Road Day: Fairfax County Parkway

The Fairfax County Parkway has officially been given a new route number, 286 rather than 7100, as evidenced by the elephant-sized signs splashed along the median. I supposed that the signs aren't that big when compared to campaign signs, and you might be forgiven if you merely thought that 2867100 was running for office somewhere in Fairfax County and he assumed you were nearly blind.

Although the signs themselves are a huge waste, I'm definitely onboard with the change, for laziness reasons. It is impossible to refer to the road with its current name or old number in less than six syllables in a way that people will recognize appropriately. Calling it "the parkway" might work for people who live nearby, but I live in Sterling, which is adjacent to Ashburn, where every single paved surface is some kind of parkway (supposedly it evokes class). So, you usually have to speaking it very fast, like an auctioneer selling driving directions, or just direct your guests via other roads.

"Toll Road" is nice and succinct, and is the usual alternative, in spite of the fact that all of Rebecca's friends are cheap and insist upon taking Route 7 to visit us.