FAIRFAX COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMISSION
Meeting Summary

October 20, 2015 at 7:30 PM – FCDOT, 4050 Legato Rd, Fairfax, VA 22033

TAC Members in Attendance: Chairman Jeff Parnes (Sully), Vice Chairman Jennifer Joy Madden (Hunter Mill), Secretary Roger Hoskin (Mason), Kevin Morse (Braddock), Mike Champness (Dranesville), Harry Zimmerman (Lee), Frank Cohn (Mt. Vernon), Micah Himmel (Providence), Eric Thiel (Springfield), and Donald Kissinger (Fairfax Area Disability Services Board).

TAC Members Absent: Alan Young (At Large).

Others in Attendance: FCDOT staff: Calvin Lam, Leonard Wolfenstein, Jane Rosenbaum and Doug Miller. Citizen guest: Stuart Whitaker.

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Parnes at 7:35 p.m. The minutes of the last meeting were approved without any changes.

Chairman Parnes extended welcome to Donald Kissinger the newest Commission member representing the Fairfax Area Disability Services Board.

Note Taker:  Roger Hoskin

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Main Topics Discussed

Richmond Highway (Route 1) Alternatives Project—Next Steps

The Route 1 Corridor is a 16 mile section of U.S. Route 1 from the Huntington Metro and I-495 Beltway area through a mixed commercial and residential area ending at State Route 123 in Prince William County. Currently, the northern most part of the route is a 4 by 4 highway, narrowing to a 3 by 3 and finally to a 2 by 2 highway with discontinuous sidewalks.

On completion, the Route will be a 3 by 3 highway with dedicated bus rapid transit (BRT) lanes in the median and continuous pedestrian and bicycle paths. The current improvement strategy is divided into three projects; each was discussed in turn. The first project is the Route 1 Widening, this is a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) project.

The initial part of the project underway is route widening near Ft. Belvoir. This project is part of BRAC and is expected completion is summer 2016. Commission members raised several questions about the Accotink Creek crossing on lower Route 1. At that point, the Highway is 2 by 2 and would need to be widened; furthermore, would it be widened enough to accommodate BRT. County staff noted that the Ft. Belvoir and VA Hospital sections are funded by Department of Defense. A need to maintain access to the Veterans Hospital makes funding certain.

The Route 1 widening from Route 235 north to Napper Rd. will be designed to accommodate BRT, which will be introduced in four phases:

1. BRT from Huntington Metro to Hybla Valley (estimated $306 million)
2. BRT from Hybla Valley to Ft. Belvoir (estimated $224 million)
3. BRT from Ft. Belvoir to Woodbridge (estimated $472 million)
4. Metrorail from Huntington to Hybla Valley (estimated $1.46 billion).

The new corridor will be 3 by 3 for auto and include continuous bicycle and pedestrian lanes. An issue raised is it planned that bicycle lanes be physically separated from auto traffic.

A total of $10 million has been allocated for preliminary engineering and environmental impact studies for the expansion of the Napper Rd. to Route 235 segment. The development process began in July with an expected 4 year timeline. In conjunction with this project, the Board of Supervisors (BOS) has authorized changes in the Comprehensive Plan to consider the impact of BRT expansion in the corridor.

The Commission queried staff on building density and to accommodate BRT and possible confrontation with existing land owners and businesses. The project is to include extensive community outreach. However, the greater land use density which the BOS directed Staff to consider is still likely to encounter resistance. Staff acknowledged such was likely. Current building density plans are to accommodate BRT only with Metrorail possibly to follow.

The Commission also raised issues of funding. Would this project seek Federal “New Starts” funding? Most likely it would. While the engineering and environmental studies are underway, complete funding of the project(s) is still unsettled.

Transit Accessible Meetings

The Commission discussed about the motions to hold transit accessible meetings. Two motions specifically:
· Should the TAC write letters to other advisory groups urging them to hold transit accessible meetings as the TAC is attempting? (Note: this meeting was held at the South County building.)
· Should the TAC write a letter to the BOS urging them to ask other advisory groups and County agencies to look for transit accessible venues?

After considerable discussion, both motions were tabled. The Commission is proactively looking to hold meetings at transit accessible locations.

TAC Achievement Award Committee

The TAC Transportation Achievement Award will be presented at the Board meeting on November 17, 2015, at 10:30 am.

Other Business:

A summary of the Board of Transportation Committee October meeting. Silver Line construction is ongoing, no special issues. Meetings on tolling inside the Beltway are being held.

Commissioners are encouraged to inform themselves of the issues and attend a meeting(s) if possible.

Comment & Feedback on Previous Meeting’s Presentation:
There was no significant feedback by members on the Envision Route 7 meeting in September.

Planned Agenda for Next Meeting

• · November 17, 2015: Legislative/HB 2 Update – Noelle Dominguez (FCDOT)

Topics for Future Meetings (Candidates for holding meetings at alternate location indicated in bold)

•   December 1, 2015: Joint Meeting with Trails & Sidewalks Committee – Funding for Maintenance
•   December 15, 2015: I-495 and I-95 Express Lanes Performance/Progress – Michael McGurk (Transurban)
•   January 19, 2016: CTB Determination of Corridor of Statewide Importance
•   February 16, 2016: Huntington Area Transportation Study – Leonard Wolfenstein and Arpita Chatterjee (FCDOT)
•   March 15, 2016: Route 7 Core Widening – Tad Borkowski, FCDOT)
•   April 19, 2016: Countywide Transit Network Study – Leonard Wolfenstein and Arpita Chatterjee (FCDOT)
•   TBD: Comprehensive Plan and Transportation staff and Planning Commission discussions with TAC on what their vision is for future development and any changes in planning and zoning guidelines that may be needed to account for future work environment given the pace and impacts of technology advances (including guest speaker to explain impact of self-driving/smart cars, buses and trucks on traffic, roadways and intersections). Joint meeting date with the Planning Commission’s Transportation Committee will be determined.
•   TBD: Comprehensive Plan and Transportation staff and Planning Commission discussions with TAC on how planning for areas currently planned for future rail stations reflects the designation of the areas as future rail stations

Closing and Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

Upcoming Events:

December 1, 2015                 10:00 am             Board Transportation Committee Meeting

Upcoming Meetings:

November 3, 2015                     7:30 pm             TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
November 17, 2015                   7:30 pm             TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)

December 1, 2015                     7:30 pm             TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
December 15, 2015                   7:30 pm             TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)

January 5, 2015                         7:30 pm             TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
January 19, 2015                       7:30 pm             TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)