Blake Lane Corridor Safety Updates

Timeline of Efforts to Improve Safety 

Upcoming and in Progress:

• Establishing a school zone near Oakton High School and installation of a speed camera 

• Blake Lane Safety Advisory Group 5th meeting (virtual, date: TBD) 

• Community-wide meeting (in-person) 

• VDOT is completing a slurry seal placement 

• Road Safety Audit 

Past:

• January 2021:  

  • My office hosted the first Blake Lane Safety Improvements Community Meeting.

  • VDOT conducted a speed study to determine the appropriate speed in this corridor and the 85th percentile was 43.5 MPH. VDOT determined that the current speed limit of 35 MPH is appropriate for this road. 

    • 85th percentile speed is defined as “the speed at or below which 85% of all vehicles are observed to travel under free-flowing conditions past a monitored point.”

• April 2021: My office hosted another community meeting and provided updates on recent safety improvements and potential future improvements. 

• May 2021: The Board of Supervisors approved the request for the installation of “$200 Additional Fine for Speeding” signs between Jermantown Road and Sutton Road, as part of the Residential Traffic Administration Program (RTAP). Signs were installed in September 2021. 

• November 2021: VDOT conducted a signal warrant study at the intersection of Blake Lane and Hibbard Street to determine whether the intersection meets the required warrants. 

• June 2022:

  • I hosted a community meeting that was attended by community members, FCPD, VDOT, FCDOT, and FCPS. 

  • Fairfax County Police increased their presence and deployed a radar speed sign along the corridor. 

  • VDOT repainted/refreshed all the lane markings along the corridor for better visibility, and upgraded standard crosswalks to high-visibility crosswalks at all signalized intersections.

• July 2022: I presented a Board Matter with Chairman McKay and Supervisor Alcorn directing staff to provide information and recommendations on purchasing additional speed devices to have more speed deterrents countywide. 

• August 2022:

  • I convened a Blake Lane Safety Advisory Group, including community members and staff from VDOT, FCDOT, FCPS, and FCPD.

  • The Board of Supervisors approved the request for installation of “Watch for Children” and “$200 Additional Fine for Speeding” signs along Blake Lane. 

  • With the help of School Board Member Frisch, FCPS adjusted 22 bus stop locations that eliminated the need for students to stand and wait on Blake Lane. 

• September – November 2022: Blake Lane Safety Advisory Group held 3 virtual meetings.

• December 2022: Preliminary Field Walk with the Road Safety Audit Task Force, VDOT, FCPS, FCPD, FCDOT, and my office.

• January 2023: Blake Lane Safety Advisory Group 4th meeting 

• April 2023: Blake Lane Field Walk Pedestrian Road Safety Audit (RSA)