Fairfax County Transportation Advisory Commission
Meeting Summary

Date: REGULAR MEETING – July 18, 2006

TAC Members in Attendance: George Barker, Earl Flanagan, Harry Zimmerman, Janyce Hedetniemi, Jeff Parnes, Brian Deery

Others in Attendance: Leonard Wolfenstein, Jay Guy, Michael Lake

Meeting called to Order: 7:15 p.m.

Main Topics Discussed

Board Referrals: None

Main Topics:

Acceptance of the June 6, 2006, Regular TAC Meeting Notes

Tysons Land Use Task Force:

Newport News was a real example of the vision for Tysons. Sub-committee on communications formed to enhance information flow. Board approved funding $1.2M and should act on it early September. Tysons tunnel is being supported by engineering report. Cost analysis will follow.

Chris Wells award. Members reported that it was a nice event.

Transportation Plan Briefing by Leonard Wolfenstein

Described Board action on Policy Plan including Board recommended language for TDM proffers strengthening. TAC noted that Fort Belvoir briefing to local government representatives had the lack of TDM requirements as a major discussion topic.

Transportation Plan Map action deferred until July 31st due to some disagreement over some street sizes. Board amendments A through F were provided as hand-out. TAC asked staff to assure that Route 1 transit improvements designation acronyms include monorail. Staff indicated it was included in the LRT designation. Staff is working to develop a general note for the map that would indicate that road widening would generally be subject to validation by more detailed analysis before going to final design. TAC provided recommendations to staff for language they could use so as not to require studies in every case but that would acknowledge that further analysis may be performed on specific projects. TAC voted to take the position on this matter that a general note on the map to this affect was preferable to specific notes on individual road segments, and that such general note should indicate road designations on the map would not change as a result of the further analysis. This would preclude interim solutions become defacto permanent indications on the map or the other case where studies that recommended solutions wider than shown on the map would not automatically be adopted without appropriate process.

Area Plans. Planning Commission’s transportation committee met on July 13th. Next event for TAC involvement will be September 21st . Staff would be willing to meet with groups in each magisterial districts to gathering information between September 21st and the next committee meeting on October 18th. Public hearing with the Board would follow on December 4th. TAC will discuss issues on October 3rd meeting.

Officer nominations committee reported nominations for:

• George Barker – Chair
• Janyce Hedetneimi – Vice Chairman
• Roger Hoskin - Secretary

TAC voted to elect those individuals for another term.

General Assembly: budget status paper was provided as hand-out.

Survey on proposed Workshops for Board Advisory Commissions has been emailed to TAC members.

Other Business

George Barker met with Supervisor McConnell to indicate TAC intent for SPOT projects notification by letter before Board meeting on July 31st with expectation of about $1 million this year and next. Also discussed ideas for the next Summit.

Potential Agenda Items for Upcoming TAC Meetings

• No meeting on August 1st
• TDM presentation
• Dulles rail update
• Road signage responsibilities
• Loudoun County strategies and rationale for large impact projects

Announcements

• Charlie Strunk has accepted position of Bicycle Coordinator for the County.
• Carol Smith, Transportation Marketing Chief is departing. Beth Frances will be acting.
• County considering allowing advertising on bus shelters
• BRAC scoping meeting in Springfield identified concept of “Park Once” to describe the idea of remote parking with buses going through base security to minimize backups at the gates. Three concepts for BRAC siting decisions are now on the internet.
• Flood in Mount Vernon caused the discovery of two disconnected Farrington Avenues that was causing confusion. Local actions being considered in attempt to rename one section.
• Thomas Howard is new assistant to Gerry Hyland who will host monthly meetings with County staff and VDOT.
• Section of Southbound Route 1 at Dogue Creek washed out during the storms.
• VDOT discussed widening of Fairfax County Parkway for HOV and all the difficulties associated with traffic lights and the necessary weaving due to turning vehicles. Level of service could actually decline.
• Sound wall rules are now different and could affect eligibility and aesthetics of some corridors.
• Considerations for relocating lights from one highway to the other at some major intersections could be problematic by introducing lights on limited access highways.

Upcoming Meetings/Events