Date: January 20, 2015 | Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Location: Rooms 9 & 10, Government Center
Agenda
- Approval of Minutes of the December 9, 2014, Meeting
- I-66 Inside the Beltway – Renee Hamilton, VDOT
- Dulles Metrorail Silver Line Phase 2 Status and Funding – Mark Canale (FCDOT) and Joe LaHait (DMB)
- Herndon Metrorail Station Access Management Study – Kris Morley-Nikfar (FCDOT)
- Huntington Area Transportation Study – Tom Burke (FCDOT)
- Update on Commercial and Industrial Tax Fund – Tom Biesiadny and Ray Johnson (FCDOT)
- New Business
Minutes
Members in Attendance:
Supervisor Jeff McKay, Chair
Chairman Sharon Bulova
Supervisor John Cook
Supervisor Michael Frey
Supervisor John Foust
Supervisor Penny Gross
Supervisor Pat Herrity
Supervisor Catherine Hudgins
Supervisor Linda Smyth
Members Absent:
Supervisor Gerald Hyland
County Executive: Edward L. Long Jr. and Deputy County Executive Robert A. Stalzer
TAC Member in Attendance: Jeff Parnes, Chair
Supervisor McKay called the meeting to order at 1:20 p.m.
1. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting
The Minutes of the December 9, 2014, meeting were accepted without any changes.
2. I-66 Inside the Beltway
Renée Hamilton and Susan Shaw of VDOT provided an update on the I-66 Multimodal Improvements Inside the Beltway Project. The project limits are from the Beltway to Route 29 in Rosslyn. The purpose of this project is to move more people and enhance connectivity in the corridor by improving transit service, reducing roadway congestion, and increasing travel options. The project scope includes quickly implementable corridor improvements, tolling, transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, transportation demand management, integrated corridor management, and future widening. Key elements of this project include converting HOV-2 (High Occupancy Vehicle) requirements to HOV-3, proposing dynamic tolling in both directions during peak periods only, providing priority bus service, improving Metrorail core capacity, and improving bicycle and pedestrian facilities. VDOT will continue to own and operate the facility. Major project milestones include submission of a nomination to Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board (TPB’s) - Constrained Long-Range Plan (CLRP) in January 2015, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation and public hearing in May 2015, and begin tolling operation in 2017.
Supervisor McKay asked if VDOT assumed that the Metro Momentum Plan will be built in the same timeframe. Ms. Hamilton replied “No”. Supervisor McKay was concerned about the need for a second river crossing at Rosslyn, and the transit capacity issue at the Rosslyn Metrorail Station for the Orange, Blue and Silver Lines. Mr. Biesiadny, FCDOT, replied that priority buses will go directly into Washington, D.C. and will not add additional transit riders to the existing Metrorail system. These buses will provide an alternative to Metrorail.
Supervisor Foust asked if the State will be paying for the new buses. Ms. Hamilton replied that the study does not have that much detail yet. Past work by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) will be the starting point. A small working group will help to sort out the details and develop specific proposals. Supervisor Foust asked if there will be tolls on the connector road from I-66. Ms. Hamilton replied “No”. VDOT is working with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) on the issue of tolling I-66 in both directions.
Jeff Parnes, TAC Chair, stated that people who are paying tolls on the Beltway and the Dulles Toll Road cannot continue to pay tolls from those facilities onto I-66. He pointed out the gaps in the system, and suggested having a seamless toll road system. Supervisor McKay mentioned the similar situation on the I-95 Express Lanes project. He asked who will be paying for transit, and raised a concern about the impacts of tolling on neighborhood roads. Supervisor McKay stated that this I-66 project, and the I-95 Express Lanes project, are similar in terms of lane miles, impacts, and volumes. He pointed out that being able to keep the transit element is a huge difference for this project.
Supervisor Foust stated that a real problem with tolls is that they will force people onto parallel roads. He suggested that VDOT look at building roadway capacity on I-66. Ms. Hamilton replied that converting from HOV-2 to HOV-3 will free up some capacity and discussed the benefits of priority bus services. Ms. Shaw mentioned congestion pricing, and the trade-off between tolls and the HOV-3 option. VDOT has not performed traffic and revenue forecasts yet. They will be working with local jurisdictions to determine the best options.
Chairman Bulova stated that Arlington County has shown some interest advancing this effort, but there are no written agreements.
Supervisor Smyth asked about continuation of the road widening from West Falls Church to the Beltway, and a traffic study for I-66 westbound improvements. Ms. Hamilton replied that VDOT would start collecting traffic counts before the holidays and would make determinations about improvements.
Supervisor Hudgins asked why air quality analysis was not included in the project. Ms. Hamilton replied that it will be undertaken through the air quality conformity process being conducted by TPB.
Supervisor Smyth asked about the submission to TPB for the CLRP. Ms. Hamilton replied that the submission included a list of the tolling elements, the multimodal improvements, and the future widening.
Supervisor Gross asked how far into Falls Church the Route 7 (Tysons to Falls Church) trail would go. Ms. Hamilton will provide the requested information at a later time.
Supervisor Herrity asked why not combine the I-66 Inside-the-Beltway Project and the I-66 Outside-the-Beltway Project into a single project. Ms. Hamilton replied that they are two different and independent projects. Supervisor Herrity stated that the I-66 Inside the Beltway Project is a good project, and it provides more ways to cross the Potomac River.
Chairman Bulova stated that this project has an ambitious schedule. She asked for information on the future widening of I-66. Ms. Hamilton replied that the NEPA process will determine the widening portion in the later phase of the project. Chairman Bulova stated that VDOT may want to revisit their proposed schedule for the public outreach effort.
Supervisor Smyth was concerned with the noise and sound-wall issues, and the need to start the public outreach sooner. The Board voiced their concerns about starting the public outreach effort as soon as possible. Ms. Hamilton stated that going forward, the core group will meet to validate the study, and prioritize the projects that might be implemented.
3. Huntington Area Transportation Study
Tom Burke (FCDOT) briefed the Board on the Huntington Area Transportation Study. The study addresses:
• Outstanding transportation issues from prior comprehensive planning efforts
• Confirms and verifies existing and future transportation issues within the study area
• Develops improvement strategies and mitigation measures
• Evaluates the effectiveness of transportation solutions
• Assesses potential at-grade solutions, in addition to grade-separated at Route 1/Huntington Avenue/Fort Hunt Road
• Evaluates higher land use intensity at North Gateway
• Determines recommendations and conclusions
Mr. Burke explained several at-grade and grade separate options that have been prepared. The project is estimated to be completed in May 2015.
Supervisory McKay stated that there is a significant desire for the people in that area to have improvements made at-grade, rather than grade separation, because there is less ability to implement transit oriented developments and more traffic will by-pass the area with grade separated interchanges. He thinks that the current intersection is very confusing and would not want to create more confusion with the proposed solutions. He pointed out the concern with pedestrians, and how they would cross the intersection. He mentioned time-of-day restrictions, and the problem with signal timing on weekdays and weekends. He suggested giving more thought to Metro, because it is a transit-oriented area.
Chairman Bulova stated that the proposed displaced left-turn solution looks confusing and dangerous. She requested a video demonstration of this new technique being used in an urban environment. Dan Rathbone, FCDOT, stated that the reason for this proposed solution is to avoid grade separation, and staff will try their best to accommodate the traffic with an at grade solution.
Supervisor Foust asked if staff has studied other options such as underground access. Mr. Biesiadny replied that staff focused on the at-grade solution. Mr. Burke stated that other solutions will require additional right-of-way (i.e. ramps). Barbara Byron, Office of Community Revitalization, stated that the study has many challenges. She was worried about the balance of development and stated that the answer to the problem will not be a perfect solution. Mr. Burke asked for the Board’s input on the proposed grade separation solutions.
Supervisor McKay stated that the County will need to look at the entire area and incorporate the recommendations from the DRPT study into this study. He asked how the process would work, and what was the timeline for it. Mr. Biesiadny replied that this will be included in the Comprehensive Plan amendments efforts for the Route 1 corridor. Supervisor McKay stated that with the final recommendations of the DRPT study and this study, and the public involvement in February 2015, the County need to have a complete comprehensive plan amendment. Mr. Biesiadny replied that staff will have the whole package put together to present to the Board at the March meeting.
Supervisor Gross stated that the grade separation project, like the Seven Corners interchange, discourages the development of a community. Grade separations are not good for pedestrian access. She supports an at-grade solution.
Supervisor Hudgins asked about the relationship in terms of transit-oriented development and urban standards with urban street connections. Ms. Byron replied that it would be a mistake to make the decision in isolation. Supervisor Hudgins stated that there has to be an analysis regarding the value of land next to Metro, versus infrastructure improvements. It could potentially destroy the tax revenue from the land.
Supervisor Herrity requested information on the “displaced left-turn intersection” and its performance. Mr. Rathbone replied that he can provide the information. He said that in Charlottesville, VA, there is an intersection at I-64 and Route 15 that has this configuration. Supervisor Herrity stated that the proposed solution should not be a chokepoint for Route 1. Supervisor McKay stated that the challenge is significant, and he wanted to make it work for the residents in the area. Supervisor Smyth cautioned against shifting the problem further down the road.
4. Dulles Metrorail Silver Line: Phase II Status and Funding Updates
Mark Canale (FCDOT) and Joe LaHait, County Debt Coordinator, Department of Management and Budget (DMB), briefed the Board on the status of the Dulles Rail Project. Mr. Canale talked about the punchlist items for Phase I. The Wiehle-Reston East Garage is at 85 percent utilization.
The design of Phase II of the project is 69 percent complete. Most of the construction work is at the airport. In terms of the County activities, the Herndon and Innovation Center Station garages, the design team is currently reviewing the schematic designs. Construction of both garages is expected to start in March 2016. The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan was closed in December 2014 with the second lowest interest rate the history of the TIFIA loan program (2.73%). The loan amount is $403.3 million.
5. Herndon Metrorail Station Access Management Study
Kris Morley-Nikfar (FCDOT) briefed the Board on the Herndon Metrorail Station Access Management Study. This study was started in 2013 to develop a bicycle and pedestrian improvement plan for areas surrounding the future Herndon and Innovation Center Metrorail Stations. The study identifies and evaluates existing bicycle and pedestrian network recommendations and conditions, plans for public outreach, and develops a station access management plan. Staff is working on the recommendations for improvements and project prioritization.
Supervisor Foust asked about the funding amount and if the funding was moved. Mr. Biesiadny replied that the Board approved approximately $21 million in the Board Six-Year Transportation Program and that the funding was not moved. He will verify the correct funding amount.
6. Update on Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Tax Fund
Due to the time constraint, this item was provided to the Board for information. Board members were asked to provide any feedback to Mr. Biesiadny. Mr. Biesiadny stated that this is an update on how the C&I tax has been used consistently with the Board’s approval for individual projects. This presentation will be presented to the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association (NVBIA) meeting in the next two weeks.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:00 pm. The next meeting is scheduled for March 17, 2015, at 10:00 a.m.