FAIRFAX COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMISSION (TAC)
Meeting Summary
Regular Meeting – January 19, 2016 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), Alan Young (At-Large), Kevin Morse (Braddock), Mike Champness (Dranesville), Harry Zimmerman (Lee), Micah Himmel (Providence), and Eric Thiel (Springfield).
TAC Members Absent: Frank Cohn (Mt. Vernon) and Donald Kissinger (Fairfax Area Disability Services Board).
Others in Attendance: FCDOT Staff: Calvin Lam, Arpita Chatterjee, Kristin Calkins and Tom Burke.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Parnes at 7:35 p.m. The TAC moved to accept the minutes from the previous meeting.
Note Taker: Alan Young.
Main Topics Discussed
Countywide Transit Network Study
Arpita Chatterjee, Kristin Calkins and Tom Burke of FCDOT presented the draft recommendations for the Fairfax County’s proposed High Quality Transit Network (HQTN) to the TAC. The study started in July 2012 and the final concept is estimated to be done by early 2016. The proposed HQTN supports the County’s Concept for Future Development by focusing on service to and from activity centers both within the County and region-wide. Elements of the HQTN includes providing improved travel speeds and reliable travel times, typically on exclusive right-of-way on modes like commuter rail, Metrorail, LRT, and BRT.
Each corridor will reflect traveler needs and land use context in that corridor. The study presented different functional concepts for a HQTN such as access and mobility. The access focus attracted more total transit riders, whereas the mobility focus provided better access to regional jobs. Both access and mobility aim to reduce vehicle travel. Alternative concepts includes high demand commuter and destination corridors. The study coordinates with current studies in past two years, for example, Transform 66, Richmond Highway, Envision Route 7, etc.
The HQTN builds on existing elements (Metrorail, VRE, HOV, and HOT lanes), and Constrained Long-Range Plan transit investments (Silver Line extension, BRT, etc.) to create an interconnected network of commuters and destination corridors, supported by connecting express bus routes. Elements of the proposed HQTN includes Metrorail extensions, Light Rail Transit (LRT)/Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), express bus services. The proposed HQTN would result in changes to the Transportation Plan Map including:
· Metrorail: 34 miles and 10 stations
· LRT/BRT: 33 miles and 27 stations
· Express Bus: 113 miles and 25 stations
The team will present final report to the Board for endorsement in mid-2016, and initiate process to incorporate study recommendations in Comprehensive Plan in mid-2016.
TAC Commissioners had the following conversations regarding the presentation
· Streetcar is one of the elements of the proposed HQTN under light rail.
· The backlog at Rosslyn tunnel must be addressed by Metro before any Metrorail extension can take place.
· On the question of widening of I-66: the widening is planned, but the right-of-way is not necessarily preserved. Staff responded that the right-of-way is preserved for Fairfax County. Prince William County’s right-of-way is preserved for the Battlefield.
· BRT mode is most viable on Route 7 between Fairfax County Parkway and Dulles Toll Road.
· Express Bus from Fairfax County Parkway to Tysons did not meet 1,000 passenger trips inbound and outbound during peak demand periods.
· The study did not look at connected vehicles because the concept is still in testing/development stage.
· The study did not include induced demand.
· VDOT studied HOT/HOV option for Route 7 and determined that it is not a viable option.
· Route 50 and Route 28 need more quality bus service in the inter-jurisdiction area.
· FCDOT is considering enhanced transit connection for Fort Belvoir in a long-term plan.
· LRT requires dedicated right-of-way and has slightly longer capacity than BRT. Express bus service is at least 50% in dedicated or managed lanes for this study.
· Question if telecommuting will be included in the study and how much it effects overall demand.
· Asked about TDM budget.
· Where is the western Fairfax VRE stop?
· When the Board approves the report, prioritization will be done by the Planning Commission and will also impacted by the results of other ongoing high level studies.
2015 TAC Transportation Achievement Award Selection Committee
The Selection Committee includes: Micah Himmel (Chair), Roger Hoskin and Mike Champness.
Other Business:
Commissioner Himmel reported that he has been waiting for several months for staff to provide an answer to his question about sidewalk costs. That is a much longer wait than should be reasonably expected. Calvin Lam was strongly urged to get an answer for Commissioner Himmel.
Planned Agenda for Next Meeting
- February 16, 2016: Comprehensive Plan. 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.
Topics for Future Meetings (Candidates for holding meetings at alternate location indicated in bold)
· April 19, 2016: Comprehensive Plan. 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.
· July 19, 2016: Route 7 Core Widening (Marshall High School?) – Tad Borkowski, FCDOT)
· TBD: Reston Network Analysis – Leonard Wolfenstein (FCDOT)
Closing and Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.
Upcoming Events:
Upcoming Meetings:
February 2, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
February 17, 2015 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
March 1, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
March 15, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
April 5, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
April 19, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
May 3, 2015 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
May 17, 2015 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
June 7, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
June 21, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)