VDOT will complete an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on proposed improvements to the Capital Beltway, pending Federal Highway Administration approval.

"We have diligently followed the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) process which requires us to develop an Environmental Assessment (EA) when environmental impacts are not clearly established," said Jeffrey Southard, Assistant Commissioner for the Environment, Transportation Planning and Regulatory Affairs. "In going through the environmental assessment process, we have developed a sufficient level of detail and analysis to know that an EIS is the appropriate level of environmental documentation."

VDOT is studying improvements to a 14-mile section of the Capital Beltway from Springfield to the American Legion Bridge. Under consideration are widening the Beltway to 10 or 12 lanes, adding HOV lanes and/or express/local lanes, reconstructing ten interchanges, and providing access points for HOV traffic.

Preliminary evaluations of the improvement alternatives studied during the environmental assessment process indicate that:

• Additional right of way is needed along the mainline for each alternative. At the beginning of the study, it was assumed that with the exception of the areas adjacent to the interchanges, proposed improvements could be accommodated within existing right of way.
• Potential environmental impacts to wetlands, residential and commercial properties, and parks and recreation areas are greater than originally anticipated.
• The study area has been extended one mile, from Heming Avenue to Backlick Road, to accommodate the transition between the Beltway and the Springfield Interchange.

An EA can be converted to an EIS at any time during the process. The EA process is used to provide sufficient data and analysis to determine whether to prepare an EIS or a Finding on No Significant Impact.

Background and Schedule

A 1997 major investment study determined that highway improvements to promote HOV and bus transit use would be the most effective transportation investment in the corridor.

Citizen workshops were held in November 1998 and June 1999 for the public to review and comment on conceptual plans for the mainline configuration and interchange improvements.

A Draft EIS is expected to be complete and public hearings will be held early in 2001. The alternatives evaluated, public comments and a Draft EIS will then be forwarded to the Commonwealth Transportation Board for consideration.

Proposed Schedule

Construction would not begin earlier than 2006 provided funding is identified.