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Tysons OnRamp/Forest Debacle Over But Problems Remain

Navid Roshan-Afshar
@thetysonscorner
January 15, 2013

As we reported in October, Fairfax County and FCDOT had really stepped into a mess when they proposed a Dulles Toll Road ramp alignment which would condemn property within a neighborhood forest and park. The option for this alignment made absolutely no sense what so ever except, that it was one of the cheaper alternatives available. It completely disregarded the agreements and conservation easements that the county had previously bestowed on the property, donated by several residents years prior.

We want to say congratulations to the residents of Tysons and Vienna whose homes, properties, and recreational open space would have been ruined by this project. You guys showed everyone the power of the little guy by researching, getting educated, and then getting vocal.

Now the bad news. Major problems still remain.

While the alignment is no longer causing disturbance within the boundaries of the forest, the concept to connect a Dulles Toll Road highway ramp to the Boone Boulevard extension remains. Providing this off-ramp just before Route 7 assures it will be heavily traversed. No matter what the designers expect for the usage, it will be worse. The entire concept is antithetical to the goals of the comprehensive plan. This highway connection will provide more incentive for commuters, in fact providing them a path now through neighborhood roads in order to avoid problems on Route 7.

The Tysons Comprehensive Plan did want better road connections, but adding a toll road ramp at this point was not a cemented requirement of that network. It is very odd that this would be the first design analyzed.

Frankly, there are better improvement possibilities for DTR expansions in Tysons; along Greensboro and Spring Hill Station, both of which would improve bus circulation efficiency as well. Instead of this toll road ramp which provides no benefit to residents, the planners and FCDOT should be looking at immediately constructing the Scotts Run Crossing connection for Jones Branch Drive, an integral improvement to the city grid. Instead of this ramp the county should be extending Boone Boulevard to Spring Hill Road to create a better road grid of complete streets (not highway off-ramps) between Tysons and Vienna.

There are so many more important road improvements necessary, why is the first one we are using money for another gift to the gods of commuting, on the very road which is being improved with the Silver Line?

The forest in Tysons might have been saved, and we should all be very happy for that. Unfortunately, this battle over retaining established neighborhoods and promoting smart urbanity still is undecided.




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