Lee District Monthly Newsletter

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Edition 14
May 2015 
 
The McKay Messenger
  
A Road Diet? What's That?
Example of a Road Diet

 

You may have heard some talk about road and lane diets lately, especially in Lee District where VDOT will be implementing them on several roads as part of its repaving and striping work. In their simplest form, road and lane diets reduce the width of existing travel lanes. They aren't for every road-but where they are appropriate, they have significant travel flow and safety benefits for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

 

These lane reconfigurations are not new. While they've been around for decades, their use has grown in the last 10 years. In Fairfax County, we've been using them for the past five or six years, primarily in the Reston and Mount Vernon areas. I'm pleased that we're expanding their use and that we'll be able to benefit from them in Lee District where two road diets have already been approved for installation along with this season's paving work. They are on Amherst Avenue from Highland Street to Cumberland Avenue
paired with Backlick Road from Highland Street to Cumberland Avenue, and Kingstowne Village Parkway from Beulah Street to Hayfield Road. VDOT has also proposed a lane diet for Franconia Road from South Van Dorn Street to Craft Road.

 

What's the difference between a road and a lane diet? Road diets reduce the number of lanes; lane diets reduce the width of existing lanes. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) supports such lane reconfigurations and last September launched a campaign to improve road safety that includes road and lane diets. FHWA has a road diet informational guide that you can download here.

 

Road and lane diets can seem counterintuitive as for years the conventional wisdom was that wider roads meant better traffic flow, especially during peak travel periods. However numerous studies have shown that wider roads attract more traffic (called induced traffic) and result in significant delays, increased speed, and higher crash and injury rates. FHWA statistics indicate that road and lane diets can reduce traffic crashes from 19 to 29 percent.

 

Pedestrians and bicyclists can also benefit from these lane reductions. Reduced vehicle speed and dedicated bicycle lanes offer a buffer from moving traffic. Road and lane diets are cost effective too. When road maintenance dollars are scarce, these lane reductions can be implemented during regular maintenance like repaving and striping at very little additional cost. Of particular benefit to Fairfax County taxpayers is that our own tax dollars are not used.

 

Of course, road and lane diets are not right for every road. Our County Department of Transportation and VDOT thoroughly analyze proposed roads for traffic volume, topography, and other criteria before proposing such diets.

 

If you have questions or would like more information about road and lane diets in Lee District, please contact my office at 703-971-6262 or [email protected].

 

Proud to Honor Another Extraordinary County Employee

Earlier this month I was pleased to name the beautiful amphitheater at Lee District Park for Leon Plenty who retired from the County last December after 32 years. Since 1998, Leon had been the general manager of Lee District Park and RECenter.  (The park and RECenter are located at 6601 Telegraph Road at the intersection of Telegraph Road and Rose Hill Drive.)

 

The park grew during Leon's tenure, with new and unique amenities such as Chessie's Big Back Yard and Our Special Harbor-the only fully accessible play area in this part of the County. (As a matter of fact, Fairfax County has only one other fully accessible park and play areas, Clemyjontri Park in McLean.) Lee District Park and RECenter have grown over the years, adding the Lee Nights free summer concert series, expanded pre-school programs, and more, becoming one of the busiest parks and RECenters in the County.

 

Careful stewardship of our residents' tax dollars is important and under Leon's management, the Lee District RECenter went from a facility operating in the red to a completely self-supported center. It's maintained that status for 13 of the last 16 years.

 

While Leon is exceptional he is not unique--we have extraordinary employees in Fairfax County and you don't find any more dedicated or accomplished public servants than the employees who serve our residents. 

Lee District Park Authority Board Member Ed Batten, Leon Plenty, and Supervisor Jeff McKay 

 

If you have not yet visited Lee District Park or attended one of the concerts in the beautiful outdoor space and amphitheater, I encourage you to do so this summer. 

 

There's bench seating close to the amphitheater's stage and, for those who prefer, ample space for lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic dinner. The original amphitheater was a rudimentary structure, built in 1978, with the hands-on help of a local boy scout troop. That was also the year that the park held its first nature program in the amphitheater. In 2001 the stage size was  

increased to 5,100 square feet and stage lights, dressing and storage rooms, lighting, and additional seating capacity were added. A paved path and an 800 square foot viewing area were also added to provide access to individuals with disabilities. More recent upgrades have incorporated the Park Authority's commitment to the environment. Siding, trim boards, and decking boards were replaced with environmentally friendly synthetic products resistant to rot and insect damage. The roofing material is recycled tires with a life expectancy of at least 50 years.  

 
Lee Nights Free Summer Concerts 

This is the 15th season of our free summer concerts in the beautiful amphitheater at Lee District Park.  It's a great way to spend a summer evening. Come at 7:30 pm or pack a picnic dinner and come earlier. You can find information about all the County's summer concerts here or just check out the Lee District schedule below:

 

July 1        Beltway Balalaika (Russian)

July 8        Rocknoceros (Childrens' songs)

July 15      Lox & Vodka (Klezmer)

July 22      The Taters (Roots/Pop)

July 29      Bruce Ewan/Willem Moller (Blues)

August 5   The Nighthawks (Blues)

August 12  Monroe Crossing (Bluegrass)

August 19  Project Natale (Jazz)

August 26  U.S. Army Blues (Jazz)
Thank you for subscribing to my monthly e-newsletter. I hope these updates will keep you in the loop with some of the major events in our District.

If you'd like to learn more about something in the newsletter or have an idea for a future edition, please don't hesitate to contact me or my staff.
  
Sincerely,

Jeffrey C. McKay

Lee District Supervisor

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

703-971-6262
Jeffrey C. McKay
 
Supervisor McKay has served on the Board of Supervisors since 2007.  
Did You Know?

Question:

Have you ever wondered who in the County government can help with a problem? Wished you could speak to someone face-to-face rather than try to explain by phone, email, or letter? Wanted a convenient way to ask your question without having to drive to the main government center?

 

Answer:

You can do all of those at the Lee District Resource Fair on September 12 from 9 am to noon.

 

The Resource Fair will be conveniently located at the Franconia Governmental Center at 6121 Franconia Road.

 

County experts from animal control to zoning and everything in between will be there to answer your questions and provide helpful tips. There's no need to make a reservation-just come with your questions and concerns. My staff and I will also be there.

 

Agencies invited include:

  • Animal Control

  • Cable and Consumer Affairs

  • Code compliance

  • Fairfax County Dept. of Transportation

  • Stormwater Management

  • Health Department

  • Office of Emergency Management

  • Police

  • DPWES

  • Sheriff's Dept.

  • Solid Waste

  • Virginia Dept. of Transportation

  • Fire Department

  • Fairfax Water

As always, you can call or email me at 703-971-6262 or [email protected].


 

 

 

 
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