Fairfax County will lay out its plan to make walking, biking and catching a bus safer along Route 29 inside the Beltway at a public meeting Wednesday, Oct. 14.
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will present recommended improvements to sidewalks, bike paths, transit stops and crossings for the roughly two-mile corridor stretching from I-495 to Tripps Run at the Falls Church city border, according to a county notice. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of Timber Lane Elementary School, 2737 West St., Falls Church.
After a presentation ending around 7:30 p.m., attendees can review exhibit boards, ask questions and leave comments. An online survey will also open in October for those who cannot attend.
Why it matters for McLean
Route 29 at the I-495 interchange is a daily gateway for McLean commuters heading toward Falls Church and Arlington. FCDOT describes the divided highway as a barrier between neighborhoods on its north and south sides, noting on its study page that crossing the road creates dangerous conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.
The study also marks a shift from the county's current Comprehensive Plan, which calls for widening Route 29 from four lanes to six in parts of the corridor. Instead, FCDOT's study seeks to keep the road at four travel lanes while improving safety and access for people on foot, on bikes and at bus stops.
A year in the making
The study launched in July 2025. More than 50 people attended the first community workshop on Nov. 12, 2025, at Timber Lane Elementary, where the department presented existing corridor conditions and gathered feedback on sidewalks, crosswalks, cycle paths and bus stop amenities.
A second public meeting on May 19, 2026, presented proposed improvements. Spanish interpretation was available at that session, and FCDOT held a separate virtual meeting entirely in Spanish on June 10, 2026.
The recommendations going before the public Oct. 14 are based on feedback from the May meeting, according to FCDOT. The department is coordinating the study with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), which owns the right-of-way and operates the traffic signals, as well as the City of Falls Church and the Providence District Supervisor's Office.
What comes next
FCDOT expects to complete the study by the end of 2026 and produce a report guiding future improvements. Some near-term projects could be built within five years if funding is available. Larger changes could take 20 to 25 years.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted a countywide Active Transportation and Trails Plan on May 5, 2026, and the Route 29 study's recommendations will help shape updates to the county's Comprehensive Plan. More details on the study are available at the FCDOT project page.
