braddock Rd or Burke Centre.

Someone that lives in that neighborhood must have the identity of whoever lives near them that commands enough power to keep that light in place.

blane rush has it exactly right. The only thing I might add is that there may be more than one person. It's a blue blooded area.

Let the thousands who drive through there eat cake.

Is that the traffic light that has the fairfax police club around the corner from it, trust me if you saw all the empty beer kegs you'd be happy the camera is there. Have to wonder if our tax dollars support the club. The land is leased to them by Fairfax. Likely for just a dollar.

^^ Show the pics, or it don't exist

@Johnny - that cam aint worked since Enron, yo

@stephen - i dunno what image you have of the place in yr tiny little head, but you've since you've never actually been on the campus, I dont know why you would even think the place is littered with beer kegs.

@blane/FairLakes - as great a conspiracy theory that is, it's not really true and honestly doesnt make much since. NO matter how rich someone is, it's not like they are more rich than multiple corporations and jurisdictions, all of whom are affected by this intersection. Besides, just think about it - if someone was really rich, wouldnt they just pay to have an overpass put up, or have the intersection shut off - to keep all the riff-raff out of the neighborhood, y'know? That's what those type of snooty/snotty richie-rich types that you are describing like doing, am I right?

@Really - BCP dead ended a little ways beyond the firehouse until the Parkway opened.

@Fairlakes - the intersection does need a light for the way it is designed currently. It would be even more unsafe without the light :( Whole intersection needs to be changed.

@Nope - read what I wrote to really - the BCP/Parkway intersection opened when that section of parkway opened

@Fatality - I wonder how many accidents and fatalites have happend there over the years..............

There are several at grade intersections on the parkway without a light that have as much cross traffic as Popes Head or more. And I know some have had fatalities. Fred's Oak comes to mind. There was a horrible crash there in the 90's where a whole family was killed in their mini-van. And it has no light.

It's a huge backup for me and I travel south in the morning and north in evening. The folks going the other way have it even worse. When fall comes traffic will back up past the BCP light over a mile away in the morning. In the evening it will probably back up well past Braddock to 66.

I'm just sayin...

Does anyone not realize that there is a school on popes head rd in which, by some stretch of the imagination, use the parkway to reach students? whether its turning left to go south on the parkway, or turning left to go eastbound on popes head, buses need a longer accel time than passenger cars, and therefore, need more clearance time. Im sure the safety of a schoolbus of children trumps that of a commuters desire to get home/to work quicker.

Also, i dont know if anyone has touched up on this, but roadway classification is a little deeper than just primary/secondary roads. There is subcategories (urban principal arterial, local collector) that lend to its importance as a road. That is what drives the geometric design. Like JBass said a year ago, popes head does not have enough traffic to be an interchange, but it has enough traffic to warrant a traffic light. This is known as a Signal Warrant. which someone probably completed when traffic got high enough.

Another reason this backup happens is because of the fact no other signals exist north of the intersection until u reach 50 (after fair lakes gets completed). The way signals work best is in coordination with other nearby signals, so that when the first car that leaves the queue reaches the next signal, it doesnt stop (or at least this is what is hoped, doesnt really happen as well as it should.

Also, if a car was traveling northbound at the parkway at that intersection, and wanted to make a left turn, he would literally have to wait approximately 3 hours to make that turn if eh didnt have a phase for a left turn built in. Would u wanna wait that long. didnt think so.

All in all, the signal is warranted. Ask VDOT for the traffic study or warrant for the intersection, they usually tell the public.

To Gordon Blvd, I have been to the police club off of the Fairfax Pky, and I never mentioned anything about being littered with kegs. You need to read before you open your mouth. And yes there were plenty of empty beer kegs there. Next time I'll take a picture for the public's viewing.

Take the light out and give popes head road a stop sign.

I've asked VDOT (during rush hours only) to allow the light to stay green 3X longer, but VDOT says that its worried that the left turn lanes will overflow onto the parkway and that there is no other solution.

take the light out and build an overpass that doesnt exit or enter the pkwy

Extending the green like Jake Jackson says would be very good. If the left turn lanes aren't long enough, extend them. I've personally never seen more than 3 or four cars in them, but, VDOT of course know what they are doing (NOT). That shouldn't cost too much compared to an overpass.

Hay Zeus Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> take the light out and build an overpass that
> doesnt exit or enter the pkwy

As a resident of Popes Head Rd I fully endorse this plan for an overpass (not a mansion dweller though)

This thread was really building some steam, like the kind that comes off my dog's shit piles. In all seriousness though, it looks like VDOT has done nothing to remedy or even try to alleviate the bullshit that is the Popes Head/286 (or 7100 for all of your still stuck in 2011) intersection.

Any new thoughts since then?

Rafi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This thread was really building some steam, like
> the kind that comes off my dog's shit piles. In
> all seriousness though, it looks like VDOT has
> done nothing to remedy or even try to alleviate
> the bullshit that is the Popes Head/286 (or 7100
> for all of your still stuck in 2011) intersection.
>
>
> Any new thoughts since then?

I have good news and bad news.

The good news: The intersection is Project ID #1 on this list and has one of the highest benefit:cost ratio's on there.

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pdf/cdot/unfundedprojects.pdf

The bad news: Those are a list of unfunded projects.

snowdenscold Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Rafi Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > This thread was really building some steam,
> like
> > the kind that comes off my dog's shit piles. In
> > all seriousness though, it looks like VDOT has
> > done nothing to remedy or even try to alleviate
> > the bullshit that is the Popes Head/286 (or
> 7100
> > for all of your still stuck in 2011)
> intersection.
> >
> >
> > Any new thoughts since then?
>
> I have good news and bad news.
>
> The good news: The intersection is Project ID #1
> on this list and has one of the highest
> benefit:cost ratio's on there.
>
> http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pdf/cdot/unfund
> edprojects.pdf
>
> The bad news: Those are a list of unfunded
> projects.

Well--it's partially funded ($68M of $90M) in the county's 6-year-plan:
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/cdot/projects/approved.htm

If the leftwing politicians didn't require them to use union labor, the cost would be about 1/3. But dems have to reward their corrupt, bedfellow union cronies.

MBF Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Well--it's partially funded ($68M of $90M) in the
> county's 6-year-plan:
> http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/cdot/projects/
> approved.htm

Ah, that's great to see, although it's still not even the full commitment and may take 6+ years. That's a long time to wait...

I'm also confused by this statement:

-Construct a grade-separated interchange at the intersection of the Fairfax County Parkway and Popes Head Road, with shared use paths on both sides. Provide for future connection to Shirley Gate Road to the east. Completes signal free corridor between Burke Lake Road and Route 50 (7.75 miles).


What about Roberts Parkway, and also Burke Centre Parkway?

snowdenscold Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MBF Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > Well--it's partially funded ($68M of $90M) in
> the
> > county's 6-year-plan:
> >
> http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/cdot/projects/
> > approved.htm
>
> Ah, that's great to see, although it's still not
> even the full commitment and may take 6+ years.
> That's a long time to wait...
>
> I'm also confused by this statement:
>
> -Construct a grade-separated interchange at the
> intersection of the Fairfax County Parkway and
> Popes Head Road, with shared use paths on both
> sides. Provide for future connection to Shirley
> Gate Road to the east. Completes signal free
> corridor between Burke Lake Road and Route 50
> (7.75 miles).
>
>
> What about Roberts Parkway, and also Burke Centre
> Parkway?


Burke Centre Parkway will eventually be made right-in-right-out only at the parkway, but I've never heard a thing on Roberts. Weird.

This light is backing up traffic on the parkway as far back as Lee Chapel Road, and on 123 as far back as Silverbrook Road. It is a MAJOR problem. Think about the wasted time and fuel sitting in traffic.

I advocate a flyover solution. You people whose first reaction is to say screw you are worthless. The Fairfax County Parkway will eventually be another Beltway, whenever the VA and MD Governments can get their act together.

Yes, that could take several more decades. In the meantime, we need progress. If you're happy to sit at this bottleneck maybe you ought to think about what it costs you, and the rest of us.

Doug Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Fairfax County Parkway will eventually be
> another Beltway, whenever the VA and MD
> Governments can get their act together.
>
> Yes, that could take several more decades. In the
> meantime, we need progress. If you're happy to
> sit at this bottleneck maybe you ought to think
> about what it costs you, and the rest of us.

Curious...
How do you propose the VA and MD Governments 'get their act together'?

Declare eminent domain over the land to connect MD Intercounty Parkway and Fairfax County Parkway?

These aren't poor people on that land. Homes in that area go for an average of $865,000. So not only do you have to fund construction you have to give them fair value. Again, the constituents have money (and more inside connections than probably anywhere in the country) to elect officials to stop it dead. They also have money to tie it up in courts.
There is also the need to construct another bridge over the Potomac.

Fund it through a toll? Look at the feces throwing here over the 66 proposal.

Doug Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This light is backing up traffic on the parkway as
> far back as Lee Chapel Road, and on 123 as far
> back as Silverbrook Road.

When? In the morning? I travel northbound on 286 every evening and only get hung up a bit at Huntsman and no more than one cycle at Pope's Head. Going south in the morning there's usually a backup northbound to Burke Centre Pkwy from Pope's Head, maybe Roberts, but I've never seen one going as far back as Lee Chapel. If there was, it had to have been a major crash. Something should be done but it's not *that* bad.

Jake Jackson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Take the light out and give popes head road a stop
> sign.
>
> I've asked VDOT (during rush hours only) to allow
> the light to stay green 3X longer, but VDOT says
> that its worried that the left turn lanes will
> overflow onto the parkway and that there is no
> other solution.

They could put a detector at the end of the left turn lane to change the light when the left turn lane is about to back up onto the parkway.

That is, if they can figure out how to make such a thing work. Not much problem solving ability at VDOT, sorry to say.

....... Wrote:

Not much problem solving ability at
> VDOT, sorry to say.

They can't think outside the box, and the box they do think inside of is about a square inch in size.

....... Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jake Jackson Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Take the light out and give popes head road a
> stop
> > sign.
> >
> > I've asked VDOT (during rush hours only) to
> allow
> > the light to stay green 3X longer, but VDOT
> says
> > that its worried that the left turn lanes will
> > overflow onto the parkway and that there is no
> > other solution.
>
> They could put a detector at the end of the left
> turn lane to change the light when the left turn
> lane is about to back up onto the parkway.
>
> That is, if they can figure out how to make such a
> thing work. Not much problem solving ability at
> VDOT, sorry to say.

A massive number of cars turn right there from west bound Popes Head (they are trying to avoid the back ups on 123 at GMU). Sometimes waiting for this turn backs up traffic 1/2 mile on Popes Head. Perhaps an acceleration lane on the parkway would help.

Please take out the light at popes head road and fairfax county parkway!

Totally agree