Review Revised Design: Volant Drive
Review Revised Design: Volant Drive
Welcome back! We have heard feedback from your neighborhood on the proposed safety improvement to Volant Drive. We are excited to share the revised design. All feedback was taken into consideration while also using best practices to make sure we provide the safest option for your neighborhood. Please review the final design by 5 PM on October 30.
Why this project?
The City has identified Volant Drive for a traffic calming project, which will improve safety for those driving, walking, and biking in your neighborhood. Our goal is safer streets for all! Your street was identified because:
- There has been one speed-related crash in the last three years.
- Typical driving speeds are 35 MPH (Speed limit is 25 MPH).
We have already shared education materials with neighbors and had one open comment period on proposed safety improvement.
Design
City staff are recommending Speed Cushions to slow speeding on Volant Drive. These devices would be placed every 750 feet along Volant Drive from Spring Forest Road to Falls Church Road.
Below is a summary of the feedback gathered when the neighborhood was asked to react to the proposed design.
Shared Community Comments
- Concerns About Speeding and Driving Behavior
- Pedestrian Safety and Crossing Improvements
- Emergency Response Concerns
What We Heard from the Community
1. Speed hump or cushion?
- With feedback from the neighborhood, Speed cushions were selected to not impact emergency services, while still encouraging appropriate speeds
2. Are speed cushions safe for low‑floor or accessible vehicles?
- Speed cushions are 3 inches high and designed to accommodate typical passenger vehicles. Staff does not anticipate issues for wheelchair‑accessible vans
3. Why were devices spaced at approximately 500 ft? initial spacing follows best practice guidance:
- If too far apart, drivers regain speed between devices, reducing effectiveness and creating speeding gaps.
- If spaced too closely, they may feel excessive for daily users.
- Staff will continue evaluating spacing as design progresses. 750 ft is the largest device spacing with the highest probability of still providing an effective project.
4. Why not use enforcement instead?
- Enforcement is temporary and dependent on officer availability and staffing.
- Speeding often resumes once police leave.
- Vertical devices provide 24/7 speed control, improving compliance long‑term.
5. Can speed cushions be avoided entirely?
- Speed cushions are designed so that standard passenger vehicles cannot avoid them.
- Wide‑axle emergency vehicles can straddle the cushion.
- Cars, SUVs, and pickups do not have wide enough wheelbases to avoid the raised portions.
- Drivers must travel over the device, which preserves its speed‑reducing purpose.
This map shows the chosen locations of the devices. You can also view a larger PDF of this map.
Purple font will signify plan alterations
