Transportation
deparment of transportationtacagenda and minutes /fcdot/includes/tacnav.inc

FAIRFAX COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMISSION (TAC)
Meeting Summary

Regular Meeting – November 13, 2012 at 7:30 PM – Fairfax County DOT, 4050 Legato Road, Suite 400, Fairfax Virginia

TAC Members in Attendance:  Frank Cohn (Mt. Vernon), Roger Hoskins, Secretary (Mason), Jennifer Joy Madden, Vice Chair (Hunter Mill), Kevin Morse (Braddock), Jeff Parnes, Chair (Sully), and Edson Tennyson (At-Large).

TAC Members Absent: Ann Pimley (Fairfax Area Disability Board), Eric Thiel (Springfield), and Harry Zimmerman (Lee).

Others in Attendance:  FCDOT Staff:  Calvin Lam, Bill Harrell, and Noelle Dominguez.  Larry Cloyed (VDOT), Pierce Coffee (Transurban), and Alexander Lee (Virginia MegaProjects) 

Note Taker:  Carrie Nixon. 

The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by Chairman Parnes. 

The Minutes of the October 16, 2012, were approved with an editorial note on the fare recovery for bus.  The following was inserted: [Upon review of the Minutes at the November 13, 2012, meeting, Commissioner Tennyson believes that the fare recovery for bus is below 30 percent.]

Main Topics Discussed

I-495 Beltway Express Lanes Project Updates

Larry Cloyed (VDOT), Pierce Coffee (Transurban), and Alexander Lee (Virginia MegaProjects) presented the updates. 

Larry Cloyed briefed the TAC on I-495 Express Lane Construction Update.

  • Express Lanes open Nov. 17.  Those in violation will receive a letter encouraging them to purchase an E-ZPass
  • Project has been delivered a month ahead of schedule, under budget, and claim-free 
  • Lanes will be open 24/7
  • Delivered almost entirely new infrastructure with the project
  • 58 new bridges/overpasses, linear sound walls (more than had been anticipated)
  • Great safety program, no fatalities
  • Still some lighting that needs to go up
  • Some of the off-ramps will have signals
  • Made a deal to build 95 Express Lanes that will go seamlessly into the 495 Express Lanes. Military is kicking in funds to connect into the base
  • Commissioner Morse asked about possible extensions of Express Lanes along Beltway 95 North and the beltway beyond Georgetown Pike.  No immediate plans.

Pierce Coffee briefed the TAC on I-495 Express Lanes Operations Review

  • Overview of what to expect pre-opening and post-opening per PowerPoint
  • There will be a ramp-up period as people begin to adjust to the new lanes and rules
  • Lanes must move at 45mph at a minimum
  • People need to realize that some of the entrance and exit points are different
  • Several Commissioners raised questions about the lack of entry/exit point at Rt. 50 and emphasized the need for signage indicating this
  • Chair Parnes raised the concern about Express Lanes backing up at certain exits with off- ramps to Tysons Corner.  Mr. Cloyed and Ms. Coffee responded that signals can all be controlled, as can toll rates, to take this into account, and they do not anticipate backups into the Express Lanes
  • E-ZPass transponders are compatible with all other E-ZPass systems
  • System has ability to change the toll every six minutes if needed.  Traffic density is measured every third of a mile
  • After trip cost will be $3-6 during rush and $1-2 during non-rush hours
  • Reasons to use the Express Lanes when there is not volume on the Beltway is the new exit points or as insurance policy that if an incident occurs, Express Assist will be dispatched by Incident Detect technology to assist
  • If you don't have an E-ZPass, you can simply pay online at “Missed a Toll” with only $1.50 fee. Otherwise, if invoice is sent, $12.50 admin fee per trip.
  • Vice Chair Madden suggested to re-word the phrase “Missed a Toll” to “Didn’t Have E-ZPass” or some words that would clear up any confusions travelers may have.  This option should be advertised more to the public.
  • Kevin Morse suggested a TAC field trip to the Ops Center.
  • The 95 Express Lane project must be completed in two years.

Summary of Board Legislative Program

Noelle Dominguez summarized the handout provided.  Chair Parnes asked how the Board was taking the survey information into account.  Noelle said that the Board's view is that the survey was helpful in validating that there is a need for additional funding, but that we need more respondents and more input, and there is no proposed legislative package based on the survey responses at this point.

TAC members are encouraged to identify the three future topics in which they are most interested and provide that information to Calvin Lam so we may determine which topics to discuss in the future.

The next TAC meeting is scheduled for December 18, 2012.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.

Upcoming Meetings/Events

December 4, 2012                    7:30 pm           TAC Work Session (FCDOT)

December 18, 2012                 7:30 pm           TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)

January 15, 2013                     10:00 am         Board Transportation Committe Meeting 

January 15, 2013                     7:30 pm           TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)

February 5, 2013                      7:30 pm           TAC Work Session (FCDOT)

February 19, 2013                   7:30 pm           TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)

March 5, 2013                         7:30 pm            TAC Work Session (FCDOT)

March 19, 2013                       7:30 pm           TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)

April 2, 2013                           7:30 pm           TAC Work Session (FCDOT)

April 16, 2013                        7:30 pm            TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)