North George Mason Drive & North Park Drive Intersection Improvements

After the re-opening of the renovated Lubber Run Community Center in the summer of 2021, the intersection of North George Drive and North Park Drive experienced an increase of vehicle-to-vehicle angle crashes resulting from vehicles turning left or going through on North Park Drive from the stop signs. Four of these crashes resulted in personal injury between 2021-2022, which prompted the installation of a traffic signal to provide more organized and predictable traffic patterns at the intersection.

 The intersection improvement project was identified as part of the Lubber Run Community Center project process and expedited to being construction in late 2024 in response to accelerating crash trends at this intersection.

Vision Zero

• Vision Zero policies calls on County staff and the Arlington community to take a holistic approach to safety in order to eliminate severe and fatal crashes from our transportation network by 2030.

2017 Lubber Run Community Center Site Plan

• The site plan process included a traffic study that anticipated traffic pattern changes at the intersection of N. Park Road and N. George Mason Drive as a result of the new Lubber Run facility.
• Recommended additional safety measures up to and including full signalization of the intersection.
• Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) and pedestrian refuge were installed, and DES Transportation conducted a signal analysis after the LRCC was completed to further analyze if full signalization was appropriate once new travel patterns established themselves.

   

2022 DES Transportation Signal Warrant Study

• In 2022 DES Transportation’s Signals group recommended signalization of the intersection because it met the following Federal warrants for signalization as described in the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD):
  • Proximity to school crossing
  • Pedestrian volumes
  • Crash History
  • Vehicle Volumes and Speeds

Due to the safety concerns associated with the intersection, County staff are expediting the timeline for implementing improvements where possible. An update about what this entails, and the current status of the project was presented to the Arlington Forest Civic Association on November 15, 2023.

View the Presentation(PDF, 1MB)

To prevent additional crashes at this intersection while we progress the design and construction of the traffic signal, the project team worked with the Vision Zero Quick Build program to design and implement an interim safety intervention at the project intersection.It will be installed in December 2023.

This installation temporarily closes the left turn and through movements from N Park St at N George Mason Dr using signage, flexible posts/bollards, and wheel stops. Left turns will continue to be permitted from N George Mason Dr. to access northbound or southbound N Park St. This action was prioritized due to the proximity to adjacent Community and School facilities, and maintains necessary emergency access at the intersection. The interim conditions will be removed in conjunction with the capital safety project. 

• View the project plan.

• See here for a letter to the community with alternative routing information.