What if YOU could help plan Northern Virginia s transportation future?

Transcription

1 What if YOU could help plan Northern Virginia s transportation future? Photo credits: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority And improve the quality of life in your community -- for yourself, your family, and your neighbors? Photo credits: (left to right)1.jana Lynott, NVTC, Arlington County, Virginia 2.Arlington County DOT, Arlington County, Virginia 3.Jana Lynott, NVTC, Loudoun County, Virginia

2 You can! We will show you how residents can participate in planning the future of Northern Virginia s transportation system for the next twentyfive years through participation in TransAction Photo credits: Arlington County Source: Northern Virginia 2020 Transportation Plan, December, 1999 In 1999, Northern Virginia s elected officials, aided by the contributions of thousands of citizens, mapped out a vision for our region s transportation future. That vision calls for investments in all modes of transportation in ways that support our economy and quality of life. Investments will be fiscally sustainable, promote areas of concentrated growth, manage both demand and capacity, and employ the best technology, joining rail, roadway, bus, air, water, pedestrian, and bicycle facilities into an interconnected network.

3 The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority wants your help in updating the 2020 Transportation Plan. No new major capacity improvements will be added to the TransAction 2030 Plan. What makes this plan different from the current plan is that instead of just LISTING needed improvements, it will PRIORITIZE the recommended system improvements. Data sources: 1.Virginia Department of Transportation 2.Northern Virginia Transportation Commission Now that we have a common vision, how do we make our vision a reality? Photo credits: WMATA, Columbia Pike Revitalization Project

4 That s where YOU come in. We need YOUR help to prioritize Northern Virginia s most pressing transportation needs to help us plan a future that will benefit us all. TransAction 2030 will be that plan. This presentation tells you how. As we all know, transportation affects our quality of life virtually every day of the year, and in many different ways.

5 Long commutes and traffic delays cause increased stress and fatigue Keeping us from spending quality time with our families and communities whether it s a PTA meeting, a child s soccer game, or just having dinner together. Photos: (Clockwise starting left most picture)1.unjam, Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission2.Arlington County DOT 3.office.microsoft.com/clipart/

6 Traffic congestion affects our region s economic vitality. People spend less time shopping and participating in recreational activities that support our local economy and create a better quality of life for everyone. Photo credits: office.microsoft.com/clipart/ And the region is growing. The Washington metropolitan region is projected to add 2 million people and 1.6 million new jobs by Nearly half of the employment and more than half of the population growth is expected to occur in Northern Virginia. Data sources: Reality Check: Envisioning Our Regions Growth, Participant s Guide Book, ULI Washington, February 2, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Round 6.4a Population and Employment Forecasts.

7 Even with new home construction continuing at a strong pace, there will still be more jobs in the region than there are homes for workers. More and more people will commute to jobs in Northern Virginia from outside the region either because they can t find homes in the region, or they can t find homes that they can afford. Photo credit: Skip Brown, Independent Photographer It s no secret that road congestion causes longer commuting times. Recent studies show that the Washington, D.C. region is the third most congested in the nation and suffers from over 125,000 hours per year of traffic delay this translates to over 33 hours per person -- almost a whole week of vacation that the average resident spends sitting in traffic every year! And the situation is only getting worse. Photo credits: The Washington Post, December 28, 2004 Data source: Texas Transportation Institute, 2004 Annual Urban Mobility Report,

8 Demand exceeds capacity on all forms of transportation in our region. Use of Metrorail has grown 30% over the past eight years and use of Metrobus has grown 25% since Photo credits: James A. Parcell, Washington Post Use of Virginia Railway Express (VRE), has grown by 76% since 2000, as roadway commuters flock to the train. Photo credits: Virginia Railway ExpressData source: Virginia Railway Express

9 And our population is aging. In the next 25 years, the senior population is expected to double. Today, 1 in 20 citizens are 65 and older, but by 2030, 1 in 7 are expected to be seniors. Photo credits: Fairfax County DOT Traffic congestion can have a severe impact on our environment -- especially affecting the air we breathe. The Washington Metropolitan Region must attain Federal clean-air standards for smog levels by 2005 and more rigorous standards by 2010, or risk losing Federal transportation funds for both highway and transit investments. Graphic credits: United States Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Partners, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

10 Photo credits: office.microsoft.com/clipart/ Funding is a major challenge for Northern Virginia. The 2020 Plan identified $30 billion in regional transportation needs between 2000 and That 2020 plan showed a $14 billion deficit. However, recent projections by the state have determined that by 2018 the entire state construction budget will be dedicated to maintenance. Without available money to match federal funds, we end up with even less construction money. Because of the funding shortage, it is critical that we receive YOUR ideas about how to BEST SPEND the limited resources we have available. Following, you will find maps and some improvements planned in the eight major corridors in Northern Virginia. Photo: Jana Lynott, NVTC

11 The TransAction 2030 Plan includes the nine jurisdictions of Northern Virginia and will focus on road, transit, bicycle and pedestrian improvements in eight regional corridors: Virginia Route 7 and the Dulles Toll Rd Virginia Route 28 The Loudoun County Parkway/ Tri-County Parkway/Virginia 234/ and Virginia 659 The Fairfax County Parkway The Prince William Parkway I-495 Beltway I-95/I-395-US Route 1 I-66/US Route 29/and US Route 50 The 2020 Plan included numerous transportation improvements. The following slides highlight just a couple of the planned projects for each corridor.

12 Improvements to Virginia Route 7 and the Dulles Toll Road corridor include: The construction of Metrorail from the West Falls Church station to Dulles Airport and Ashburn in Loudoun County; and the addition of six new interchanges on Route 7 between Leesburg and Route 28. Improvements to Route 28 include: Widening Route 28 to six lanes from Manassas Park to Route 29; and Constructing a light rail line from Manassas to Dulles Airport.

13 The Loudoun County Parkway/Tri-County Parkway/Route 234/Route 659 corridor improvements include: Building a new 4 to 6 lane Tri-County Parkway from Route 234 to US Route 50, and Building a new 4-lane North Bypass on Route 234 from I-66 to Route 659. The Fairfax County Parkway improvements include: Widening the Fairfax County Parkway to six lanes from Sunrise Valley Drive to Route 123; and Starting a new Priority Bus service.

14 The Prince William Parkway improvements include: Widening the Prince William County Parkway to six lanes from Liberia Avenue to Minnieville Road; and building HOV lanes from Hoadly Road to I-95. The Beltway improvements include: Widening the Beltway to 8 unrestricted lanes plus two HOV or HOT lanes from I-395 to the Dulles Toll Road; and Extending Metrorail from the Dunn Loring station to Maryland through Tyson s Corner.

15 The Interstate 66 corridor, US Route 29, and US Route 50 improvements include: Extending Metrorail to Centerville; and Widening I-66 from the Beltway to Gainesville, adding two unrestricted lanes and two reversible HOV lanes. And the I-95/I-395/US Route 1 corridor improvements include: Widening US Route 1 to six unrestricted lanes from the Stafford Line to I-495 and adding two HOV lanes from Route 235 north to I-495; And building a Metrorail extension from Springfield to Potomac Mills.

16 Your input is needed to help the NVTA prioritize regional transportation investments. As you begin to prioritize your choices for the most important regional transportation improvements, you should consider what is most important to you such as travel time, travel cost, the environment, reliability, comfort, reduced congestion, increased travel choices, economic vitality, safety, and increased access to jobs and services. Photo credits: To get involved: Visit our project booth at an event in your community including the Falls Church Memorial Day Festival, Celebrate Fairfax, the Alexandria Waterfront Festival, the city of Fairfax 4th of July celebration, and the Loudoun, Prince William, and Arlington County fairs. The project team will also have activities for children at numerous events this summer, We ll also hold a regional public workshop in the Fall, Photo credits: Travesky & Associates

17 But you don t have to wait to provide us with your input. Included on this website is a survey form. This survey form is the initial input that will provide guidance to the project team. By taking the time to complete the survey, you help NVTA members better understand the underlying values and factors that need to be considered when they sit down to establish project priorities. In this way, YOU can help plan Northern Virginia s transportation future by making the tough but important choices that can ultimately provide a better future for all of us.