FAIRFAX COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMISSION
Meeting Summary

Regular Meeting - July 1, 2008
7:30 PM - Conference Room 8, Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035

TAC Members In Attendance:  Chair Janyce Hedetniemi, Vice Chair Jeffrey Parnes, Harry Zimmerman, Eric Theil, Secretary Roger Hoskin, and Jenifer Joy Madden (note-taker)

Others In Attendance:  Fairfax County Staff:  Bob Owolabi, Calvin Lam, Dan Rathbone, Mike Jollon, Tom Biesiadny, Randy White

Meeting called to Order:  

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Chair Hedetniemi. The minutes of the June 3, 2008 meeting were approved.

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Main Topics Discussed

Board Referrals:

There were no new referrals from the Board of Supervisors

Main Topics:

Richmond Highway Public Transportation Initiative (Planning and Operations)  – Randy White, FCDOT

Mr. Randy White, Senior Transportation Planner, Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) explained that the Richmond Highway Public Transportation Initiative (RHPTI) and the South County Bus Plan are complementary initiatives begun in 2004.  The initiatives are part of the Board’s 4-year transportation plan.  Among the improvements: implementation of REX bus service, bus signal priority (gives more green-light time to buses), improved bus stops and establishment of transit centers, better connections with the pedestrian network.  The South County Bus Plan has restructured almost all existing bus service in south county, increased Fairfax Connector service hours by 40 percent, enhanced weekend and holiday service, and now operates REX 7 days a week.  White notes that ridership jumped 31.5% in ’05. Since gas prices have increased, there has been a further uptick in ridership.  Enhancements planned for the future include “short turn” trips on Route 171 (30 min. interval stops in non-peak hours instead of 1 hr. intervals) plus a transit development plan to study all routes in the Richmond Highway Corridor, with implementation planned for 2010.

As for the county’s bus study, comments are still being collected.  Comments can be made by phone to 703-324-1500.  An online comment form may be found at: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/tdp_comment.htm

Note:  HB3202 provides $52 million per year to buy buses and implement the first set of recommendations from TDP.

TDM Fundamentals - Dan Rathbone, Mike Jollon

Dr. Dan Rathbone, Chief, Transportation Planning Division (TPD), FCDOT, and Mr. Mike Jollon, Senior Transportation Planner, TPD-FCDOT, reported on Transportation Demand Management best practices around the country.  TDM is defined as “a group of strategies, services, and programs aimed at managing the demand on the transportation system by reducing peak period vehicle miles of travel and the reliance on the single-occupant vehicle (SOV).”  Rathbone presented a list of “hard” (such as a central business center) and “soft” TDM strategies (such as telecommute programs).  TDM programs were shown to reduce vehicle trips by 10-15% or more.  Financial strategies are the most successful.  Impacts of TDM are greater in areas with good transit service and with mixed-use, pedestrian friendly environments.  TDM/Trip Reduction Ordinances are in place in two states and 8 municipalities including Arlington, VA.  Mike Jollon, also of FCDOT, discussed the county’s TDM proffers which are part of the rezoning process   Proffers are associated with development plans in Fairlee/MetroWest, Dunn Loring, and Tysons Corner Center.  The TDM budget includes the TDM account, a TDM Remedy Fund, and a Penalty.  A Transportation Coordinator (TC) is the developer’s point of contact in the county and is in charge of monitoring and reporting via surveys and traffic counts.  A Consultant Study will examine how to incorporate TDM as an integral part of the land use and development process.  The TDM Study will develop recommendations for implementing TDM in the county, will prepare a manual, and recommend changes to the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance amendments as appropriate, such as alternative parking standards.  For instance, at this time there is a minimum parking requirement.  The TDM study may ultimately recommend a maximum parking requirement instead in order to discourage parking.

According to a June 2008 data from a quick online research by Dan Rathbone, vehicle miles traveled is down 2 – 5% over last year, while transit ridership is up 4 – 10% on regular routes, and up 15-20% on express routes.  Web-based registrations for carpooling are up 40%. 

2008 Legislative Update – Tom Biesiadny, FCDOT

Mr. Tom Biesiadny, Chief, Coordination and Funding Division, FCDOT, painted a bleak picture, describing a “trifecta” of negative indicators for the state: a fixed 17.5 cent gas tax, new construction money being diverted to road maintenance, and an increase in the cost of building roads.  As for legislative action, Governor Kaine’s transportation plan was effectively killed by the House Rules Committee.  Biesiadny described Senator Saslaw’s bill (SB 6009), which increases the fuels tax 1 cent per gallon per year for six years.  Saslaw believes this will not significantly raise the price of a gallon of gasoline because the market will adjust to absorb the tax increase, as it has in other nearby states such as North Carolina. Saslaw’s bill will also increase the sales tax by .25 percent.  Meanwhile, HB 6055 (Hamilton), deals only with Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.  Hamilton’s plans would have NoVA collecting almost all of its own revenue sources, but Hampton Roads would have all state-imposed revenue sources.  The Hamilton plan has no statewide funding for maintenance or new construction.  This would leave $525 million in NoVA maintenance needs unfunded over the next six years.   Hamilton is calling for an independent audit of VDOT operations before any new taxes are imposed statewide.  The House now has to vote on one of the options in order for a compromise to happen.  

Other Business

Only July 21, TAC will award the 2007 Transportation Achievement award to Jeanmarie Roberson.  Chair Hedetniemi asked other TAC members for the go-ahead to edit a draft news release on the award.

TAC Commissioner Harry Zimmerman explained the 2008 BRAC-Related Area Plans Review process and requested assistance by other TAC members in developing guidelines for transportation planning.  A map revealed that many parcels of land are being developed near BRAC, but they are not necessarily located close to transit.

TAC Chair Janyce Hedetniemi reported on the Capital Beltway HOT Lanes Project and said the last meeting with the Board centered on excessive tree removal plus the lack of proper sound reduction. 

Agenda for Upcoming TAC Meetings:

• The next TAC meeting will take place on the next work-session date (July 15, 2008) and will focus on BRAC Area Plans Review (APR) planning.  There will be no TAC meeting in August.  

  Next regular TAC session: Sept. 2

• North County Area Plans Review by Leonard Wolfenstein

• 2008 Legislative Update

 

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Meeting Adjourned: The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 pm.