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TextRecap of George Mason University Community Information Meeting
Over 50 residents who live in communities surrounding George Mason
University attended a community information meeting hosted by Supervisor
Cook to discuss future road construction plans on and adjacent to the
Mason campus.
Tom Calhoun, Vice President of Facilities for Mason, explained why the
University was proposing what is being called a Western By-Pass through
west campus, across 123 and onto the east, or main, campus. Technical
information was provided by Hari Sripathi of VDOT, representatives from
FCDOT and officials from George Mason University. The presentation also
included a brief description of other planned long range transportation
improvements and how they will reduce regional traffic congestion. Those
assembled asked questions and shared their concerns.
The design presented allows for a road to be built across from Prestwick
Drive on Braddock Road, which would skirt the western edge of the campus,
turn east and cross 123 north of Mason Pond Drive. Residents of the
Kelley Drive neighborhood expressed concerns about how close this would
run to the back of their homes, and asked what kind of buffer would be
provided and how high the possible overpass would rise behind them.
Another concern was whether a new traffic signal at Prestwick and
Braddock would slow thru traffic and cause more tie-ups instead of
facilitating a smoother flow. There were also questions about the cost,
the funding, the environmental impact, traffic through neighborhoods and
why so many small projects were being done instead of just going ahead
with the future grade separated interchange at Braddock Road and 123
which is expected to cost $84 million. The overarching concern of the
community was that there was that there be active community participation
in the process.
In his closing remarks, Supervisor Cook said that he had had success
working with community representatives and transportation officials when
coming up with a plan for how to address traffic problems at Danbury
Forest Drive and Braddock Road. He felt that this is a situation that
could benefit from a similar approach and would have his staff work
towards gathering together a small group to work on addressing the
concerns this project will inevitably bring forward.
Public Hearings on Revised Designs for Public Streets Upcoming
On March 29, the Board of Supervisors advertised public hearings before
the Planning Commission (May 5) and the Board (June 7) regarding proposed
changes to the County’s Public Facilities Manual. These new rules for
Secondary Street Acceptance Requirements (SSAR) would impact any project
approved for construction on or after March 9, 2009.
The first change increases the number of access points or “connectivity”
that new subdivisions must have to adjacent properties, and requires that
street layouts have sufficient connections in multiple directions to
multiple properties. The second change would modify the size of an
asphalt trail that would be built in the VDOT right of way, in general,
requiring that those pedestrian connections be ten feet wide for
subdivisions where the average lot size is ½ acre or less. A final area
under discussion is a proposed minimum road width which will now be 36
feet curb to curb to accommodate a 20 foot “clear zone” for emergency
vehicles coming into a community. This rule would only apply to new
subdivisions.
Please review the staff report (
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/publications/pfm/streets_sidewalks.pdf)
and be sure to make this office aware of your comments or concerns.
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