Fairfax man with visual disability says eliminated bus stops pose a safety concern

FAIRFAX, Va. — A man with visual impairment in Fairfax is raising concerns about a change to his bus route that eliminated stops near his home.

Jeff Vieceli moved to a neighborhood along Stringfellow Road near Fairfax County Parkway 12 years ago. One of the reasons was the proximity to the bus stops across from the house.

“I do not drive because I have an eye condition and I’m legally blind,” Vieceli said. “Having the Fairfax Connector buses right across the street from my house was extremely convenient and allowed me to be independent.”

However, the bus stops were eliminated as part of a comprehensive service change to the Fairfax Connector in late June. The changes happened following significant analysis and public input, according to the county.

In an email sent to Vieceli from the office of his district’s supervisor, the route was modified to merge into other ones because the bus stops on Stringfellow Road “showed very low ridership, with no stop showing more than two passengers per weekday due to the low density in the area. The final modifications to the service noted above are expected to generate more travel options for the majority of customers.”

While there are suggestions to apply for a MetroAccess paratransit service, Vieceli claimed he doesn’t qualify. Other options would mean longer commute times to get to work.

He can’t always rely on his wife to drive him since she also has a job.

“I somehow one way or another have to get to the new bus stop on Route 50 roughly a mile away,” he said. “It takes away a lot of what I used to look forward to in terms of being able to 
do things on my own without having to rely on others.”

The nearly one-mile-long walk down Stringfellow Road has a small section without a sidewalk. Once he reaches the intersection at Route 50, Vieceli said the busy traffic is a concern.

“I can’t really see the walk or don’t walk sign other than I know that it’s there,” he explained. “It’s just not safe.”

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation said staff are closely monitoring Fairfax Connector route performances and will continue to evaluate the service changes.

Meanwhile, FCDOT has a meeting scheduled with Vieceli to discuss his concerns.

Under the new plans, the county created a new hub for the buses at the Monument Drive Transit Center where customers can choose from 800 free parking spaces.