Opponents of I-95 ramp continuing to press for pollution monitoring
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| Pylons for the ramp are under construction. |
After months of trying to get government officials to halt
construction of a ramp on Interstate 95 between the Edsall Road and Route 236
exits, members of the citizen advocacy group Concerned Residents of Landmark are
disappointed that the ramp is being built, but “we haven’t given up,” said
Landmark Mews resident Mary Hasty.
construction of a ramp on Interstate 95 between the Edsall Road and Route 236
exits, members of the citizen advocacy group Concerned Residents of Landmark are
disappointed that the ramp is being built, but “we haven’t given up,” said
Landmark Mews resident Mary Hasty.
“We realized the ramp will be built,” Hasty said. “We get
that. In the face of that reality, we’re just changing tactics. We never tried
to stop it; the goal was to delay it until an environmental study could be
done.”
that. In the face of that reality, we’re just changing tactics. We never tried
to stop it; the goal was to delay it until an environmental study could be
done.”
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| The view of the ramp construction from a car heading north on I-95. |
Concerned Residents had spent about $70,000 on a study that
showed traffic congestion on the ramp would cause toxic levels of air pollution,
including nitrogen dioxide (NO2) 20 times higher than the Environmental
Protection Agency standard. The group wrote met with and wrote letters to federal, state, and
local officials; organized a petition drive; held a rally; and brought
government officials, including Virginia Transportation Commissioner Sean
Connaughton to a meeting at the ramp site.
showed traffic congestion on the ramp would cause toxic levels of air pollution,
including nitrogen dioxide (NO2) 20 times higher than the Environmental
Protection Agency standard. The group wrote met with and wrote letters to federal, state, and
local officials; organized a petition drive; held a rally; and brought
government officials, including Virginia Transportation Commissioner Sean
Connaughton to a meeting at the ramp site.
Concerned Residents’ goal now is to get funding for a
baseline study to determine current air quality and conduct air quality
monitoring when the ramp opens. “If the ramp doesn’t result in a spike in
pollution, we’ll be happy as clams,” Hasty said. If there is an increase in
pollution, the group will urge the Virginia Department of Transportation
to undertake mitigation efforts.
baseline study to determine current air quality and conduct air quality
monitoring when the ramp opens. “If the ramp doesn’t result in a spike in
pollution, we’ll be happy as clams,” Hasty said. If there is an increase in
pollution, the group will urge the Virginia Department of Transportation
to undertake mitigation efforts.
According to Hasty, there are high-tech materials that can
be embedded in roads, soundwalls, and buildings that can neutralize pollutants.
She also suggested VDOT could limit the number of cars on the ramp or even move
it. She said VDOT had indicated it would try to push the high-occupancy toll
lanes to Seminary Road or even farther north. The ramp is needed for drivers to
transition from those lanes to the regular lanes.
be embedded in roads, soundwalls, and buildings that can neutralize pollutants.
She also suggested VDOT could limit the number of cars on the ramp or even move
it. She said VDOT had indicated it would try to push the high-occupancy toll
lanes to Seminary Road or even farther north. The ramp is needed for drivers to
transition from those lanes to the regular lanes.
Concerned Residents is working with Del. Charnelle Herring’s
office to get the state legislature to fund the monitoring study and hopes to
get other lawmakers on board.
office to get the state legislature to fund the monitoring study and hopes to
get other lawmakers on board.
After the meeting with April 26 meeting with Connaughton, Hasty sent a
letter to Gov. Robert McDonnell on behalf of Concerned Residents stating, “we
were disappointed that our legitimate concerns regarding the toxic corridor
this project will create were not given proper consideration” and requesting a
meeting.
letter to Gov. Robert McDonnell on behalf of Concerned Residents stating, “we
were disappointed that our legitimate concerns regarding the toxic corridor
this project will create were not given proper consideration” and requesting a
meeting.
Connaughton responded two months later, stating the height
of the sound walls will be increased. “He totally blew off our concerns,” Hasty
said. “Our concerns are with public health, not noise.”
of the sound walls will be increased. “He totally blew off our concerns,” Hasty
said. “Our concerns are with public health, not noise.”
Despite the group’s failure to get the project delayed, “we
have no regrets whatsoever,” Hasty said. “It was money well spent. We haven’t
quit. We’re just shifting gears,” although she wishes the was informed about the ramp earlier. “One good thing did come out of this: A lot of us are
more engaged in local issues.”
have no regrets whatsoever,” Hasty said. “It was money well spent. We haven’t
quit. We’re just shifting gears,” although she wishes the was informed about the ramp earlier. “One good thing did come out of this: A lot of us are
more engaged in local issues.”
3 responses to “Opponents of I-95 ramp continuing to press for pollution monitoring”
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bring the HOT lanes to Seminary?!?!?!?!
Didn't VDOT go to war with Arlington County, based on the idea that it was not physically possible to stop them at Seminary – that it was all the way (through Arlington) to the Pentagon or stop them at Edsall. Was that incorrect?
It is physically possible for the lanes to end at Seminary, but not without causing the same kind of problems we anticipate with the lanes ending at Turkeycock Run (Edsall Road). We believe VDOT will eventually push northward to Seminary and beyond for the following reasons:
1. The unacceptable levels of congestion and pollution at Edsall once the ramp opens will force them to do "something."
2. VDOT's Deputy Commissioner openly admitted to CROL nine months ago that VDOT's ultimate plan was to push the lanes to Arlington.
3. Secretary Connaughton stated in a June 3, 2013 letter to CROL that VDOT "will look for solutions north of Turkeycock Run to find solutions to resolve the regional congestion…"
Get ready neighbors to the north because they are coming.
All neighbors north of Edsall Road/Turkeycock Run should be prepared for VDOT plans to move the HOT lanes north — back to the original plan in Arlington County. VDOT officials have indicted that this has been their plan all along.