In wake of fatal crash, Beyer urges quick completion of GW Parkway study
One day after a head-on collision killed one man and left three people hospitalized, Rep. Don Beyer said he has asked the National Park Service to move faster on its George Washington Parkway traffic study.
The study, commissioned in late 2017, had originally been targeted for completion by early 2019. Beyer said Tuesday that NPS informed him the expected completion date is now October 2019.
“Yesterday’s fatal accident is another tragic reminder that GW Parkway needs significant changes to improve safety,” Beyer said in a statement. “The history of serious accidents is a major reason why I originally asked the National Park Service to conduct a traffic study and then pushed NPS to expedite it.”
A 55-year-old taxi driver from Springfield died in Monday’s wreck. Three other people suffered injuries that the Park Police described as life-threatening. Two of the patients were flown to local hospitals.
The deadly collision is the latest in a series of serious crashes on the Parkway between Old Town Alexandria and Mount Vernon. Nearby residents have complained for years about speeding along the road, which has speed limits of 35 mph and 45 mph.
Monday’s wreck remains under investigation, but Park Police say that a southbound Volkswagen Beetle crossed the double yellow line before slamming into the northbound taxi cab. The crash occurred in a section of the parkway south of Tulane Drive where the speed limit is 45 mph.
Beyer said Tuesday that he is in regular contact with Mount Vernon Supervisor Dan Storck, State Sen. Scott Surovell and Del. Paul Krizek, all of whom represent the area along the GW Parkway. His office said a community meeting about safety on the road will be held in June to allow for residents to give the NPS feedback on how to improve the GW Parkway.
“I will continue to work with Sen. Scott Surovell, Del. Paul Krizek, and Supervisor Dan Storck to translate the sense of urgency our constituents feel into action, and eagerly await the upcoming community meeting where NPS will receive input and suggestions from the public,” Beyer said.
Thank You!
Reducing the speed limit to 35mph is not going to make drifting across the yellow lines into a head on collision safe.
Not sure why every time an accident occurs every one immediately points to speed. Speed is only a symptom of the overall issue: driver inattention. I can’t count the number of times I’ve almost been hit or hit someone making a left turn from Morningside, Tulane, Belle View and Belle Haven.
As soon as I see a car drifting back and forth in a lane I immediately know they’re texting or talking on a cellphone. I’m right 99% of the time.
Have I sped on the Parkway? I’d be lying if I said no. I commute to and from Montgomery County every day and they’ve lowered the speed limit on every major road to 35. We’re not talking school zones and neighborhoods. We’re talking major commuter routes like River Road all because The only thing accomplished is making traffic worse.
Speed is the latest hot button issue. That’s all it is.
I agree with the responders that speed is not the issue because most drivers are usually more attentive to the road when they are speeding. They are conscious of their urgency and of course the police and not distracted with texting. The parkway could use a minor expansion that would allow enough space for a divider between the north and southbound lanes