This morning you may have heard the NPR story on VDOT and the CTBs urging for the Outer Beltway. NPR noted that the transportation study shows that traffic on Prince William and Loudoun roads will increase by 75% to 250%.
Wow!
That’s a lot more cars on the road. We better start building right away!
Here is the problem(one of many), VDOT did not perform a study to show what would happen if growth wasn’t allowed to run rampant in exurbs. They basically said, all growth will continue to occur outward. They didn’t review what could happen if some of that growth was focused in existing corridors. They didn’t review what could happen if limits to development were placed in outer exurbs.
The logic of the CTB and Bob McDonnell’s administration is perverse.
Traffic volumes in Tysons were to increase 35% over the course of 40 years with the redevelopment and upzoning that has been created through the comprehensive plan. This growth was viewed as a danger to the fabric of transportation in Northern Virginia by the current VDOT administration and therefore all funds usually made available by the state were suddenly stopped. VDOT head Sean Connaughton even went as far as to say “not a penny will go to Tysons”. All of that over an increase in car traffic of 25,000-35,000 over the course of several decades.
VDOT forced Fairfax County, land developers, businesses, and home owners in Tysons to take on specific taxes to pay for all of the infrastructure in order to mitigate this 35% increase in traffic congestion. That was effectively double taxing these people, as Tysons entities would still continue to pay the same taxes that go to the rest of the region and state as well.
Now we flip to Prince William and Loudoun counties. No one at VDOT says that North-South traffic is at all a problem in the existing condition. The only location where there is an existing problem is associated with the on-ramp to I-66 from Route 28, which is more of an indictment on just how bad East-West traffic has become on I-66. This outer beltway will not improve that condition one bit. Therefore, logically it can be determined, that this road is being created to mitigate future growth.
In fact Connaughton, McDonnell, and the CTB have all stated this by saying that future demands will overwhelm the roads. The increase of 75% to 250% demand in the outer suburbs over the course of only 20 years equates to nearly 60,000 new vehicles, double the volume being created due to the development activity in Tysons, in half the time span.
So then why, in the case of Tysons, was the situation dire and requiring those of us who live in Tysons to pay for the future infrastructure needs; while future non-existent people who have yet to move here get off as free loaders?
And who will be building all of those new homes out in Prince William County and Loudoun county which will hold those 60,000 new vehicles?
Perhaps Gary Garczynsky board member of the CTB, and of the Home Builder Hall of Fame of Prince William County, would be a perfect expert to ask this question to?
If this 1 billion dollar road is being synthesized in its need by the addition of 60,000 more homes; perhaps we should ask those who are making millions of dollars building and selling those homes to contribute the same kind of funds that those of us living in Tysons (not making millions by doing so) are being asked to do?
Then again, that would be logical, something VDOT and this administration have never aimed to be.
Added May 15th: Representative Frank Wolfe has also voiced his concern about the misinformation and need for the North South corridor (outer beltway). The public needs to become aware that their wallets will be raked in order to spend without need on this project. See his letter from WAMU