Fairfax County seeks public input on transportation funding priorities
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| The Seven Corners interchange definitely needs improvement. |
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation has
identified 192 unfunded transportation projects and is seeking public input on
which ones should be the highest priority for funding. FCDOT Director Tom Biesiadny explained the process at the
Seven Corners Business Breakfast Oct. 24.
identified 192 unfunded transportation projects and is seeking public input on
which ones should be the highest priority for funding. FCDOT Director Tom Biesiadny explained the process at the
Seven Corners Business Breakfast Oct. 24.
The landmark transportation bill
passed by the Virginia General Assembly provides significant funding statewide. That measure, plus local and regional funding sources, is
expected to provide an estimated $1.2 billion for Fairfax County transportation
projects through 2020. Those funds cover capital projects and transit
operations, but not ongoing maintenance, which is mostly funded by the state.
passed by the Virginia General Assembly provides significant funding statewide. That measure, plus local and regional funding sources, is
expected to provide an estimated $1.2 billion for Fairfax County transportation
projects through 2020. Those funds cover capital projects and transit
operations, but not ongoing maintenance, which is mostly funded by the state.
The top priorities for funding include projects related to
Tysons redevelopment; improvements connected with the Fort Belvoir expansion;
transit service expansions for Dulles Rail, the South County area, and the I-66
corridor; interchanges and road improvements aligned with the Fairfax County
Comprehensive Plan; spot improvements; countywide transit operating and capital
projects; improvements in activity centers, including Annandale, Bailey’s
Crossroads, Springfield, Reston, McLean, and the Route 1 corridor; and bicycle
and pedestrian facilities.
Four public meetings have been scheduled across the county
for public input on the transportation project priorities. The meeting closest
to the Annandale area is Nov. 4 at Falls Church High School. The other meetings are
Oct. 30 at Hayfield Secondary School in Alexandria, Nov. 13 at the Fairfax
County Government Center in Fairfax, and Nov. 13 at Forest Edge Elementary
School in Reston.
for public input on the transportation project priorities. The meeting closest
to the Annandale area is Nov. 4 at Falls Church High School. The other meetings are
Oct. 30 at Hayfield Secondary School in Alexandria, Nov. 13 at the Fairfax
County Government Center in Fairfax, and Nov. 13 at Forest Edge Elementary
School in Reston.
The meetings will start with an open house at 6:30 p.m. where
people can view project descriptions and maps, followed by a presentation at 7
p.m. and opportunities for public comment and one-on-one discussions with
staff. People can also take an online survey to indicate their top priorities. “We want to see
where there is consensus,” Biesiadny said.
people can view project descriptions and maps, followed by a presentation at 7
p.m. and opportunities for public comment and one-on-one discussions with
staff. People can also take an online survey to indicate their top priorities. “We want to see
where there is consensus,” Biesiadny said.
FCDOT has given each project a benefit/cost ratio score
based on the extent to which they would result in congestion reduction, travel
time savings, and air quality improvements.
based on the extent to which they would result in congestion reduction, travel
time savings, and air quality improvements.
In January 2014, the Board of Supervisors will approve a
list of transportation priorities. In the spring, the FCDOT staff will submit a
proposed funding plan.
list of transportation priorities. In the spring, the FCDOT staff will submit a
proposed funding plan.
The list of 192 unfunded projects includes the following
projects in the Annandale/Mason area. The number at the end of each project is
the benefit/cost ratio; the higher the number, the more cost effective it is. Some
of the pedestrian/bicycle projects don’t have a benefit/cost ratio because the
benefits are considered more subjective.
projects in the Annandale/Mason area. The number at the end of each project is
the benefit/cost ratio; the higher the number, the more cost effective it is. Some
of the pedestrian/bicycle projects don’t have a benefit/cost ratio because the
benefits are considered more subjective.
- Interchange improvements at Seven Corners—This project doesn’t
have a cost or benefit/cost ratio score attached to it because FCDOT is waiting
to see the outcome of the Seven Corners Transportation Study.
- Roadway spot improvements at Backlick Road and Industrial
Road—Construct a left turn lane on northbound Backlick Road and add a sidewalk
along the west side of Backlick, an upgraded pedestrian signal, and drainage
improvements—$2.08 million (1.0).
- Roadway spot improvement on Woodburn Road and Tobin Road—Add
a left turn lane on northbound Woodburn Road at Tobin Road, extend the
sidewalk, and replace the signal with one that includes pedestrian signals—$1.38
million (> 0.3).
- Roadway widening on Woodburn Road from Little River Turnpike
to Gallows Road—Construct an improved two-lane section on Woodburn from Little
River to Tobin Road, widen Woodburn from two to four lanes from Tobin to
Gallows Road, add intersection improvements such as turn lanes and
better signalization, road alignment improvements, and pedestrian and
bicycle facilities—$49.5 million (> 0.2).
- Columbia Pike transit service—revise existing bus service and
implement new bus service to support the operation of the Columbia Pike
Streetcar—$135 million (1.4).
- Route 7 transit study from Tysons to Alexandria—study alternatives
for high-capacity transit in the Leesburg Pike corridor. There is no cost or
benefit/cost ratio associated with this option.
- Pedestrian/bicycle improvements on Route 50—Construct a
pedestrian bridge on the north side of Route 50 over the beltway from Gallows
Road to Fairview Park Drive—$8 million (0.7).
- Pedestrian/bicycle improvements on Route 50—Construct a
walkway on the south side from 8301 Arlington Boulevard to Gallows Road—$700,000
(0.9).
- Pedestrian/bicycle improvements on Backlick Road—Construct a
walkway on the east side of Backlick from Kandel Court to Cindy Lane—$1.1
million (0.7).
- Pedestrian/bicycle improvements on Backlick road—construct a
walkway on the east side of Backlick from Industrial Drive to Hechinger Drive—$2
million (0.6).
- Pedestrian/bicycle improvements on Edsall Road—Install signalized
crosswalks at Montgomery Street—$150,000.
- Pedestrian/bicycle improvements on Edsall Road—Construct a
walkway on the north side of Edsall from Timber Forest Drive to Edsall Gardens
Apartments—$700,000 (0.9).
- Pedestrian/bicycle improvements on Edsall Road—Construct a
walkway on the north side of Edsall Road over I-395 from Cherokee Avenue to
Edsall Gardens Apartments—$4 million (0.7).
- Pedestrian/bicycle improvements on Glen Forest Drive—Construct
a walkway on the south side of Glen Forest Drive from the shopping center on
Route 7 to Glen Forest Elementary School—$1.2 million (0.9).
- Pedestrian/bicycle improvements on Little River Turnpike—Install
signalized crosswalks at Old Columbia Pike/Columbia Road—$250,000.
- Pedestrian/bicycle improvements on Medford Drive—Construct a
walkway on the east side of Medford from Annandale High School to Davian Drive—$400,000
(0.7).
- Pedestrian/bicycle improvements on Peace Valley Lane—Construct
a walkway on the north side of Peace Valley along JEB Stuart High School—$500,000
(1.7).
- Pedestrian/bicycle improvements on Seminary Road—Construct a
walkway on Seminary from north of Magnolia Lane to Colfax Avenue—$1.6 million
(0.9).
- Pedestrian/bicycle improvements on Sleepy Hollow Road—Complete
the missing links on Sleepy Hollow Road from Columbia Pike to Route 7—$4.3
million (0.8).
- Pedestrian/bicycle improvements on Wayne Drive—Construct a
walkway on the south side of Wayne from Gallows Road/Annandale Road to Mason
Crest Elementary School—$600,000 (0.9).
A lot of the projects on the list have low benefit-cost
ratios, but a few have very high ones. A $39.5 million project to extend a
four-lane divided Shirley Gate Road from Braddock Road to the Fairfax County
Parkway in the Braddock and Springfield districts has a ratio of 36.1, for
example, and a $57.9 million project to widen Sully Road from Route 50 to I-66
has a ratio of 24.6.
ratios, but a few have very high ones. A $39.5 million project to extend a
four-lane divided Shirley Gate Road from Braddock Road to the Fairfax County
Parkway in the Braddock and Springfield districts has a ratio of 36.1, for
example, and a $57.9 million project to widen Sully Road from Route 50 to I-66
has a ratio of 24.6.
None of the projects on the list address the congestion on Little River Turnpike in Annandale, although a recommendation to widen Little River from four to six lanes is included in the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan, along with other transportation improvements in central Annandale.
Public opinion could possibly tip the balance where there
are two equally rated projects and a majority of people favor one project and
oppose the other one.
are two equally rated projects and a majority of people favor one project and
oppose the other one.
