The City of Falls Church installed six pedestrian crossing safety signs yesterday where the W&OD trail intersects with City streets.  Funding for the replacement signs was provided by Friends of the W&OD Trail.   The new signs replace ped crossing safety signs, valued at about $2,500, which were stolen in early August.  The signs were installed at the intersections of the W&OD Trail at West Street, N. Oak Street, Little Falls Road, Grove Avenue and Gordon Road.

Pictured (left to right) are Paul McCray, Park Operations Director for NVRPA; Mary Gavin, Deputy Chief of Police; Andy Kaganowich, Park Ranger for the W&OD; Roger Neighborgall, President of Friends of the W&OD Trail; Robert Goff, Operations Director for City of Falls Church; Vice Mayor Dave Snyder; Karl Mohle, W&OD Park Manager; and Gordon Wisotzki, board officer for Friends of the W&OD Trail. (Photo: Barbara Gordon, City of Falls Church)

The City of Falls Church installed six pedestrian crossing safety signs yesterday where the W&OD trail intersects with City streets.  Funding for the replacement signs was provided by Friends of the W&OD Trail.   The new signs replace ped crossing safety signs, valued at about $2,500, which were stolen in early August.  The signs were installed at the intersections of the W&OD Trail at West Street, N. Oak Street, Little Falls Road, Grove Avenue and Gordon Road.

The new signs are single-sided and one was installed on each edge of the crosswalk in the center of each street where it crosses the trail, creating less obstruction for trail users than the stolen, double-sided signs which were located in the middle of the trail where it intersects with the street.

“The purpose of the signs is to increase safety for all trail users – bikers, walkers, strollers, etc. – and vehicles crossing the trail.  Vehicles should slow down when approaching a crosswalk and stop if a bicyclist or pedestrian is in the walkway, because pedestrians and bicyclists have the right of way.  Bicyclists must also observe the Stop sign before entering the crosswalk, and everyone is reminded to look both ways before crossing the road,” said Deputy Chief Mary Gavin.

Falls Church Police are continuing to investigate the theft of the ped crossing signs which were stolen in August.  Anyone with information should call 703-241-5050 or Crimesolvers at 703-534-7867.

For information about the Washington & Old Dominion Regional Park, operated by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, visit www.nvrpa.org. For more information about the Friends of the W&OD, visit www.wodfriends.org.