N. 35th Rd/N. 36th St./N. Somerset

This small network of streets (embracing 38 homes) near the County line has become a particularly tempting target for cut-through drivers. The problem here (see map below) is that drivers coming from the McLean side of Powhatan Street use this small network of streets to cut over to Williamsburg Boulevard without having to go via Williamsburg Circle. Many of these drivers exceed the speed limit and endanger pedestrians by running stop signs. Residents note that few cars even slow down at the stop signs. The noise and danger to residents has increased dramatically in the last five years.

In February 2001, two residents requested that Arlington County do traffic calming on these streets. The request was handled by County staffer Susan Finotti. Residents told Ms Finotti that they had been complaining about these issues for years. Unfortunately, according to Ms Finotti, the Department of Public Works neighborhood Traffic Calming (NTC) program was only started in 2000. Prior to that, Arlington County kept no record of complaints. Now, every letter is tracked. Every request for traffic calming on neighborhood streets is followed up with a survey to determine "program severity," as measured by level of traffic and speed. Streets must "qualify" by meeting the County's definition of the problem.

The County conducted a traffic study and concluded that the streets do not meet the County's qualifications for consideration as a Neighborhood Traffic Calming project. County studies found that the 85th percentile speed was 27 mph, which does not meet the cutoff for this particular program. County Response to Citizen Request for Traffic Calming on 35th Road and Somerset

Residents on these streets, however, were not satisfied and began organizing a grassroots campaign to convince the County that they perceived a problem, even if the County did not. Over the summer, neighborhood residents got together in a traffic calming meeting to document residents' concerns, including facts about car accidents and reckless drivers. Residents drafted a petition and went door to door to collect signatures. Over 70% of residents signed the petition. Some residents chose to write their own letters to Arlington County to request traffic calming.

Residents mailed the letters and petitions to Jay Fisette (Chairman of the County Board) and Susan Finotti (NTC). As a result, the County has now agreed to resurvey the neighborhood at a time when O'Connell High School is in session (since many of the cut-through drivers appear to be traveling from the McLean area to the high school). The County has also agreed to do a tag survey to quantify the level of cut-through traffic. In addition, the County agreed to include several measures to impede cut-through traffic in the Powhatan Street Traffic Calming Project. County staffers also agreed to resurvey the streets after the Powhatan Project was complete, to see whether it exacerbates cut-through problems for these streets.

For More Information: Contact Karen Ashbrook-Barnes at 703-538-7077.

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