City of Fairfax, Virginia City Council Work Session Agenda Item # 4c City Council Meeting 6/2/2015 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council Robert Sisson, City Manager Discussion of I-66 Corridor Improvements Outside the Beltway ISSUE(S): SUMMARY: Review Draft Comment letter to VDOT about the I-66 project. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in coordination with the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is working to improve multimodal mobility along the I-66 corridor. The proposed concept includes widening I-66 outside the Beltway to a total of five lanes in each direction: two Express Lanes (variable toll or free for HOV-3) and three general purpose lanes. A representative from the I-66 Project Team will be at the work session for this discussion. The typical sections that VDOT and DRPT have advanced (Alternatives 2A and 2B) include a flexible barrier (bollards) between the Express Lanes and the general purpose lanes (versus a concrete barrier). Alternative 2A provides a median reserved for future center transit and alternative 2B does not. These typical sections will require widening the pavement on I-66. VDOT has been able to modify the design to eliminate the need for right of way from any Mosby Woods properties. At this point, the City s primary concerns relate to the lack of a bicycle/pedestrian connection on Route 123, the proposed location of the Express Lanes access point at the Route 123 interchange, and construction-period traffic impacts. The attached comment letter summarizes the City s drafts comments on the project. These comments can be modified prior to adoption at the June 9 th Council meeting. FISCAL IMPACT: RECOMMENDATION: ALTERNATIVE COURSE OF ACTION: RESPONSIBLE STAFF/ POC: COORDINATION: ATTACHMENTS: None Review and discuss draft comments to VDOT Do not review and discuss the draft comments. Wendy Block Sanford, Transportation Director Public Works Draft Comments on I-66 Project
10455 Armstrong Street Fairfax, Virginia 22030-3630 June 9, 2015 The Honorable Aubrey L. Layne, Jr. Secretary of Transportation Patrick Henry Building 1111 East Broad Street, Third Floor Richmond, Virginia 23218 Reference: City of Fairfax Comments on I-66 Tier 2 Corridor Improvement Project Dear Secretary Layne: On behalf of the City of Fairfax City Council, I am transmitting comments on the Tier 2 I-66 Draft Environmental Assessment. The City supports the Commonwealth s efforts to address multimodal mobility in the I-66 corridor. The City also appreciates the extensive public outreach that has been provided. This project will have a significant impact on the City, both during and after construction, and as a result, The City of Fairfax offers the following comments for your consideration. Right of Way 1. The City appreciates the design modifications that have been made to reduce the right of way impacts to properties in the Mosby Woods neighborhood. There are other properties in the City that will experience right of way impacts (in the Jermantown Road area) and the City encourages additional efforts to minimize the expansion footprint as much as possible. Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities 2. The City strongly recommends that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) include bicycle and pedestrian facilities on or parallel to Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) to connect the City of Fairfax to the shared use path proposed on the north side of I-66. The proposed shared use path at the Route 123 interchange dead-ends north of the interchange (after the first bridge) and does not connect with the network. The shared use path should be extended either on Route 123 or adjacent to it. A number of City residents as well as bicycle advocates have commented on this issue and have suggested options for this connection. Express Lanes 3. VDOT is considering locating access points to the Express Lanes at either the Route 50 or the Route 123 interchange. Add in City recommendation. Construction Impacts
The Honorable Aubrey L. Layne, Jr. June 9, 2015 Page 2 4. VDOT has begun development of the Traffic Management Plan (TMP), which will be used during project implementation. The City urges VDOT to ensure that traffic, noise, and storm water impacts are carefully considered as part of the TMP. 5. The City will experience a significant increase in traffic along Fairfax Boulevard/Route 50 and other roads in the City during construction of the project. VDOT should develop an aggressive traffic management plan that will mitigate these impacts in the City. The TMP should utilize alternative corridors such as Braddock Road, Fairfax County Parkway and the Dulles Access Road instead of relying primarily on Routes 29, 50, 123 and 236. 6. The project will likely cause an increase in neighborhood cut-through traffic. As Delegate Bulova mentioned in his May 12th letter to you on this topic, VDOT should develop proactive plans with neighborhoods about what steps will be taken if traffic volume or speeds reach certain levels. 7. The City plans to start construction on the Chain Bridge Road Widening/Improvements from Route 29/50 to Eaton Place (Northfax) project in Spring 2016. Construction will last for approximately two years, which will result in an overlap with the I-66 project. Coordination between the City and VDOT on the timing of projects and detours is critical. During construction of the Northfax project, portions of Route 123 and Route 50 will be temporarily closed and vehicles will be detoured to Eaton Place. Future Transit Service on I-66 8. The City supports the implementation of Typical Section 2A, which will provide a wider center median section to accommodate a future Metrorail extension. While the City understands and agrees that the current priorities for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) should be to improve existing operations (including purchase of eight car trains) and the completion of the Silver Line, the City supports the reservation of this area now so that a future extension of Metrorail along this corridor will not be cost prohibitive in the future. Thank you for your time and consideration. If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact Wendy Block Sanford, the City s Transportation Director, at (703) 385-7889 or wendy.sanford@fairfaxva.gov. Sincerely, Scott Silverthorne Mayor DRAFT Cc: City of Fairfax City Council Members Bob Sisson, City Manager David Summers, Public Works Director Wendy Block Sanford, Transportation Director Helen Cuervo, District Administrator, VDOT, Northern Virginia Renee Hamilton, Deputy District Administrator, VDOT, Northern Virginia Susan Shaw, Megaprojects Director, VDOT Young Ho Chang, Project Manager
City of Fairfax City Council Work Session Briefing June 2, 2015 Susan Shaw, P.E., VDOT, Megaprojects Director Rob Prunty, P.E., I-66 Project Team Lead Traffic Engineer
Why Improve I-66? Improve safety Move more people Connect regional transit/hov/express lanes network Expand mode choices and transit options Reduce hours of congestion per day Reduce cut-through traffic on local roads Better accommodate future travel demand 2
Purpose and Need Address existing and future transportation problems Improve multimodal mobility along the I-66 corridor by providing diverse travel choices in a cost-effective manner Enhance transportation safety and travel reliability 3
Project Scope Elements Two Express Lanes (convert existing HOV lane & add one lane) HOV-3 and buses travel free Non-HOV tolled Congestion-based tolls (similar to other Express Lanes in region) Converting HOV-2 to HOV-3 by 2020, consistent with the region s Constrained Long Range Plan Three regular lanes Open to all traffic No tolls Ramp-to-ramp connections (auxiliary lanes) Rapid bus service and other multimodal improvements High frequency of service during peak hours and new service available beyond peak hours Travel in express lanes for predictable travel times Park-and-Ride lots, Transportation Demand Management 4
Typical Section Alternatives 290 Alt. 1 Concrete Barrier with Full Shoulders and Median for Future Center Transit (with auxiliary lanes, if needed) 246 Alt. 2A Flexible Barrier with Buffer and Median for Future Center Transit (with auxiliary lanes, if needed) 206 Alt. 2B Flexible Barrier with Buffer and No Median (with auxiliary lanes, if needed) 5
I-66 Express Lanes Access Alternatives 6
Comparison of I-66 Express Access Alternatives Serving City of Fairfax Alternative 2A US 50 Direct connection between points northwest of interchange and I-66 east of US 50 Route 123 No direct access Vaden Drive direct access to and from the west on I-66 Express lanes only buses & vehicles East of Nutley Street No direct access Alternative 2B US 50 No direct access Route 123 Direct connection to and from the east on I-66 Vaden Drive direct access to and from west on I-66 Express lanes only buses only East of Nutley Street Flyover from EB general lanes to Express lanes 7
Direct Access for Alt. 2A Stringfellow To/from I-66 East US 50 West To/from I-66 East Monument To/from I-66 East & West Vaden To/from I-66 West 8
Direct Access for Alt. 2B Stringfellow To/from I-66 East Monument To/from I-66 East & West Rte 123 To/from I-66 East Vaden BUS ONLY 9
Preliminary Concepts Chain Bridge (Route 123) Interchange Area Alternative 2B NORTH
Preliminary Concepts Chain Bridge (Route 123) Interchange Area Alternative 2B NORTH From I-66 WB Express Lanes To I-66 EB Express Lanes
Pedestrian / Bicycle Concept 12
Visit Transform66.org 13