For Immediate Release: February 10, 2022
Contact:
Sonya Breehey, CSG Northern Virginia Advocacy Manager
sonya@smartergrowth.net; (202) 675-0016, Ext. 3
Nancy Espinoza, CASA Campaigns Communications Specialist
nespinoza@wearecasa.org; (240) 701-2777
The Coalition for Smarter Growth and Immigrant Group CASA Launch Joint Campaign for Safer Streets for Bailey’s Crossroads
Fairfax County, VA – Amid an increase in pedestrian and bicyclist deaths and injuries in Fairfax County and across the region, with particular risks being faced in some of the county’s immigrant communities, the Coalition for Smarter Growth (CSG) and immigrant advocacy organization CASA are launching the Safe Streets for Bailey’s Crossroads campaign to engage and organize the local community in advocating and winning safer streets and improved access to walking, biking and accessing transit and services.
This campaign has been made possible by a generous grant to CSG and CASA by the Mobility Fund, a consortium of national foundations. The grant was one of just a few awarded nationwide following a very competitive process. See Mobility Fund’s announcement here.
The Bailey’s Crossroads community is home to a large immigrant population where many residents rely on walking, biking and using the bus to get to work and their daily activities. Yet, the main arterial roads are unsafe because of the lack of sidewalks, few safe crossing options, bus stops without crosswalks, and heavy high-speed traffic. Just ten weeks ago, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a driver in a location lacking a safe sidewalk.
“The Rt. 7 corridor in the Bailey’s Crossroads community is a notoriously dangerous place for people walking, biking, and taking the bus,” says Sonya Breehey, Northern Virginia Advocacy Manager for the Coalition for Smarter Growth, “We are excited to team up with CASA a trusted community partner and leading immigrant advocacy organization to help local residents win the safety improvements that are long overdue.”
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) have identified the Route 7 corridor as a high-risk corridor for vulnerable road users based on years of data showing the high numbers of fatalities and serious injuries. Yet, no significant investments in safety improvements have been made to stem the traffic fatalities and injuries that plague residents trying to navigate their community on foot or by bike.
“At CASA, we see our role as empowering community members to win positive change in their communities,” says Eduardo Zelaya, CASA’s Regional lead organizer for Virginia. “We’ve worked with the Culmore community and the region on immigration and health issues and we see street safety as a critical health and safety concern for our residents.”
View the full release in English and Spanish: