Vienna hires consultant to study traffic signal at Madison High School

Vienna town staff have received authorization to commission a technical study on replacing a pedestrian crossing signal outside James Madison High School. The Town Council voted unanimously on Oct. 5 to award a purchase order to Rinker Design Associates. The consultant will produce a signal justification report for the intersection of Maple Avenue and James Madison Drive.

The approved contract amount is $166,370. This figure includes a 25% contingency reserve. The study will determine whether the current High Intensity Activated Crosswalk, or HAWK, system should be replaced by a traditional traffic signal.

A HAWK signal was installed at this location in 2019. The system uses flashing red lights to alert drivers to stop when a pedestrian activates the crossing. Town staff indicated that the device was intended to provide safer passage for students crossing busy Maple Avenue.

Traffic congestion has emerged as a primary concern for the town. Staff report that backups occur at both the James Madison Drive intersection and the neighboring Nutley Street intersection. These delays persist despite the completion of signal upgrades along the corridor last fall. The town’s Capital Improvement Plan notes that school and shopping center traffic causes substantial cut-through traffic in local neighborhoods. Buses and cars frequently cannot make protected left turns, forcing them through residential areas.

Councilmember Howard Springsteen noted the history of the site. He recalled that a previous request for a standard signal was denied because the location was too close to the Nutley Street intersection. The town subsequently installed the HAWK signal, which he described as having mixed results. Springsteen questioned what conditions have changed to warrant a new review. He stated that the town previously received a negative response from the Virginia Department of Transportation, or VDOT, regarding a standard signal.

Andrew Jinks, the Vienna transportation engineer, addressed the council's inquiry. He acknowledged that he joined the town after the initial 2019 installation decisions were made. However, he confirmed that VDOT has been consulted about the proposed study. Jinks expressed confidence that the outcome might differ from the previous application. He stated that the town intends to approach the review with a different perspective.

If the study concludes that a standard signal is warranted, the estimated construction cost is $700,000. The project is fully funded with money distributed to the town by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. Councilmember Chuck Anderson supported the move, citing safety concerns for pedestrians. He referenced his own experience using a similar HAWK signal near the Vienna Plaza shopping center. Anderson said he prefers a regular traffic signal at Madison Drive and Maple Avenue given the high volume of students using the crossing.

Councilmember Jessica Ramakis echoed the safety concerns raised by Anderson. Mayor Linda Colbert added a logistical point regarding school buses. She noted that a standard signal would allow buses to turn directly onto Maple Avenue. Currently, buses must travel through the residential neighborhood along Windover Avenue to reach Nutley Street.

Jinks outlined the timeline for the next steps. The signal justification study is expected to take six to eight months. If the results support installation, the town will proceed with a design process and construction. Jinks predicts the construction phase will take approximately 10 months. Ramakis described the potential timeline as a not-too-distant future. She suggested the community could see a safer arrangement within two years.