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Traffic analysis: mixed‑use shift could lower daily vehicle trips but will require intersection fixes
Summary
County traffic analysis found a shift from office to residential in the staff scenario would likely reduce daily trips by roughly 1,000–1,400 but would still require targeted intersection mitigation (Route 50 & Waples Mill among the worst); staff proposed lane tweaks and signal changes and noted a grade‑separated interchange remains a long‑term comp‑plan option.
Fairfax County DOT presented a vehicular analysis comparing the county's existing plan, the adopted comprehensive plan potential, and the staff proposed mixed‑use scenario. Tom Burke said that because residential development typically generates fewer vehicle trips per square foot than office uses, the staff scenario reduces total daily trip generation by roughly 1,000–1,400 daily trips compared with some existing or adopted plan permutations.
Burke walked through intersection results for seven locations studied. He said Intersection 2 (Route 50 & Waples Mill) currently averages about a 66‑second delay per vehicle; under growth assumptions out to about 2045 delays could rise toward an average of about 175 seconds. Proposed mitigations to reduce delay included adding a right‑turn lane and a second southbound left, which staff estimated could lower delays to roughly 90–110 seconds; a grade‑separated interchange at that location is shown in the comprehensive plan as a long‑term option but staff said they prefer fixing intersections at‑grade if possible.
