Wilcoxon Trail Extension

The city has developed an updated alignment for the Wilcoxon Trail Extension (formerly called George Snyder Trail Extension). The city council needs community input to determine whether to proceed with this updated alignment. View the proposed plan.

The comment period for this project will be open until Oct. 30. To provide input:

• Provide comments by clicking on the Discussion button below.
• Attend an open house on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Drop by City Hall (10455 Armstrong St.) anytime between 5-7 p.m. to learn more about this project and share your input in person.

About the Study

The city received funding to construct a shared use path to connect the Wilcoxon Trail trailhead on Fairfax Blvd to the George Snyder Trail (GST), which would have ended on Fairfax Blvd near Circle Glass. In light of the cancellation of the GST, the city has developed a new alignment for the connector trail that utilizes Fairfax Blvd, Draper Drive, and Beech Drive to connect the Wilcoxon Trail to Draper Drive Park.

The Proposed Realignment

The updated concept for this project includes the following components:

• Wider eight-foot shared use path (to replace the existing five-foot sidewalk) on the south side of Fairfax Blvd between the Wilcoxon Trail trailhead and Draper Drive)
• Utilization of the existing traffic signal to cross Fairfax Blvd at Draper Drive
• Replacement of on-street parking on the west side of Draper Drive with a 10-foot wide shared use path + six-foot striped buffer

Next Steps

Since this project is already funded, if this updated alignment is acceptable to the community, City Council and VDOT (who is providing the funding), this project will proceed to final design and construction.

Benefits of Extending the Trail

This project will improve multimodal connectivity throughout the eastern side of Fairfax City. The extension project will provide a 10-foot-wide shared-use path between the Wilcoxon Trail trailhead on the south side of Fairfax Boulevard and the crosswalk to Draper Drive. Once completed, the Wilcoxon Trail will connect to Draper Drive Park and surrounding trail infrastructure. The trail extension concept provides many benefits, including:

• Provides a practical and context sensitive connection to the city’s existing off-road trail network.
• Evaluates potential connections utilizing Draper Drive, Beech Drive, and existing park trail infrastructure within Draper Drive Park.
• Includes a combination of shared-use path facilities, separated sidewalk accommodations, and/or on-road bicycle infrastructure, depending on engineering feasibility, community input, environmental considerations, and cost.
• Connects Draper Drive Park and neighborhoods north of Fairfax Boulevard with Blenheim Boulevard, the Gerry Connolly Cross-County Trail, and Thaiss Memorial Park.
• Activates three Fairfax City neighborways: Draper Drive, Cardinal Drive, and Fair Woods Parkway.
• Connects to an existing Fairfax County Neighborhood Route on Draper Drive and Kingsbridge Drive.
• Requires minimal to no tree removal.
• Utilizes existing signalized crossing at Draper Drive, providing pedestrians, cyclists, and other users a fully connected regional trail network.

Project Considerations

Fairfax Boulevard is a fully developed, commercial thoroughfare with many driveways and limited pedestrian space. The proposed improvements will promote safe use of the corridor by motorists and trail users alike.

Realizing Multimodal Transportation Plans

This project aims to fully realize the multimodal goals for the Wilcoxon Trail corridor as outlined in the 2035 Comprehensive Plan and Fairfax Bike Plan.