The meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM by Chairman Parnes.  The Minutes of the October 18, 2011 meeting were approved unanimously.

Main Topics Discussed

I-66 Active Traffic Management (ATM) System, presented by VDOT staff member, Kamal Suliman

The project is located on I-66 and extends from Exit 74 in the District of Columbia to Haymarket (Exit 40/US-15) for 34 miles.  The corridor is divided into four segments, which will all have different plans for ATM.

The project optimizes existing roadway and focuses on existing roadway capacity. It is the first deployment of this type of system on the East Coast. Planning addresses safety, congestion, and environmental impacts.  This project requires no further right of way. Signals over all lanes will have multiple functions including speed limit, lane operation and safety messages using state of the art corridor technologies.  This allows the ability, when there is a car accident, to take a lane out of service instantly and temporarily.  System can rapidly identify and respond to incidents and allow use of shoulder lanes as circumstances merit.  It will be possible to respond rapidly to incidents and other on-the-road changes.

Other VDOT Projects:

• Repair and Resurface 6 miles of I-66: US 50 to I- 495
• Spot Improvement Projects (lengthen acceleration lane Fairfax Drive to Sycamore Street)
• Rt. 29/Linton Hall Road Interchange, which Chair Parnes termed “The Jiffy Lube Solution” because of the nearby entertainment facility
• I-495 HOT Lanes construction
• I-66 widening from Gainesville to Haymarket.

Total capital costs for implementing ATM estimated at $32M. Federal sources provide 90% of funding.

FCDOT is advertising for building the project now.  VDOT hopes to award the contract in March, and construction starts in Fall 2012 with completion scheduled in 2014.

I-66 Tier 1 Environmental Impact Study (EIS), presented by Jaak Pedak of FCDOT

There has been very little public outreach at this point. Public meeting is scheduled for November 29, 2011.  Mr. Pedak talked generally about the project and referred to an informational brochure.

The purpose of the meeting is to study potential multimodal improvements to address existing and future transportation needs in the I-66 Corridor from US 15 in Prince William County to I-495 in Fairfax County. 

The EIS is being developed as a Tier 1 document. A Tier 1 EIS differs from a traditional EIS in that it focuses on broad issues such as purpose and need; travel mode (bus, carpool, rail transit, car, etc.), technology choices; and the general location of proposed improvements.

VDOT hopes to have preliminary EIS by June 2012.

Commissioner Tennyson mentioned that some road improvements should be self-financing bond projects.  Mr. Pedak replied that “Everything’s on the table, so we can look at everything.”

Chair Parnes wants trains to have Metro riders at one location – at East Falls Church. The focus of bus stop offs should be 3-dimensional.

FCDOT Director Tom Biesiadny has prepared comments on the EIS and “No Build” is not an option. FCDOT suggestions include:

• Heavy rail extension to Centreville area/western Fairfax County
• Separate directional HOV/Bus transit facilities with barrier separation from General Purpose (GP) lanes
• Separate directional HOT/HOV/Bus transit facilities with barrier separation from General Purpose (GP) lanes
• Separate directional BRT facilities with barrier separation from General Purpose (GP) lanes
• Bi-directional BRT facility with moveable median and barrier separation and limited access from/egress to local traffic facility
• Capacity improvements to parallel arterials US—29 and/or  US-50
• Bi-directional all-day commuter rail (VRE Manassas line) with outer terminal at Haymarket

Commissioner Hoskin expressed concern that the Orange Line is at capacity and that adding another station will be too much for the system.

Commissioner Tennyson says some pressure will be taken off the Orange Line beyond East Falls Church when the Silver Line opens. “It doesn’t take more trains, it takes more intelligence.”

Chair Parnes would prefer to merge with I-66/Route 267 as on Spout Run where traffic can merge and remain flowing in its own lane.

Other Business

The TAC moved unanimously to congratulate Tom Biesiadny as the Fairfax County Department of Transportation’s new Director.  Chair Parnes will prepare a commendation at the Board Transportation Committee meeting.

Summary of the TAC Common Sense Initiative’s Conference Call

Commissioner Still provided a summary of a phone meeting about the Commonsense Initiative. He expressed concern that VDOT had blocked the process. But VDOT has now renewed its commitment to the process and has begun 7 projects. Progress is again being made. Chair Parnes said that we need to have a status report about the new projects. Commissioner Still will have another conference call with VDOT to get the latest. Commissioner Still commended that Supervisor Linda Smyth, who is running for re-election, did not put up signs in the median, citing safety concerns.

Commissioner Pimley said she had met with WMATA about lighting at Metrorail Stations and will review lighting at all stations. The issue is that Metro is not changing blown light bulbs in a timely manner so there are a lot of dark areas.

Chair Parnes could make a recommendation to the Board that the county explore increasing lighting. But we don’t know how many stations in Fairfax County are underground.  He suggests that we discuss whether TAC should prepare a record calling for better lighting.

Commissioner Pimley comments that county residents ride downtown to the dark stations.

Announcements: None 

Upcoming Agenda Items TAC Meetings: 

• December 20, 2011: Dulles Rail Update – Mark Canale, FCDOT
• December 20, 2011: Tysons Interim Parking – Leonard Wolfenstein, FCDOT
• December 20, 2011: Tysons Metro Station Access Management Study (TMSAMS) – Leonard Wolfenstein, FCDOT
• January 17, 2012: Dulles Rail Update – Mark Canale, FCDOT
• February 21, 2012: Plans for Metro Blue Line and Handling Increased Loads in Ballston Corridor – Tom Harrington, WMATA 

Future Topics

• Transit Network Study – Leonard Wolfenstein, FCDOT
• Recommendations on Parking Requirements in Transit Oriented Development Areas – Dan Rathbone, FCDOT
• WMATA plans for handling increased loads in Ballston Corridor
• Columbia Pike Street Car Line Progress (and additional possible candidates)
• CTB Determination of Corridor of Statewide Importance through Loudoun/Prince William
• CTB Secondary Road Study
• Legislation Update, Noelle Dominguez, FCDOT
• GMU Study on Secondary Road System
• TransAction 2040
• TPB Regional Priority Task Force
• Regional Transit System Plan
• Plans for Metro Blue Line
• Proposed Changes to Fairfax Connector Routes in Anticipation of Dulles Rail Phase I and II – Summer 2012

Adjourned: at 9:30 pm.

Upcoming Meetings/Events

November 29, 2011               1:00 pm                      Board Transportation Committee
December 6, 2011                  7:30 pm                      TAC Work Session
December 20, 2011               7:30 pm                      TAC Regular Meeting
January 3, 2012                       7:30 pm                       TAC Work Session
January 17, 2012                   7:30 pm                      TAC Regular Meeting
February 7, 2012                     7:30 pm                       TAC Work Session
February 21, 2012                 7:30 pm                      TAC Regular Meeting
March 6, 2012                         7:30 pm                       TAC Work Session
March 20, 2012                      7:30 pm                      TAC Regular Meeting