For Immediate Release
May 4, 2019
#T17_19

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has extended an online survey on transportation improvements along the Fairfax County & Franconia Springfield Parkways for two weeks. The survey was developed based on community input from first round survey results last year. The current survey will gather feedback from residents on future corridor transportation improvements. The online survey will close at midnight on May 20, 2019.

In the fall of 2018, strong participation at public input meetings and 15,150 responses to the first online survey informed the formulation of strategies discussed at the recent, second round of public meetings and led to the removal of tolling along the parkway as one of the approved strategies. Further input and direction from the public will help develop these preliminary alternatives and lead to an FCDOT / VDOT final recommendation in identifying a preferred alternative concept plan.

Background

FCDOT, in coordination with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), is conducting a multimodal corridor study for the Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) from Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) to Route 1 (Richmond Highway). The study corridor is approximately 31 miles in length and consists of 83 intersections and 17 interchanges. There is a short-term and a long-term component of the study.

The Long-Range Planning Study, led by FCDOT and in collaboration with VDOT, will provide recommendations for 2040 and beyond for the FCP/FSP corridor. It will consider whether changes should be made to the county’s current Transportation Plan. Intensive analysis using the County’s Traffic Forecasting Model will be used to determine future network deficiencies. Alternatives to remedy those deficiencies will be developed, and public input will be sought on those alternatives. Final recommendations will be considered for incorporation into the county’s Transportation Plan. Some questions that are to be addressed in this study are:

• The degree to which existing intersections should be considered for conversion to interchanges or under/ overpasses
• How transit should be integrated into the corridor
• Whether tolling and or HOV lanes on the Parkways should be planned.
• Bicycle/ pedestrian mobility

VDOT Short-Term Study

The Short-Term Study, led by VDOT, was completed in 2017. The study evaluated existing transportation issues and developed recommendations for short-term multimodal improvements that can be implemented within one to ten years. Additional project resources:

• Fairfax County Parkway/Franconia-Springfield Parkway: Alternatives Analysis and Long-Term Planning Study - November 2016
• Fairfax County Parkway and Franconia-Springfield Parkway Corridor Study (May 24, 2016 Presentation to the Fairfax County Board Transportation Committee)

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