Landmark area residents asked to vote on sound walls along Interstate 95
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| Trees have already been cut down to make way for the ramp. |
People who live along Interstate 95 between the Edsall Road and Duke
Street exits are being asked to vote on whether they want sound walls
constructed between their homes and the highway as part of a project to build
a ramp along that stretch of road.
Representatives from VDOT and Fluor-Lane, the company
building the express lanes and ramp, described the sound wall project at a
meeting for residents of the Overlook, Edsall Gardens, the Olympus, and other communities
Feb. 7 at Bren Mar Elementary School. A similar meeting was held for Landmark Mews residents last week.
building the express lanes and ramp, described the sound wall project at a
meeting for residents of the Overlook, Edsall Gardens, the Olympus, and other communities
Feb. 7 at Bren Mar Elementary School. A similar meeting was held for Landmark Mews residents last week.
Many people from those communities are also concerned about
high levels of pollution caused by increased traffic congestion as cars exit the
I-95 express lanes, which are restricted to high-occupancy vehicles and motorists
willing to pay a toll. The express lanes end near Turkeycock Run, so motorists will
use the ramp to access the regular lanes.
high levels of pollution caused by increased traffic congestion as cars exit the
I-95 express lanes, which are restricted to high-occupancy vehicles and motorists
willing to pay a toll. The express lanes end near Turkeycock Run, so motorists will
use the ramp to access the regular lanes.
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| Kohler of VDOT explains the proposed sound walls. |
An independent study commissioned by the Overlook community found
levels of the pollutant nitrogen dioxide would be 10 to 20 times higher than the
EPA standard. VDOT is contesting those findings, but a grassroots group called Concerned Residents of Landmark, says VDOT’s environmental impact study was not done properly as required by law.
levels of the pollutant nitrogen dioxide would be 10 to 20 times higher than the
EPA standard. VDOT is contesting those findings, but a grassroots group called Concerned Residents of Landmark, says VDOT’s environmental impact study was not done properly as required by law.
“We’re trying to publicize the issue and get the other
communities involved,” said Overlook resident Sumiye Okubo, one of the founders
of Concerned Residents of Landmark. Members of the group are seeking meetings with and
writing letters to Gov. Robert McDonnell, Virginia Transportation
Commissioner Sean Connaughton, state legislators, members
of Congress, and Fairfax County and City of Alexandria officials. The group wants the ramp
project halted until the health risks can be fully assessed.
communities involved,” said Overlook resident Sumiye Okubo, one of the founders
of Concerned Residents of Landmark. Members of the group are seeking meetings with and
writing letters to Gov. Robert McDonnell, Virginia Transportation
Commissioner Sean Connaughton, state legislators, members
of Congress, and Fairfax County and City of Alexandria officials. The group wants the ramp
project halted until the health risks can be fully assessed.
The Feb. 7 meeting was restricted to the sound wall, though, and
the presenters declined to talk about the air pollution issue.
the presenters declined to talk about the air pollution issue.
Site preparation for the ramp has already begun.
Construction equipment has been brought to the area, and lots of trees have already
been removed. The ramp is scheduled to be completed by December 2014. John
Heffley, project manager for Fluor-Lane, said the sound walls should be
completed before the ramp opens.
Construction equipment has been brought to the area, and lots of trees have already
been removed. The ramp is scheduled to be completed by December 2014. John
Heffley, project manager for Fluor-Lane, said the sound walls should be
completed before the ramp opens.
VDOT has proposed concrete sound walls on the VDOT right of
way along both sides of I-395 between Edsall Road and Duke Street. The walls would
be 14 to 16 feet high, depending on the terrain.
way along both sides of I-395 between Edsall Road and Duke Street. The walls would
be 14 to 16 feet high, depending on the terrain.
Paul Kohler, noise
abatement manager at VDOT, gave a technical presentation on decibel levels. In
determining whether a sound wall is warranted, VDOT uses a formula to predict
traffic noise levels in the future that considers projected traffic volume,
vehicle speed, traffic composition (cars vs. trucks), existing geographical
barriers, terrain, and the location of homes.
abatement manager at VDOT, gave a technical presentation on decibel levels. In
determining whether a sound wall is warranted, VDOT uses a formula to predict
traffic noise levels in the future that considers projected traffic volume,
vehicle speed, traffic composition (cars vs. trucks), existing geographical
barriers, terrain, and the location of homes.
People who live within a certain distance of the highway will
have a chance to vote on they want the wall or not. Voting will be done in four separate
sections. One section of residents might want a wall, while another area could
vote against it, resulting in a wall along just part of that stretch of road.
have a chance to vote on they want the wall or not. Voting will be done in four separate
sections. One section of residents might want a wall, while another area could
vote against it, resulting in a wall along just part of that stretch of road.
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| The section of I-95 affected by the ramp. |
Within a section, each house identified as being subject to
a certain increase in noise when the ramp is completed will have one vote. People
who live on the street closest to the ramp will definitely have a chance to
vote. People in the third or fourth row from the wall probably won’t. Sixty-two
households in the section that participated in the Feb. 7 will be asked to
vote.
a certain increase in noise when the ramp is completed will have one vote. People
who live on the street closest to the ramp will definitely have a chance to
vote. People in the third or fourth row from the wall probably won’t. Sixty-two
households in the section that participated in the Feb. 7 will be asked to
vote.
For the wall to be built, at least 50 percent of eligible households will need to vote
for it. More weight will be given to people living
closest to the wall, though, and property owners’ votes will count more than
votes by renters. People who don’t vote will be counted as “yes” votes. Those
eligible to vote can do so at public meetings or by mail. Ballots are due Feb.
25.
for it. More weight will be given to people living
closest to the wall, though, and property owners’ votes will count more than
votes by renters. People who don’t vote will be counted as “yes” votes. Those
eligible to vote can do so at public meetings or by mail. Ballots are due Feb.
25.
Several people at the meeting complained about the loss of
trees. One resident said nearly an acre of foliage will be removed. The VDOT
officials weren’t able to say how much landscaping will be done when the
project is finished.
trees. One resident said nearly an acre of foliage will be removed. The VDOT
officials weren’t able to say how much landscaping will be done when the
project is finished.
Overlook resident Debbie Filippi said, “This is about our homes.
This is about our community. This is about our life. I’m disappointed we don’t
have answers. You’re taking away our woods and our sense of suburbia.”
This is about our community. This is about our life. I’m disappointed we don’t
have answers. You’re taking away our woods and our sense of suburbia.”
Ann Stone, who also lives in Overlook noted that houses
along Winter View Drive were built closer to the highway than they should have
been under the building code. “We’ve already been screwed by a developer who
got a waiver he shouldn’t have gotten,” she said.
along Winter View Drive were built closer to the highway than they should have
been under the building code. “We’ve already been screwed by a developer who
got a waiver he shouldn’t have gotten,” she said.
Why let the residents who are impacted have a say whether or not this project is needed?
Instead the governor jammed this project through with no public comment period, no input from Arlington or Fairfax, just to appease his home builder donors in exurbs like Fredericksburg and Woodbridge.
Another monstrosity to the gods of sprawl, instead of focusing on good land use and yet another reason why VDOT no longer is a beneficial party to the needs of our County.
Tysons Engineer is absolutely right. VDOT has been totally unresponsive to the concerns of residents of the Landmark area; in particular, about the dangerous levels of pollution and the increased traffic congestion that will result from the Edsall/Duke St ramp that is being built. VDOT has not considered the health of the surrounding communities. And, by the way, sound walls cannot protect against air pollution, or water pollution.
This is a government disaster not unlike the hacks in China that decide what they are going to do and destroy neighborhoods for the good of a few. This is like going back in time 60 years ago.
Hello world, the capital of United States has the stupidest people on the planet telling everyone else how they should live. Hint, why don't you start thinking before you shovel your crap around!
Build the wall AND replant trees – who says you have to leave the land fallow, there are tons of trees that will gladly naturally fill in that space, just takes time.