What is the project and why is it a problem?
The Virginia Department of Transportation (V.D.O.T) is going to take miles of our land, parks and trees. They are planning to extend the HOT lanes into these parks and even our homes. Extra land is needed to complete this project and they plan on taking YOUR property! Parts of front lawns or backyards will be taken for the project and flyovers will be built over our homes. Not only is this devastating to the environment but it’s also devastating to our community. This area prides itself on being a place where your children can ride their bikes around or play in the front yard without worry of traffic. This expansion will put our area right on the side of the highway, making what once was family friendly, a dangerous place with fast cars and unbreathable air.
These lanes won’t solve any problems. Instead of making general lanes for all to use, V.D.O.T plans to expand the HOT lanes. Currently the HOT lanes can cost anywhere from $8-18. These prices are only going up and won’t solve any of our traffic issues. Currently, these HOT lanes are rarely used and most people opt to sit in traffic instead of pay a ridiculous $18 to go about 3 miles. If you ever take a drive down 495 on a Friday evening you’ll see traffic backed up for miles but only a VERY select amount of cars utilizing the express lane (and by select we mean 5.). Expanding these lanes take land, parks and trees from everyone and will only benefit a few. Prices will stay high and all the land taken will have been for nothing and those who can’t afford the HOT lanes will be stuck in the same traffic as before.
The HOT Lane Expansion proposal would extend the current HOT Lanes all the way to American Legion, but Maryland currently has not planned to widen the bridge or the beltway beyond it. They are still in an extensive study phase and are at best years from any implementation if that is the course they decide to take. These 4 lanes will have to merge back in at the bridge causing more gridlock. How does it make sense for Virginia to build ahead of Maryland?
VDOT showed Fairfax Country Officials data and concluded that Virginia and the bridge had enough capacity and that the backup was the result of the Maryland side. 495 North of the Beltway and 270 cannot handle the volume. VDOT Supervisor Susan Shaw and County Supervisor Foust stated that the ultimate solution is with Maryland. The proposed new lanes and flyover ramps in VA are moving the problem, not solving the problem. What has changed that this is being rushed through now????
The proposed expansion requires confiscating parts of National Park Lands, including areas in Scotts Run Nature Preserve, Timberly Park, McLean Hamlet Park, and pieces of our HISTORIC Potomac Heritage Trail & GWParkway. This land is protected. How can we allow this happen?
“Scott’s Run Nature Preserve is one of only a few nature preserves in the Fairfax County Park Authority system. It is a remarkable place of rare plants and splendid beauty. Yet that beauty is “challenged by urban pollution and human destruction.”
The beltway is already at environmental limits for noise and pollution. How are these lanes getting approved? What is the National Parks Service and the Fairfax County Park Authority doing to preserve what they call “REMARKABLE BEAUTY PRESERVED” stating that “Scott’s Run Nature Preserve is one of only a few nature preserves in the Fairfax County Park Authority system. It is a remarkable place of rare plants and splendid beauty. Yet that beauty is “challenged by urban pollution and human destruction.”
There are several schools and an outdoor swim club right near the proposed expansion We know from the NIH that the effect of increased air and noise pollution on our children is detrimental to neurological development. Who is thinking about our kids’ health? Not VDOT, who will not undertake the proper Environmental Impact Study! (See link to NIH Research below.)
This is the single biggest chokepoint in the county, yet VDOT, the County, our local elected officials, our Governor, and the Federal Highway Administration have rubber-stamped this project. If they go forward, a corporation will own the road. Yes, a private corporation will be 100% owner of the largest, most important part of the PUBLIC beltway. VA & MD taxpayers will be subject to their control over the project and future revenue streams. According to the corporation’s current annual report, they “had a very successful year.” In fact, their profit from ordinary activities after tax increased 124.0%.
We sell our parks, our environment, our land and pay taxes and what is the solution? Billions spent on the HOT LANES from Springfield hasn’t solved the problems. How many cars have you seen use the flyovers at Jones Branch? Has it relieved traffic? VDOT and this corporation can’t add general use lanes because they won’t pass environmental standards so they use a legal loop hole of “intermittent lanes” to forgo ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDIES. And we get massive concrete flyovers that look like they solve the problem, but don’t. Where are the Cost-Benefit Studies? We all should have many questions for our government officials about this project.
We should require transparency and real/verifiable solutions to traffic, financial value, smart options, community protection, environmental protection. Maryland citizens are fighting back. VA needs to do the same.
According to recent local press, it is murky that MD even has the funding to do their part including the bridge. For us to do the VA side and wait however many years for MD to provide the solution, is incomprehensible. The current project shows that the pattern of VDOT/Transurban non-transparency, poor planning, evasion of environmental and noise testing and legal limits continues. Again, why is this being rushed through?
SPREAD THE WORD. ATTEND. VOICE YOUR OPINIONS. ASK QUESTIONS. WE CANNOT BE COMPLICIT IN THEIR DESTRUCTION
Virginia Parks Matter 