FAIRFAX COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMISSION
Meeting Summary
November 17, 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), Kevin Morse (Braddock), Secretary Roger Hoskin (Mason),
Mike Champness (Dranesville), Frank Cohn (Mt. Vernon), Eric Thiel (Springfield), and Donald Kissinger (Fairfax Area Disability Services Board).
TAC Members Absent: Micah Himmel (Providence) and Harry Zimmerman (Lee).
Others in Attendance: FCDOT staff: Calvin Lam, Noelle Dominguez.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Parnes at 7:37 p.m. The minutes of the last meeting were approved without any changes.
Note Taker: Alan Young
Main Topics Discussed
HB 2 and HB 1887 Update - Noelle Dominguez (FCDOT)
Ms. Dominguez provided a detailed briefing of the new transportation funding process to be used to allocate State transportation resources. (See briefing slides). The system is designed to limit political input into transportation decisions. To provide context, Ms. Dominguez reviewed the historical context of the funding stream formulas. The new funding formula for 2016 is complex and its impact on Fairfax County is not fully understood.
Concerns were expressed about how the County would be able to compete for its share of funding. The County has one Urban Development Area (UDA), there are approximately 80 statewide. Ms. Dominguez responded funding will be determined by scoring of projects. The County is examining how to successfully negotiate the new criteria.
In response to questions on the State Top 100 Fatality and Injury Intersections, Ms. Dominguez showed the VDOT online map with intersections noted.
Many Commissioners expressed reservations about how the system would impact the County. The scoring system prevents cross comparison.
Draft Legislative Program - Noelle Dominguez (FCDOT)
The County has expressed its position on funding issues, and called for transparency in the HB 2 system. The County will only receive ten percent of the Good Repair Funds, a glaring oversight considering the condition of County located roads. The County expressed concerns about future plans for revenue sharing, noting that under the old rules, revenue sharing worked well. Changes in the proposed legislation may cause the County to receive less transit funding.
It was noted that the County should be supporting Metro 2040 as well as Metro 2025. It’s only under Metro 2040 that the County will receive resources that address County Metro needs. The County is urging the State to provide legislation to promote snow removal by individuals and businesses voluntarily.
Conversion of secondary roads to primary status was discussed. Most of the potential candidate roads are limited by the number that can be considered by the State. Other criteria rule out roads such as Braddock Road.
CTB Determination of Corridor of Statewide Importance - Noelle Dominguez (FCDOT)
There are four Corridors of Statewide Significance (CoSS) in the County: I-66, I-95, Seminole (Rt 29) and the North-South Corridor (extends East of Dulles Airport). Commissioners reviewed the corridor profiles with Ms. Dominguez.
Summary of the TAC Achievement Award by the Board on November 17, 2015
Pam Rittenhouse received the Transportation Advisory Commission (TAC) Annual Award. She is being recognized for her hard work on the Silver Line Phase 1 close out and punch list resolution along with her efforts on the start-up of Phase 2.
The award was presented at 11:05am in the Board Room.
Other Business:
The Commission asked about the Federal Government transportation bill status. The answer was that there will probably a short term funding bill. The Board is sending a letter to the Federal delegation. The Federal portion of transportation has to increase. Localities should be able to make decisions vice only at the State level. Transit projects should be funded at the same level as road projects. The perimeter rule at National Airport should be renewed to benefit Dulles Airport. Concerns were expressed about the levels of funding. They are inadequate.
The Chair gave a summary of the Board of Transportation Committee October meeting. Silver Line construction is ongoing, there are 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.
Planned Agenda for Next Meeting
- · December 1, 2015: Joint Meeting with Trails & Sidewalks Committee – Funding for Maintenance
Topics for Future Meetings (Candidates for holding meetings at alternate location indicated in bold)
- 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:
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)