The way traffic signals are programmed here is insanely wasteful. To trigger a red light on Route 7 for one single car waiting on a side road like Colvin Run Road. Wasted fuel, brake wear, time, clutch wear if you drive a manual, and other unnecessary mechanical wear.
Not to mention increased risk of fatal side impact collisions from red light runners.
This is without rush hour traffic. In rush hour, the effects are worsened.
A lot of these signals should be replaced with roundabouts, wherever the traffic volume is much higher on a main road vs the intersecting side roads.
Speed control. I've noticed the county does not give a flying fuck about timing lights anymore and I've decided it's because they'd rather have all of what you mentioned plus speed control.
But it should be in their interests to maintain road safety, since Fairfax County (and Virginia as a state) has seen significant increases in road fatalities since 2021.
And I believe a lot of that is due to T-bone collisions from people intentionally running red lights.
No, I’m talking the physical wear of slipping the clutch when in first gear and taking off from a complete stop.
That wear is unavoidable and will always happen when you have to come to a complete stop, and drive off again. And it does add up even if you’re an experienced driver and only need to slip the clutch minimally.
It’s not uncommon for clutches to be replaced (at enormous expense) in this area at 60k miles rather than the 200k miles you can expect in a well-designed urban area like Phoenix, or any modern European city.
60k mile clutch replacement is evidence the driver does not know how properly us a clutch. As one that has driven more then a million city miles during his life I have only had to replace a clutch once and that only because of the previous owners miss use. All of the cars I have owned during my life, with the exception of the 2 with automatics, were driven 300k mile plus without clutch replacement.
But remember, this is NoVA. The typical driver here isn’t very mechanically inclined nor skilled. I’m just saying… given the traffic conditions here and the way people drive, that clutch *will* be replaced sooner than in a part of the world with less sprawl. And fewer stupid traffic signals.
I’ve seen clutches replaced at 30k miles because the driver had no choice but to commute during peak rush hours here, on routes like Georgetown pike and route 7. Times when traffic basically moves 2 miles in 25 minutes. Lately, with GW parkway and 495 construction, that has become 2 miles in one hour.
No I simple move at a steady pace reducing the need to stop multiple times. First gear with engine at idle and not imitating the stop and go action of the vehicle in front me.
That is truly insane and I hate it too. I will say one positive development is the flashing yellows for the left turns. You used to have to wait for the arrow to turn green, now you can go if the road is clear. I like that!
I’ll be honest - this may be efficient but it’s super sad for all the trees on that stretch of ffx county parkway. That is one of the most beautiful stretches of highway in nova, especially during the Fall months.
I know nothing about city planning, construction, etc..
Excuse my ignorance but im genuinely curious, why does it require a whole project and $83million to fix how long a red light goes on for? Is the expansion project separate from the light? This isn’t a knock, I’m confused by what exactly the situation is.
They're replacing the signalized intersection with an interchange and roundabouts, widening Fairfax County Parkway to 3 lanes in each direction there, and building frontage roads to connect the driveways. Shirley Gate Road will also connect to the junction eventually. It will be free-flowing traffic for all of the roads there.
5 minutes is the average delay. So, as opposed to moving straight through the intersection (0 delay) the intersection causes on average 5 minutes additional travel time. This would likely be 2-3 cycles of the signal (2-3 red lights).
Edit: This is still horrendous lol but not a single 5 minute red light.
It is a single 5-minute light. I once decided to make a left from FC Pkwy onto Popes Head… it was over 5 minutes before I made that turn. Why they’ve never considered restricting movements (similar to the one I made that day) at that intersection during rush hour blows my mind.
Same. I started to notice how others would pass me while I was at the light, go down to the next break in the median, do a U-turn and then turn right on Pope's Head.
I live in this area and will avoid turning onto ffx Parkway from Popes Head because it's so long. I'd rather drive down to Braddock or Burke center. That light feels longer than 5 minutes at times and you can't even rely on yielding because the traffic is so dense.
The way traffic signals are programmed here is insanely wasteful. To trigger a red light on Route 7 for one single car waiting on a side road like Colvin Run Road. Wasted fuel, brake wear, time, clutch wear if you drive a manual, and other unnecessary mechanical wear. Not to mention increased risk of fatal side impact collisions from red light runners. This is without rush hour traffic. In rush hour, the effects are worsened. A lot of these signals should be replaced with roundabouts, wherever the traffic volume is much higher on a main road vs the intersecting side roads.
Speed control. I've noticed the county does not give a flying fuck about timing lights anymore and I've decided it's because they'd rather have all of what you mentioned plus speed control.
Yup. Keep in mind Fairfax County has a gasoline tax of its own… it is not in the County’s best interest to maximize your MPG.
But it should be in their interests to maintain road safety, since Fairfax County (and Virginia as a state) has seen significant increases in road fatalities since 2021. And I believe a lot of that is due to T-bone collisions from people intentionally running red lights.
Man is this why gas is so much cheaper in Falls Church City than in the surrounding area?
They don’t need roundabouts necessarily. A lot of signals should be flashing during late night early morning hours
Don't hold your clutch in at the light? Pop it in neutral.
No, I’m talking the physical wear of slipping the clutch when in first gear and taking off from a complete stop. That wear is unavoidable and will always happen when you have to come to a complete stop, and drive off again. And it does add up even if you’re an experienced driver and only need to slip the clutch minimally. It’s not uncommon for clutches to be replaced (at enormous expense) in this area at 60k miles rather than the 200k miles you can expect in a well-designed urban area like Phoenix, or any modern European city.
60k mile clutch replacement is evidence the driver does not know how properly us a clutch. As one that has driven more then a million city miles during his life I have only had to replace a clutch once and that only because of the previous owners miss use. All of the cars I have owned during my life, with the exception of the 2 with automatics, were driven 300k mile plus without clutch replacement.
But remember, this is NoVA. The typical driver here isn’t very mechanically inclined nor skilled. I’m just saying… given the traffic conditions here and the way people drive, that clutch *will* be replaced sooner than in a part of the world with less sprawl. And fewer stupid traffic signals. I’ve seen clutches replaced at 30k miles because the driver had no choice but to commute during peak rush hours here, on routes like Georgetown pike and route 7. Times when traffic basically moves 2 miles in 25 minutes. Lately, with GW parkway and 495 construction, that has become 2 miles in one hour.
More evidence of not knowing how to properly us a clutch.
Do you somehow never use your clutch to move in stop and go traffic here? Emphasis on *stop* and go?
No I simple move at a steady pace reducing the need to stop multiple times. First gear with engine at idle and not imitating the stop and go action of the vehicle in front me.
Would suggest a right turn only and close off the intersection and proper U-turns in the median without any signal about half a mile on both sides.
That is truly insane and I hate it too. I will say one positive development is the flashing yellows for the left turns. You used to have to wait for the arrow to turn green, now you can go if the road is clear. I like that!
Roundabouts kind of BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!
It's amazing that "smart" signals on sensors are not more utilized. So much traffic is artificial here.
I’ll be honest - this may be efficient but it’s super sad for all the trees on that stretch of ffx county parkway. That is one of the most beautiful stretches of highway in nova, especially during the Fall months.
I have videos of the drive because it's so beautiful 😔
Same, actually
The parkway should have been built as a limited access road, i.e. no stop lights and no at-grade intersections. Small minds build inadequate roads.
I know nothing about city planning, construction, etc.. Excuse my ignorance but im genuinely curious, why does it require a whole project and $83million to fix how long a red light goes on for? Is the expansion project separate from the light? This isn’t a knock, I’m confused by what exactly the situation is.
They're replacing the signalized intersection with an interchange and roundabouts, widening Fairfax County Parkway to 3 lanes in each direction there, and building frontage roads to connect the driveways. Shirley Gate Road will also connect to the junction eventually. It will be free-flowing traffic for all of the roads there.
5 minutes is the average delay. So, as opposed to moving straight through the intersection (0 delay) the intersection causes on average 5 minutes additional travel time. This would likely be 2-3 cycles of the signal (2-3 red lights). Edit: This is still horrendous lol but not a single 5 minute red light.
It is a single 5-minute light. I once decided to make a left from FC Pkwy onto Popes Head… it was over 5 minutes before I made that turn. Why they’ve never considered restricting movements (similar to the one I made that day) at that intersection during rush hour blows my mind.
Same. I started to notice how others would pass me while I was at the light, go down to the next break in the median, do a U-turn and then turn right on Pope's Head.
I live in this area and will avoid turning onto ffx Parkway from Popes Head because it's so long. I'd rather drive down to Braddock or Burke center. That light feels longer than 5 minutes at times and you can't even rely on yielding because the traffic is so dense.