by: Scott McCaffrey
published April 2, 2025 at 9:00AM
…. Mike Doyle, founder of Arlington Families for Safe Streets, and Aaron Roberts, chair of the North Highlands Civic Association’s planning/zoning committee, opposed the planned removal of an above-ground walkway over eastbound Langston Blvd between N. Moore Street and Fort Myer Drive.
The North Highlands neighborhood is located immediately north of Rosslyn’s core, separated from it by Langston Blvd. Residents wanting to get to the Metro station, parks or other amenities face major risks crossing at-grade intersections, Roberts said.
“The danger … is real and palpable,” he said. “I know of someone who died within a block of this site.”
Both Roberts and Doyle called for retaining all above-ground pedestrian/pedestrian overpasses ringing the site.
“We strongly urge a reconsideration,” said Doyle, who founded his advocacy organization after himself being hit.
“I know what it’s like for a driver in an SUV to crash into you,” he said.
Once heralded as forward-thinking design as Rosslyn urbanized in the latter third of the 20th century, pedestrian/bicyclist overpasses have largely fallen out of favor with county planners.
While residents from North Highlands turned up in support of above-the-ground options for pedestrians and bicyclists, the North Rosslyn Civic Association stands in opposition.
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