As someone who has lived in our area for 54 years, I view the George Washington Memorial Parkway (the “Parkway”) as one of our community’s crown jewels. After the U.S. Army relocated 15,000 new employees to Fort Belvoir in 2005, nonresident commuter traffic increased on the Parkway and so has the speed of cars. The road has become much more dangerous, especially at intersections, resulting in dozens of injuries and even some deaths.
Between 2018 and 2021, Congressman Don Beyer, Delegate Paul Krizek, Supervisor Dan Storck and I worked to develop a community consensus on solutions. Congressman Beyer secured funding for road marking improvements and the National Park Service (NPS) conducted a lengthy safety study to identify solutions. NPS found excessive speeding to be a major problem.
I gathered and submitted over 500 community comments offering solutions. In 2021, NPS implemented a “road diet” to slow vehicles’ speed, cause vehicles to bunch and create gaps for safer intersection left turns. In addition, NPS made further modifications to the Belle Haven Road and Belleview Boulevard intersections after receiving community feedback via Congressman Beyer’s Office.
Accidents have declined with implementation of the traffic diet and increased traffic volumes on Fort Hunt Road and Sherwood Hall Lane have not materialized according to VDOT data. However, in the last week, there have been three accidents at the Parkway and Belle Haven Road. We clearly need to do more.
A Historic Road
The Parkway is not just a highway like most others. Congress authorized its construction to preserve and enhance the Potomac River valley, to keep the river’s banks in public ownership and to pay tribute to the first U.S. President George Washington by creating a grand gateway to his home, Mount Vernon. It opened in 1932 as a 40-mile, slow-speed road with various units that combine the natural, historic and recreational sites with over 7,000 acres of parkland.
Changes to the road are subject to the National Historic Preservation Act because the Parkway is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Features like stop lights are inconsistent with Congressional intent and the Parkway’s historic character. Some have suggested building a Belle Haven Road roundabout, for example. That is projected to cost $7 million and is likely cost prohibitive. NPS must comply with the historic preservation law and inconsistent changes could subject the NPS to litigation.
Addressing Speeding
In addition to the accidents, I have received complaints about excessive speeds and late night-drag racing. The U.S. Park Police have been missing in action, many locals contend, and our requests for more enforcement have been largely ignored. Therefore, Delegate Krizek and I asked the Virginia State Police to conduct enforcement operations, but because the Parkway is federal property, its traffic rules are set in the Code of Federal Regulations and can mostly only be enforced by the U.S. Park Police.
Congressman Beyer has asked the NPS to install speed cameras, but federal law does not allow the revenues from enforcement to be recaptured by the NPS to fund the program. Congressman Beyer introduced legislation, but it has been blocked by members of the Congressional Freedom Caucus, claiming privacy concerns.
Therefore, I am drafting legislation for the state legislature to authorize the Virginia State Police and Fairfax County Police to conduct traffic enforcement on the Parkway. In addition, I am researching the legality of authorizing either the state or Fairfax County to enter into an agreement with the NPS to install and operate speed cameras on the Parkway.
We will continue to engage the community to help find solutions to improve safety on the Parkway, reduce collisions and maintain its historic character.
If you have additional questions or ideas, please email me at senatorsurovell@senate.virginia.gov. It is an honor to serve as your state senator.