ACT: SUPPORT A FULL AND FAIR STUDY OF I-66 IN ARLINGTON
Levy.Dave at epamail.epa.gov
Levy.Dave at epamail.epa.gov
Tue Mar 13 16:42:06 CST 2001
"Allen J.
Muchnick" ACT: SUPPORT A FULL AND FAIR STUDY OF I-66 IN ARLINGTON
<muchnick at CapA
ccess.org>
03/13/1973
02:27 PM
This alert on the proposed widening of I-66 in Arlington is focused on a
TCC meeting this Thursday evening (3/15) and is mostly intended for
Northern Virginians sympathetic with smart growth from outside of
Arlington. Please forward to sympathetic associates outside of Arlington,
but if you're not busy doing that, feel free to contact the TCC members
yourself.
This alert omits an issue of great concern to cyclists; i.e., the
likelihood that up to four miles of the Custis Trail and up to one mile
of the W&OD Trail could be severely degraded if not totally obliterated
by the widening of I-66. Of course, any proposed widening of I-66 must
evaluate and mitigate any adverse impacts on these regional bikeways.
Allen Muchnick
muchnick at capaccess.org, 703-237-8967
============================================================================
ENSURE A FULL AND FAIR STUDY OF I-66 INSIDE THE BELTWAY:
PLEASE CALL, FAX, AND/OR EMAIL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE(S)
ON THE TRANSPORTATION COORDINATING COUNCIL (TCC) TODAY.
(Full details are below. The deadline for action is COB Thursday, 3/15/01)
The Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation
<http://www.acstnet.org>, a grassroots citizens organization, asks for
your help in ensuring a full and fair study of improving the capacity of
I-66 inside the Capital Beltway.
At the instigation of Congressman Frank Wolf and Governor Jim Gilmore,
the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has been allocated $5
million to design two additional travel lanes for I-66 inside the
Beltway. Arlington's elected officials have asked VDOT to broaden this
study to 1) evaluate various feasible, less costly, less destructive, and
more permanent alternatives to lane additions and 2) to conduct a full
Environmental Impact Study for any substantial freeway widening.
A full and fair study of alternatives could avoid an expensive--and
likely unnecessary--freeway expansion that would exacerabate Northern
Virginia's traffic congestion, divert hundreds of millions of dollars of
scarce transportation construction funds from higher priorities, squander
the multi-billion-dollar public investment to build and expand Metrorail
in Northern Virginia, and require higher local taxpayer subsidies for
Metrorail operations due to depressed farebox collections.
BACKGROUND ON THE I-66 STUDY
In 1999, Congressman Wolf, whose district lies west of Arlington, tried
to abrogate the 1977 agreement between the USDOT and the Commonwealth of
Virginia that finally allowed I-66 to be built inside the Capital Beltway
over Arlington's entrenched and protracted opposition. That agreement
limited the width of I-66 in Arlington to 4 travel lanes, provided for a
parallel Metrorail line and metered entrance ramps, banned low-occupancy
vehicles during rush hours in the peak direction, prohibited commercial
trucks at all hours, and included noise abatement, a parallel shared-use
path in a park-like setting, and frequent overpasses and underpasses
connecting neighborhoods.
In 2000, VDOT's Commonwealth Transportation Board earmarked $5 million of
federal-aid highway money in the Virginia Transportation Development Plan
(aka Six-Year Plan) to do "preliminary engineering" for widening I-66
inside the Capital Beltway to six lanes. In February 2001, VDOT asked
the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) to add
the I-66 study to regional transportation plans (the recently updated
25-year Constrained Long-Range Plan and 6-year Transportation Improvement
Program) for the very first time. The TPB's 30-day comment period on
these proposed plan amendments will close on March 23, and the TPB will
vote on the matter on April 18.
Meanwhile, during the 2001 session of the Virginia General Assembly and at
the Transportation Coordinating Council for Northern Virginia (TCC),
Arlington's elected officials have been asking VDOT to broaden its funded
study to a full and fair evaluation of all feasible alternatives to
widening and to establish a purpose and need for any freeway widening in
accordance with federally mandated project planning requirements,
including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Northern Virginia is commiting to spend *billions* of dollars to build two
Metrorail extensions to the outer suburbs from Arlington's I-66 corridor:
1) Dulles Rail, a spur rail line through Tysons Corner and continuing
beyond Dulles Airport, and 2) an Orange Line extension out I-66 to
Centreville. A third rail proposal, the Purple Line (or Beltway rail), is
farther up the project pipeline, but would also bring many additional
passengers to the Orange Line in Arlington, and some feel the Purple Line
should be prioritized over VDOT's proposed widening of the Beltway.
Widening I-66 would divert scarce transportation construction funds from
higher priorities, would increase taxpayer costs to operate Metrorail by
reducing rail ridership and farebox collections, and would never be
accomplished before the Dulles and I-66 Metrorail extensions are in
place. Moreover, the current "reverse commute" congestion on I-66 in
Arlington could be fixed almost immediately, cheaply, effectively, and
permanently by 1) making the rush-hour SOV bans bi-directional while 2)
enhancing commuter bus service between DC and the Tysons-Dulles corridor,
via I-66 in Arlington, to improve commuting in both directions, at least
until Dulles Rail becomes operational in 2006.
During the recent Virginia General Assembly session, a study resolution,
SJR 411, co-patroned by Arlington's legislators, was passed by both
houses (with amendments) on February 22
<http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?011+ful+SJ411ER>. The final
version of SJR 411 asks VDOT to evaluate the following alternatives to
widening I-66 in Arlington County from four to six lanes: 1) focused
traffic flow improvements, 2) banning single-occupant vehicles (SOVs)
during rush hours in the "reverse commute" direction (I-66 inside the
Capital Beltway has always banned SOVs during rush hours in the "normal
commute" direction to support uncongested multi-occupant traffic), and 3)
improving bus and rail service in the short- and long-term. A feasible
and effective option, the installation of automated peak-period tolls,
and a directive to conduct a full Environmental Impact Study, were
deleted from SJR 411 in the Virginia Senate.
Until very recently, VDOT provided almost no information on its plans for
the I-66 study. On March 9, VDOT promised to go beyond compliance with
SJR 411 and to furnish a written study proposal at the Transportation
Coordinating Council meeting on Thursday, March 15. Please ask your
representatives on the TCC to support Arlington County's request for a
full and fair evaluation of alternatives to widening. You can also show
support by attending the March 15 TCC meeting which will be held at 7:30
PM on the Annandale Campus of Northern Virginia Community College, 8333
Little River Turnpike, in the Community Cultural Center's Forum Room.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Please ask your local and state representatives on the TCC (see list
below) to support Arlington County's request that VDOT's $5 million study
of I-66 inside the Beltway:
1) begin with a thorough and fair evaluation of all feasible alternatives
to widening (HOV restrictions in the reverse commute direction;
peak-period automated tolls; bus service enhancements; and rail
extensions in the Dulles, I-66, and Beltway Corridors),
2) ensure the identification and preservation of adequate right-of-way in
the I-66 median for future Metrorail operations (including the three rail
extensions mentioned above), and
3) require a full Environmental Impact Statement (not a less rigorous
Environmental Assessment) for any substantial travel lane additions),
including an evaluation of the safety impacts of narrowing or eliminating
the present shoulders to create travel lanes.
Arlington County's request is in the best interests of the outer
jurisdictions because:
1) an inability to cost-effectively widen Metro's Orange Line would
hinder future rail service along the I-66, Dulles, and Beltway corridors
and thus worsen highway congestion on I-66, Rte 50, the Dulles Toll Rd,
Rt 7, the Beltway and other highways;
2) the widening of I-66 in Arlington would divert hundreds of millions of
dollars in scarce highway funds from higher priority projects in both the
outer counties and along Rtes 50 and 27 in Arlington, major highways
leading from Fairfax County to DC; and
3) the widening of I-66 would expose motorists to years of construction
delays that may exceed any period of congestion relief.
Thank you for your help. ACST's email address in <acst at postmark.net>
========================================================================
TRANSPORTATION COORDINATING COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP (as of December, 2000)
CHAIRMAN: J. Kenneth Klinge, CTB Northern Virginia Representative*
NORTHERN VIRGINIA LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS
ALEXANDRIA CITY COUNCIL, 703-838-4500, Fax 703-838-6433
o Mayor Kerry J. Donley, 703-838-4500, 703-823-3359(H), Fax 703-838-6433,
Email <mayoralx at aol.com>
o Council Member David Speck, 703-838-4500, 703-370-1666(H), Fax
703-838-6433, Email <dspeck at nicom.com>
ARLINGTON COUNTY BOARD, 703-228-3130, Fax 703-228-7430, Email
<countyboard at co.arlington.va.us>
o Member Paul Ferguson, 703-228-3130, 703-824-0891 (H), Fax 703-228-7430
o Member Jay Fisette, 703-228-3130, 703-524-3489 (H), Fax 703-228-7430
o Member Christopher Zimmerman, 703-228-3130, 703-979-7559 (H), Fax
703-228-7430
DUMFRIES
o Mayor Christopher K. Brown
FAIRFAX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
o Chairman Katherine K. Hanley (At-Large), 703-324-2321, 703-573-3020
(H), Fax 703-324-3955, Email <chairman at co.fairfax.va.us>,
<pierce111 at erols.com>
o Sharon Bulova (Braddock District), 703-425-9300, 703-323-1283 (H), Fax
703-503-9583, Email <braddock at co.fairfax.va.us>
o Gerald Connolly (Providence District), 703-506-6946, 703-204-0092 (H),
Fax 703-207-3541, Email <provdist at co.fairfax.va.us>
o Catherine Hudgins (Hunter Mill District), 703-478-0283, Fax
703-471-6847, Email <huntermill at co.fairfax.va.us>
o Gerald Hyland (Mt. Vernon District), 703-780-7518, Fax 703-780-1491,
Email <mtvernon at co.fairfax.va.us>
o Dana Kauffman (Lee District), 703-971-6262, 703-768-0142 (H), Fax
703-971-3032, Email <leedist at co.fairfax.va.us>
o Elaine McConnell (Springfield District), 703-451-8873, 703-451-8381
(H), Fax 703-451-3047, Email
o Stuart Mendelsohn (Dranesville District), 703-356-0551, 703-759-2627
(H), Fax 703-821-4275, Email
FAIRFAX CITY COUNCIL
o Mayor John Mason, 703-385-7850, 703-273-5325 (H), Fax 703-385-7811,
Email <jmason at ci.fairfax.va.us>
FALLS CHURCH CITY COUNCIL
o Member David Snyder, 703-248-5014, 703-241-0419 (H), Fax 703-248-5146
HERNDON
o Mayor Thomas Rust
LEESBURG
o Mayor BJ Webb
LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 703-777-0204, Fax 703-777-0421,
Email <loudounbos at aol.com>
o Chairman Scott York (At-Large), 703-430-3728 (O), 703-430-7511 (H),
Email <skyfriends at aol.com>
o William Bogard (Sugarland Run District), 703-246-9422 (O), 703-444-3352
(H), Email <bogardb at erols.com?>
MANASSAS CITY COUNCIL
o Member Harry J. (Hal) Parrish, II, 703-257-8212, Fax 703-335-0042
MANASSAS PARK CITY COUNCIL
o Member William Wren
PRINCE WILLIAM BOARD OF COUNTY SUPERVISORS
o Chairman, Sean T. Connaughton (At-Large), 703-792-4640, Fax
703-792-7484, Email <SConnaughton at pwcgov.org>
o Hilda M. Barg (Woodbridge District), 703-792-4646, 703-221-7980 (H),
Fax 703-792-4993, Email <HBarg at pwcgov.org>
o John D. Jenkins (Neabsco District), 703-792-4668, 703-680-2021 (H), Fax
703-792-7484, Email <JJenkins at pwcgov.org>
o Maureen S. Caddigan (Dumfries District), 703-792-4645, 703-670-9157
(H), Fax 703-792-7484, Email <MCaddigan at pwcgov.org>
VIENNA
o Mayor Jane Seeman
GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
o Sen. R. Edward Houck (17, Spotsylvania), 540-786-2782, Fax
540-891-8805, Email <ehouck at fls.infi.net>
o Sen. William C. Mims (33, Leesburg), 703-779-1888, Fax 703-777-4001,
Email <mims at i95.com>
o Sen. Patricia S. Ticer (30, Alexandria), 703-549-5770, Fax
703-739-6761, Email <patsy at tidalwave.net>
o Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple (31, Arlington), 703-538-4097, Fax
703-538-2486, Email <mmwhipple at erols.com>
o Del. James F. Almand (47, Arlington), 703-524-9700, Fax 703-524-5324,
Email <almand47 at fcc.com>
o Del. Richard H. Black (32, Sterling), 703-406-2951, Fax 703-450-2076,
Email <mail at delegateblack.com>
o Del. Roger J. McClure (67, Centreville), 703-968-8348 or 703-684-3995,
Fax 703-838-0031, Email <rmcclure at ix.netcom.com>
o Del. Michele McQuigg (51, Woodbridge), 703-491-2294, Fax 703-551-4924,
Email <michele at mcquigg.com>
o Del. Harry J. Parrish (50, Manassas), 703-367-0505, Fax 703-368-1476,
Email <del.parrish at erols.com>
o Del. John A. "Jack" Rollison, III (52, Woodbridge), 703-690-4368, Fax
703-670-8758
Citizens Advisory Committee
o James Offutt*, Chairman
Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
o Leo J. Bevon*, Director
Virginia Department of Transportation
o Thomas F. Farley*, Northern Virginia District Administrator,
703-383-2451, Fax 703-383-2470
* Ex-officio
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