South Fairlington Residents on Record Saying it's Too Dangerous to Walk to Abingdon
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Anonymous
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Earlier this year, as APS was preparing for the school boundary shift, it conducted walk zone review of neighborhoods across South Arlington. The survey would determine which neighborhoods would remain eligible for bus services and which would be considered close enough for kids to be able to walk to Schoo. At the time, South Fairlington residents who responded to the survey were adamant that their planning unit, 36130, should remain bus eligible. The complete survey responses are all available on the APS website (https://www.apsva.us/elementary-school-boundary-change-2/walk-zone-resources/) and directly here (https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apsva.us%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F03%2FAbingdon-Walk-Zone-Closed.xlsx).
Here are some highlights of what they said: “There is absolutely no circumstance that would allow me to have my child walk over the bridge 395 either to/from school. Zone 36130.” “Not all of 36130 is walkable, particularly for younger children. If this area is deemed a walk zone, it would need to be split." “I live in south Fairlington and think it should remain outside the walk zone and continue to allow it to be eligible for bus service.” (36130) “The walk zone should not be expanded over the bridge into south Fairlington. The bridge is dangerous as is the crossing at 36th street during morning rush hour. If you insist on expanding the walk zone over the bridge, then there should be a stop sign or flashing light to cross 36th street. Cars coming off the bridge turning right into 36th street rarely slow down for pedestrians in the cross walk.” |
Anonymous
| Okay, that's entertaining, but you do realize people, including those in South Fairlington, can have different opinions on what is walkable and what is not? |
Anonymous
| How unfortunate... |
Anonymous
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Thank you for posting the link! I also really liked the dozens of Fleet responses reminding everyone conducting the walkability study they were promised to stay together.
Or the one from Henry saying they wanted to keep their community as is, and didn’t want any other planning units coming over to their community. Good stuff. Thanks for digging it up. |
Anonymous
| To be fair I think the SF planning unit is the largest in the county. The ones about the dangerous bridge they now lovs so much are golden but it definitely could be split. |
Anonymous
| Aren’t there already at least two active threads discussing this boundary change in South Arlington? How much navel gazing do you need? |
Anonymous
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Arlington schools seriously expects kids to walk over an interstate to get to school?
That is some really crazy stuff. Why would anyone tolerate that nonsense? |
Anonymous
No, this is their preference to being zoned to Drew. |
Anonymous
Just read the other ones. You're right -- totally hilarious! |
Anonymous
| Actually the most consistent theme in the Henry remarks was don't make a walk zone for Fleet that crosses 50, this was supposed to be a school for S. Arlington. |
Anonymous
Respectfully completely disagreeing with you. Far and away the most consistent theme is keeping PH together. Yes, there are also many comments about keeping it a S Arlington school. As a S Arlington resident, I share their concerns about NA being unfairly resourced, but imagine for a moment Fleet (as a brand new expanded more northern school) acquired some current Long Branch PU’s in the 2020 Boundary process and frees up space to better address FRL stats at other S Arlington schools pushing eastward. Especially if Drew’s attendance zone expanded further north. However the SB ultimately votes in November, the 2020 process is going to be very, very interesting. |
Anonymous
| That's fair, I meant the most common topic related to the actual walk zones. The underlying concern in those comments about staying together largely relates to the boundary pushing north over 50. |
Anonymous
You are behind. APS is considering moving S Fairlington, the part that already has bus service, to Drew. S Fairlington has been protesting this and claims they can all walk to Abingdon across the 395 bridge. When this survey shows that earlier this year they were fighting to keep bus service for the exact same reason (crossing the 395 bridge wasn't safe for all). |
Anonymous
It seems they have a big credibility issue now. SF to Drew should be done deal. |
Anonymous
I don't have school age kids, but I walk and bike across that bridge regularly. What exactly is unsafe about it? I mean you are more exposed to winds there than in the rest of Fairlington, which can be unpleasant in winter, but in terms of safety it's one of the better places in the region to walk or bike. |