Wednesday, May 30, 2018
I-66 Inside the Beltway Meeting on June 5
 |
Hey, FABB members and friends in the McLean/Tysons and Falls Church area: the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is holding a “Pardon Our Dust” meeting to discuss upcoming construction in your part of the county as part of the I-66 Inside the Beltway project.
For bikers, the most important part of the project is the plan to build a bridge for the Washington & Old Dominion Trail over Route 29 (Lee Highway) as you leave Falls Church and enter Arlington. The upcoming construction also will add an additional travel lane to I-66 on a four-mile stretch of eastbound I-66 between the Dulles Connector Road and Fairfax Drive (Exit 71) and connect two existing ramps at the I-66 and Route 7 interchange to allow direct access from eastbound I-66 to the West Falls Church Metro Station.
Construction is just now getting underway. Please plan to attend and speak up for making the W&OD bridge the best it can be. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 5, 2018, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Yorktown High School, 5200 Yorktown Boulevard, in Arlington.
Labels: falls church, i-66 inside the beltway, lee highway, route 29, w&od trail
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
W&OD Trail Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge Over Rt. 29 Meeting
 |
| Map courtesy of VDOT |
As part of the Transform 66 Inside the Beltway Eastbound Widening Project, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will host a public meeting on the W&OD Trail pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Rt. 29 on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Yorktown High School, 5200 Yorktown Boulevard, Arlington. This is a follow-up meeting to present a bridge option that was developed based on public input received during the planning workshop held on April 5, 2017.
VDOT staff will be available to discuss the project and answer questions between 6:00-6:30 p.m. and will then give a short presentation on the proposal. This is another great opportunity for cyclists who use the W&OD (and isn't that just about everyone) to provide input to the important infrastructure addition. Please mark your calendars and plan on being there.
If you unable to attend the meeting you can email your comments or questions to Transform66@VDOT.Virginia.gov or send written comments to Ms. Amanda J. Baxter, Special Projects Development Manager, VDOT Northern Virginia District, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030. Please reference "W&OD Trail Bridge" in the subject line. Comments must be submitted by May 18, 2017.
Labels: i-66 inside the beltway, rt.29 bridge, vdot, w&od trail
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Reminder: W&OD Trail Bridge Over Rt. 29 Meeting This Wednesday
Just a quick reminder that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will host a planning workshop this Wednesday, 5 April, on the W&OD Trail Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge over U.S. Route 29 (Lee Highway) project. The workshop will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m., at Yorktown High School, 5200 Yorktown Boulevard, Arlington.
FABB members and others interested in supporting this critical improvement to the W&OD Trail are encouraged to attend and make their views known.
Labels: i-66 inside the beltway, w&od trail
Friday, January 27, 2017
Support a W&OD Trail Bridge Over Lee Highway
 |
| VDOT rendering of W&OD Trail bridge |
The project will be done as part of a design-build contract, so the design is still up in the air. The at-grade crossing will remain after the bridge is build since people who are frequenting the nearby businesses will still want to cross Lee Highway without having to do a long detour to get up onto the bridge.
If you support the bridge over Lee Highway, the Arlington Board needs to hear from you ASAP.
The Easy Option: Email the County Board at countyboard@arlingtonva.us. It doesn't have to be long.
[Sample message: I am writing to express my support for the VDOT proposed bridge for the W&OD trail over Lee Highway as part of the Widening I-66 Inside the Beltway project. This would improve safety for trail users as well as reduce problems for motorists transiting the crossing area. I urge VDOT to insure that the bridge is included in the final plans. Construction of the bridge will offer significant safety improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians at this very congested intersection.]
The More Impactful Option: Come out to the County Board Meeting THIS SATURDAY and sign-up to speak on agenda item #37. The Virginia Department of Transportations Transform I-66 Inside the Beltway: Environmental Assessment for the widening of I-66 from the Dulles Connector to Fairfax Drive.
This grade-separated crossing is called for in the bicycle element of the Master Transportation Plan. It is important for safety now and will be even more important with the growing volume of turning cars coming as part of the I-66 widening. This intersection has been the location of at least 8 bike & ped crashes in recent years.
You can also submit comments online through VDOT’s comment form, or send an email to Transform66@VDOT.Virginia.gov . Be sure to reference “Transform 66 Inside the Beltway Eastbound Widening” in the subject line. The W&OD bridge is included in the proposed build scenario for the I-66 Inside the Beltway Widening Project. The proposal is included in the preliminary design plans and final Environmental Assessment (see page 3-42 of the report) unveiled at public hearings hosted by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in early December.
Thanks to Chris Slatt of the Arlington BAC for the alert.
FABB also sent the following letter to the Arlington County Board of Supervisors:
Dear Arlington Board of Supervisors and VDOT:
We are writing to express our support for the VDOT proposed bridge for the W&OD trail over Lee Highway as part of the Widening I-66 Inside the Beltway project. This would improve safety for trail users as well as reduce problems for motorists transiting the crossing area.
The trail system in Northern Virginia, from Arlington's bridges and tunnels to Fairfax's CCT, were planned for and invested in resulting in an excellent option for recreation and getting around safely without a car. The numerous grade-separated crossings allow users to avoid dangerous intersections and make the trail system an important resource for all.
We urge VDOT to ensure the bridge is included in the final plans. Its construction will offer significant safety improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians at this very congested intersection. Building such a facility not only provides for the safe transit of it's current residents but will allow Northern Virginia to attract new ones and continue to be a desirable place to live and work.
Thank you for your time.
Regards
Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling - Board of Directors
Jeff Anderson - President
Sonya Breehey - Vice President
Steve Ward - Secretary
Howard Albers - Treasurer
Katie Kelly - At Large
Bruce Wright - At Large
Douglas Stewart - At Large
We are writing to express our support for the VDOT proposed bridge for the W&OD trail over Lee Highway as part of the Widening I-66 Inside the Beltway project. This would improve safety for trail users as well as reduce problems for motorists transiting the crossing area.
The trail system in Northern Virginia, from Arlington's bridges and tunnels to Fairfax's CCT, were planned for and invested in resulting in an excellent option for recreation and getting around safely without a car. The numerous grade-separated crossings allow users to avoid dangerous intersections and make the trail system an important resource for all.
We urge VDOT to ensure the bridge is included in the final plans. Its construction will offer significant safety improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians at this very congested intersection. Building such a facility not only provides for the safe transit of it's current residents but will allow Northern Virginia to attract new ones and continue to be a desirable place to live and work.
Thank you for your time.
Regards
Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling - Board of Directors
Jeff Anderson - President
Sonya Breehey - Vice President
Steve Ward - Secretary
Howard Albers - Treasurer
Katie Kelly - At Large
Bruce Wright - At Large
Douglas Stewart - At Large
Labels: i-66 inside the beltway, W and OD Trail
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Public Hearings on Transform 66 Inside the Beltway Eastbound Widening Project
On Monday and Wednesday the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will host hearings to allow the public to review and provide comments on the preliminary design plans and Environmental Assessment for the Transform 66 Inside the Beltway Eastbound Widening Project. The project involves adding an eastbound travel lane on I-66 from just east of the Dulles Connector Road (Route 267) to Fairfax Drive/Glebe Road (Exit 71).
The hearings will be held as follows:
Monday, December 5, 2016
Washington-Lee High School Cafeteria
1301 N. Stafford Street, Arlington, VA 22201
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School Cafetorium
7130 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043
All hearing times are from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m., with a brief presentation beginning at 7 p.m.
If unable to attend, you can review project information and leave comments at www.Transform66.org.
Labels: i-66 inside the beltway, vdot
Monday, April 4, 2016
Transform 66 Inside the Beltway Open House and Public Hearing, May 5th
The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) is holding an open house at 6:00pm and public hearing at 7:00 pm on Thursday, May 5, 2016, in the First Floor Conference Room at 2300 Wilson Boulevard in Arlington. NVTC is seeking public input on the multimodal components submitted for FY 2017 funding consideration as part of the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT's) Transform 66 Inside the Beltway Project.
As reported in the Washington Post today, the multimodal components consist of 19 programs, including enhanced bike-sharing services, which total up to $42.7 million in proposed spending. The comment period starts on 5 April. After receiving these comments and the input from the public hearing, the commission will vote on which projects to advance using toll revenues from the Transform 66 Inside the Beltway Project.
The principal objective of the project is to select and fund multimodal components that meet the improvement goals, which are to (1) move more people, (2) enhance transportation connectivity, (3) improve transit service, (4) reduce roadway congestion and (5) increase travel options. The improvement goals will benefit the users of the portion of I-66 between I-495 (the Capital Beltway) and U.S. Route 29 in the Rosslyn area of Arlington County.
For more information, you can visit www.novatransit.org/i66multimodal, call NVTC at 703-NVTC-321 (703-688-2321) or email NVTC at i66multimodal@nvtdc.org.
Labels: hearings, i-66 inside the beltway, northern virginia transportation commission, vdot
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
JOINT STATEMENT on I-66 agreement between Governor McAuliffe and Virginia legislators
by Coalition for Smarter Growth, Southern Environmental Law Center, and Sierra Club – Virginia Chapter
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2016
CONTACT
Stewart Schwartz, Coalition for Smarter Growth, (703) 599-6437
Trip Pollard, Southern Environmental Law Center, (804) 318-7484
RICHMOND, VA -- Three leading smart growth, conservation, and transportation reform advocacy groups released the following joint statement on the announced agreement between Governor McAuliffe and state legislators on I-66 inside the Beltway:
Our organizations have supported the Governor’s package of transit, HOV, and tolls for I-66 inside the Beltway as a far more effective approach than widening. This package of solutions will move 40,000 more people through the corridor in the peak hours faster and more reliably, and it won the support of Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church, and the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission.
Therefore, we are deeply disappointed by legislators of both parties who have pressed to undo this effective demand-management and people-moving package in favor of a widen-first approach. In doing so, the legislators have failed to understand the settled science of induced traffic where widened roads in metropolitan areas quickly fill up again. They also failed to understand the benefits of funding transit through the toll revenues, and the effectiveness of the package in moving more people through the corridor during peak hours.
We're grateful to the Governor for fighting for the package of solutions he has championed for I-66 inside the Beltway. Although we are very disappointed that the widening is being accelerated before more effective solutions are given the opportunity to work, the agreement reflects a political compromise. That said, we urge the Governor and local governments to accelerate the funding and implementation of transit and supportive ride-matching and transit marketing necessary to ensure we maximize the number of people using transit and carpooling before the widening takes effect in 2019.
We urge legislators to understand that an economically successful region like ours cannot build our way out of congestion through highway expansion. That widening is just a band-aid with an increasing cost to people’s homes, neighborhoods, schools, parks, and health.
We have long made the case that investment in transit and smart growth, which can be coupled with road and parking pricing, is the most effective approach to addressing traffic congestion in the near, medium, and long term. Creating a network of walkable, transit-oriented centers and communities allows us to maximize walking, biking, and transit trips, while minimizing driving. It reduces the sprawling development which is the chief contributor to our traffic congestion, and creates the types of communities so in demand today.
Finally, it is important to recognize that Arlington County’s internationally recognized success in coupling transit-oriented development (TOD) with transit investment has done more to reduce regional traffic congestion than any other jurisdiction or any highway expansion in Northern Virginia, while increasing the region’s economic competitiveness. Arlington’s success is a compelling case for why we should continue to maximize our investment in transit and TOD across Northern Virginia rather than widen highways all the way to DC.
The Coalition for Smarter Growth is the leading organization in the Washington DC region dedicated to making the case for smart growth. Its mission is to promote walkable, inclusive, and transit-oriented communities, and the land use and transportation policies needed to make those communities flourish. Learn more at smartergrowth.net.
The Southern Environmental Law Center is a regional nonprofit using the power of the law to protect the health and environment of the Southeast (Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama). Founded in 1986, SELC's team of over 60 legal experts represent more than 100 partner groups on issues of climate change and energy, air and water quality, forests, the coast and wetlands, transportation, and land use. Learn more at SouthernEnvironment.org.
The Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club is 15,000 members strong. We are your friends and neighbors working to build healthy, livable communities, and to conserve and restore our natural environment. Learn more at sierraclub.org/virginia.
Labels: coalition for smarter growth, i-66 inside the beltway, mcauliffe, sierra club, southern environmental law center
