Task force weighs targeted intersection fixes, new grid links and BRT alignment in Lorton plan

Fairfax County transportation and planning staff presented a package of targeted mitigation options and active‑transportation concepts to the Lorton Vision Task Force, saying local grid links, intersection geometry changes and better pedestrian/bicycle facilities can substantially improve circulation even where corridor capacity increases are infeasible.

Tom Burke, senior transportation planner, described intersection‑level measures his team modeled. At Lorton Road and Silverbrook Road, adding an additional southbound left turn lane could cut delay by about one‑third, he said. For the congested I‑95 ramp/Silverbrook area, staff proposed a creative slip‑ramp that would allow some I‑95 traffic bound for Silverbrook to bypass Lorton Road; that connection would have right‑of‑way and environmental impacts but could reduce delay dramatically in peak periods.

On the Amtrak Auto Train frontage, staff offered two alternatives: a substantial flyover that would link the ramps with Amtrak access (large benefit, high cost and potential FHWA coordination) or a simpler median closure that would convert the Amtrak entrance to right‑in/right‑out only. "Closing this median could potentially simplify operations and reduce delay; it might also be doable without triggering the same level of federal permitting as a ramp flyover," Burke said, while cautioning staff would check FHWA/VDOT requirements.

Participants favored low‑cost operational fixes where possible. Several members urged the team to check whether split phasing at some ramp intersections could be simplified to reduce delay; staff agreed to verify with their consultant's traffic engineer. Task force members also highlighted ongoing coordination with VDOT (permitted turns and U‑turn denials) and earlier funding set‑asides for small pieces of this work.

On active transport, staff introduced the county’s 'Active Fairfax' map and cross‑section concepts: 10‑ft shared‑use paths or 10‑ft urban trails on main corridors, improved buffers, street trees and pedestrian‑scale lighting to raise pedestrian level‑of‑comfort (PLOC) and bike level‑of‑traffic‑stress (BLTS). "If we can build grid links and buffered shared paths, you improve circulation and reduce pressure on the arterials," Burke said, while acknowledging environmental constraints for a connector crossing the Pohick stream valley.

Members raised sustainment concerns for landscaped medians and buffers, noting VDOT maintenance schedules and cost will affect long‑term appearance. Staff said native planting strategies and partnership options could reduce maintenance burdens and they will explore funding/maintenance responsibilities in further drafts.

Staff will keep the slip‑ramp, median closure and signal‑phasing options in the report as alternatives for further study; maps and updated plan text will be circulated before the March 16 meeting, when the task force is scheduled to vote on its recommendation.