Fairfax Board Approves Bus Route 432 in Tysons, Vienna

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Silver Line Bus Route 432 Tuesday, much to the dismay of many local residents in the Creek Crossing and Old Courthouse neighborhoods who have opposed the route for months.

Supervisors approved a bus that will run down Old Courthouse Road, Creek Crossing Road and East Street, a route that has drawn criticism and opposition from those who say the roads are not fit to accommodate large buses.

During a packed meeting last month, residents of Creek Crossing said running 30-foot buses down their street – one they said is already in need of repairs – would be a safety hazard that would make the street even more dangerous for pedestrians.

The route provoked a petition from the neighborhood that 450 residents signed, as well as a letter from Virginia Dels. Barbara Comstock (R-34) and Mark Keam (D-35) urging supervisors to delay the vote.

“Creek Crossing Road and East Street cannot sufficiently accommodate a transit bus route as envisioned by this transit plan, due to existing road geometrics, traffic congestion, vehicle speed, lack of sidewalks on both sides of the street, and the increased risk posed to pedestrians and children in the community,” the letter reads.

But supervisors approved staff’s recommendation Tuesday because they agreed the bus would generate the highest ridership and provide underserved neighborhoods a way to get to the Silver Line when it opens next year.

The approval acknowledges the community’s concerns about safety and pledges to work with them to find money for the minor improvements the route needs.

“We do not put buses that are not safe,” said Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill). “The inclination that this could be an unsafe route was one that was quite disturbing to me.”

Hudgins and a number of her colleagues said they had driven the route in the past weeks, as mail from constituents piled up on their desks.

“I think this route will be safe but I think there are some improvements that need to be made.”

According to staff, the needed improvements to the roads “do not prevent the safe operation of bus service, but would result in better vehicular and pedestrian movement.”

“While it is an uncomfortable route, it’s not one that has high accident rates,” Hudgins said.

Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) wanted to know whether delaying the route to fix some of the roads was possible.

But staff said the plan was to gather community input on improvements and identify sources of funding to then phase in the improvements while the route is operational. There’s no telling how long finding the money could take, so the bus would be delayed for quite some time, staff said.

Route 432 is one of 40 other Fairfax Connector bus routes that will be added or changed when the Silver Line Metro system becomes operational next year. The opening of the rail line has been delayed numerous times, but staff said Tuesday residents could be looking at a late February or early March 2014 opening date.