Transportation will be the launching point for the smart city journey in Falls Church, Va.

This small city of just more than 2 square miles near Washington, D.C., is beginning the first phase of a smart city initiative with Virginia Tech’s Transportation Institute (VTTI) Division of Technology Implementation and the Virginia Department of Transportation. The project will involve traffic management technology modernization and signal upgrades.

“We are introducing modern signal controllers equipped with software designed to meet both current and future roadway needs,” Cindy L. Mester, Falls Church community relations and legislative affairs director, said via email. “These controllers will not only address today’s challenges, but also support the integration of connected and automated vehicles, ensuring that Falls Church is prepared for the transportation technologies of tomorrow.”

The “smart intersection” modernization is the project’s first component, and will update all of the signals on Broad and Washington streets — two major corridors. It will be completed in the fall of 2025. Other project phases include adaptive street lighting, smart parking, and tools to gather and analyze data. The project, to be completed in 2028, is being funded in part by a $10 million state grant managed by the Virginia Department of Transportation. The grant will fund the selection and deployment of a variety of technologies, in a set of categories.

VTTI will serve as “the technology implementer” while also conducting research.

Falls Church “prides itself on being kind of a pedestrian and biking community,” said Mike Mollenhauer, VTTI division director of technology implementation, who will serve as the university’s project lead.

“But they have roadways that have high traffic levels and congestion at various parts of the day,” Mollenhauer said, outlining some of the transportation challenges the city faces. “You want to move vehicles through the system. But you also want to make sure it’s a walkable and bikeable and livable community. And you have to try and strike a balance there, to make sure you aren’t overemphasizing one mechanism over another.”

VTTI will serve as a third-party evaluator for the technologies and assist the city in the design of the urban tech systems, which will then be handed over to the city for its technology officials to manage.

Beyond smart intersections, the project will also explore the deployment of intelligent parking and curb management, adaptive street lighting, community engagement and use of a data dashboard that brings multiple operations into one platform. This, Mollenhauer said, will make system management and operation easier for officials.

One focus will be deploying the technologies in a redevelopment area where new streets and other infrastructure are planned.

“However, as we think about deploying technology for the city, we don’t want them to end up with a patchwork, where you have one technology from a vendor that’s in one part of the city, and then a different technology somewhere else,” he said.

Some of the most “near-term needs” lie in the traffic system, which will get upgrades to traffic signal controllers “so they can interface with some of the smarter technologies that’s coming along,” Mollenhauer said.

“Our central signal management system will empower city staff with innovative tools that allow them to work smarter, not harder,” Mester said. “This system provides centralized command and control capabilities, with real-time alerts prompting staff of issues while providing information on the current health of intersection equipment.”

The new signal technology will be designed and deployed to create a coordinated transportation ecosystem, improving the flow of traffic with adaptive intersections and giving transportation officials new insights for better traffic management and improved safety.

“With smart intersection data, we will have the tools to understand the factors that precipitate conflicts between vulnerable road users and vehicles,” Mester said. “Empowered with this data, we can make informed design decisions to implement countermeasures that result in safer intersections for everyone.”

WASHINGTON – The heat and humidity have returned to the Washington, D.C. region, bringing above average temperatures back to the area even as autumn approaches.

FOX 5’s Taylor Grenda says a Code Orange air quality alert has been issued for the nation’s capital Tuesday with highs in the low-90s expected across the region. The alert means air pollution concentrations in the area may become unhealthy for sensitive groups including children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease, other lung diseases, and the elderly.  The National Weather Service advises to avoid strenuous activity and outdoor exercise while the alert is in effect.

The area should remain dry for most of the day with a brief afternoon thunderstorm possible, Grenda says.

FOX 5’s Tucker Barnes says the hot and humid conditions will peak Wednesday with 100-degree temperatures possible and heat index values that will likely be in the triple digits. 

“The good news is that the heat will be short-lived,” Barnes said. The region will slowly begin to cool off into Thursday as highs drop to near 90 degrees. Friday, temperatures will cool down to nearly 80 degrees.

There will be a chance of showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday night and again over the weekend.

Dozens — maybe hundreds — of ATVs and motorbikes took a long ride from D.C. to Arlington and back, causing quite a commotion Sunday night.

Traffic camera video shows the pack flooding the streets of Arlington, including Wilson Boulevard and North Oak Street. Some of them are seen running a red light in Rosslyn as pedestrians crossed the street.

At one point, Arlington County police arrived to redirect the group. Police said they monitored the motorbikes and ATVs for the safety of pedestrians and motorists. No injuries or property damage was reported. 

Riding the ATVs on public streets is illegal. Police said their investigation is ongoing.

Arlington County police say anyone who sees ATVs on the street should report them.

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