Meeting Cancellation

As expected, the public forum on I-66 traffic this Saturday has been cancelled. We'll have to save our transportation ideas for another day.

A message from Rep. Frank Wolf says:

Since the announcement of this forum, many of you have e-mailed or called me to share your thoughts and suggestions for improving traffic flow on I-66. I appreciate your taking the time to provide your comments. Citizen involvement is critical in finding ways to improve traffic congestion in the northern Virginia area. Please continue to submit your thoughts on this or any other issues of concern to you, by e-mailing me through my Web site -- wolf.house.gov.

And if you get tired of shoveling this weekend and collapsed trees haven't knocked out your internet connection, you might want to review the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation's most recent study on the I-66 corridor.

Photo credit: Robbie Sproule

Town Hall Meeting on I-66 Traffic

Local politicians including Rep. Frank Wolf and county supervisors Mike Frey and Pat Herrity (all representing the Centreville area and western Fairfax County) are hosting a town hall meeting about traffic on Interstate 66 with a panel of experts.

Wolf has long been a proponent of bus rapid transit, but BRT is a nebulous term so here's his chance to explain exactly what he means and discuss options. Are we talking an Orange Line extension via BRT with Metrorail-like service? Are we talking priority buses that can avoid congestion and bottlenecks? Are we talking something marginally better than the west county Connector buses we have now?

Wolf's press release also mentions:

increasing the use of shoulder lanes, opening the Monument and Stringfellow interchanges by non-HOV vehicles outside of normal HOV hours, and improvements to the interchange at I-66 and the Beltway.

And how about revising high-occupancy vehicle restrictions on the highway, huh? Considering (1) how slow HOV "express" lanes can get and (2) how bad I-66 can be get as soon as HOV restrictions lift, and (3) how long it's been since the last HOV update, we should be at least thinking about better HOV rules.

The public meeting is scheduled for this Saturday (Feb. 3) at 10 am in Chantilly High School. Weather forecasts at present are implying the event is likely to be postponed. But please attend this meeting whenever it is held. Stay tuned for details. The meeting has been cancelled.

Dog Days Roundup

Faster, better buses on I-66 and into the city. The I-66 corridor is part of a regional priority bus network plan taking shape in an attempt to snag federal stimulus money for transportation improvements that can be implemented quickly (i.e. "shovel ready"). Regional planners are putting together a proposal of "phase one" improvements that can be completed by Feb. 17, 2012, and qualify for TIGER grant funds. Rapid bus service on managed lanes on I-66 and I-95 (which could include "trunk line facilities, including new inline stations, and director indirect access to major destinations, including the Pentagon, Tysons Corner, and Franconia/Springfield"), priority bus improvements on the freeway bridges across the Potomac River, and a K Street transitway are on current proposal materials. Planners will finalize the proposal by August and submit for the grant in September.

• Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments: "TPB Votes to Submit Application for Stimulus-Funded Regional Priority Bus Network"
• The Washington Post (June 15): "A Fast Track to a Busway"
• Greater Greater Washington: "'Priority Bus' a Valuable Part of the Transit Mix When Done Right"

Preventing buses from getting stuck in the same traffic as single-occupant vehicles between Route 50 and the beltway would give transit a leg up to consumers, but let's see how this plays out next month.

Wider I-66 with better buses. Rep. Frank Wolf (R) is in the news for what he's pushing in the annual transportation bill that passed the House last week. Wolf wants the following considered: extending the rushour window for usage of the highway's shoulder, spot improvements and widening outside the Beltway, and HOT ramps at Monument Drive and Stringfellow Road. Wolf is also a proponent of bus rapid transit.

• Inside NOVA: "Transportation Bill Could Ease Travel for I-66 Drivers"
• Loudoun Independent: "House Approves $85 Million for Dulles Rail"

The stimulus starts to hit the region. And the Fairfax County Parkway is the local "shovel ready" favorite apparently. Money goes to an interchange over Fair Lakes Parkway (between the existing interchanges at I-66 and Route 50) and an extension past Rolling Road in Springfield to Fort Belvoir, a major mecca for military-related jobs. Metro and VRE are also getting money.

• The Post: "$260 Million Earmarked for Va. Roads, Interchange"
  
• Washington Business Journal: "Virginia to Get $1B in Infrastructure Stimulus"

How many in Centreville commute down I-66 to the Pentagon? What happens when they take their commute down to Fort Belvoir? Rep. Jim Moran (D) says the region's roads and transit network aren't ready the massive military job relocation to come.

• WTOP: "BRAC Move to Fort Belvoir Will Create 'Chaos'"

Chuck a workie (not a sickie) on Aug. 3. Gov. Tim Kaine (D) is promoting Telework Day to encourage more individuals and organizations to consider telecommuting or work-at-home arrangements. Anything that increases business productivity and worker flexibility, such as skipping a long commute whenever possible or avoiding rush hour should be explored. If you need a reason, tell your boss the governor said so.

• WHSV 3: "Kaine Asks Virginians to Telework August 3"
• CommuterPageBlog: "Go Green with Va. and Telework August 3"

Gubernatorial hopefuls vie for Richmond by way of Northern Virginia. Republican Bob McDonnell announced a transportation plan. Democrat Creigh Deeds hasn't released as much detail yet. The two nominees do agree on tax credits for businesses that have telework programs.

• The Fairfax County Times: "Candidates Grapple with Transit Problems"
• Richmond Times-Dispatch: "At Debate, Hopefuls Clash over Road Funds"
• The Post: "As Candidates Ponder Taxes and Traffic, Specifics of Road Proposals Remain Elusive"

Transit fare prices increase across the region. Riding VRE or driving the Dulles Greenway is now pricier. The Dulles Toll Road will likely increase fares soon as well to fund the Metrorail extension. And the Fairfax Connector buses that took over Metrobus routes around Centreville are a tad pricier than the old Metrobus special fare. On the other hand, gas prices are kinda sorta almost low or lower than before at the moment.

• News Channel 8: "VRE Budget Gap Forces Commuters to Pay"
• The Post: "Greenway Revenue, Traffic At Odds"
• The Fairfax County Times: "Hearings Scheduled on Toll Increase"
• Los Angeles Times: "Gasoline prices drop as crude oil hits eight-week low"

A plan to privitize potties fails. The Virginia Department of Transportation is shuttering the rest area off I-66 in Manassas in September; other areas throughout the state already closed down. A number of politicians called for the privitization of the potties by changing the federal law that prohibits such, but the amendment by Rep. Frank Wolf failed in committee.

• VDOT: "Rest Area Closures to Begin July 21"
• The Post: "If Drivers Have to Go, They Have to Go Far"
• WHSV 3: "Amendment to Change Federal Rest Area Law Fails"

And Virginia has a website to keep track of so-called megaprojects in Northern Virginia.