Richmond Highway Speed In Fairfax County To Be Assessed In Study

HYBLA VALLEY, VA — The Virginia Department of Transportation is conducting a speed study for a portion of Richmond Highway in Fairfax County and will host an upcoming virtual public meeting.

The study is assessing the current 45 mph speed limit on an eight-mile stretch of Richmond Highway (Route 1) between the Capital Beltway and Belvoir Road/Meade Road. It will determine if the speed limit is sufficient or should be decreased based on safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers and transit riders. According to Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck's newsletter, he and other local officials requested the study based on community concerns. According to 2019 VDOT data, Richmond Highway averages 55,000 vehicles per day in the study limits.

The first public information meeting on the study will be held virtually at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 30. The study team will give a presentation and answer questions for about an hour afterward. Register for the virtual meeting online or call on Nov. 30 for listen-only mode at 1-866-952-8437 access code 840-652-473.

Feedback will then be accepted by Dec. 10 online, by email to meetingcomments@vdot.virginia.gov, or by mail to Ms. Tien-Jung "Tina" Ho, P.E. VDOT, 4975 Alliance Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030.

According to the study website, a draft report and recommendations are expected in spring 2022, followed by a second public information meeting. The final report and study conclusion are planned in summer 2022.