Virginia transportation officials are expected to restrict the construction of dead-end streets in new developments, hoping to pull cars off congested arteries but risking a rash of cut-through traffic through neighborhoods.

The changes are part of a larger set of transportation and land-use reforms mandated by the General Assembly last year and likely to be implemented in 2009.

For dense, heavily built-out areas like Fairfax County, new subdivisions will be required to incorporate more connections to local roads and forego numerous cul-de-sacs. Otherwise, the Virginia Department of Transportation won’t maintain them.

While state officials hope the “connectivity” measure will allow motorists more direct access to their destinations instead of funneling them onto overused highways, it could undermine local efforts to keep neighborhoods from becoming shortcuts for speeding motorists.

This story continues below
Advertisement

The change poses a potential safety threat, especially with VDOT’s traditionally wide road standards, said Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust, who represents the Dranesville District.

“I just don’t think that the public is aware of what is being proposed, the consequences,” he said. “I’m also concerned that what is being proposed is taking away authority that the local jurisdictions should have to make decisions about how subdivisions are served with roads.”

Assistant Virginia Transportation Secretary Nick Donohue said VDOT recognizes that “cut-through traffic is a real issue.” Street designs under the plan will seek to minimize vehicle speed, according to a spring report on the changes, which Donohue said could include narrower roads.

“The purpose of this is, we put down lots of asphalt every year [in] those urban/suburban areas; we’re trying to lay that asphalt a little differently,” he said.

Coalition for Smarter Growth Executive Director Stewart Schwartz, who supports the measures, pointed to Old Town Alexandria as an example of a successful lattice of interconnected suburban streets.

“There is significantly less traffic congestion on that street network and many more options for getting where you need to,” he said.

State transportation officials are working out the details of the changes. The Commonwealth Transportation Board is expected to finalize them in December or early next year, Donohue said.

wflook@dcexaminer.com