Fairfax County’s current Comprehensive Plan calls for realigning Braddock and Old Lee Roads in Centreville to cut through Rock Hill District Park, with Braddock ending in a T at Old Lee. But VDOT says it’s too expensive and prefers instead to make “interim, low-cost improvements.”
It favors adding a traffic signal, plus a 200-foot, southbound, right-turn lane and a 1,100-foot jughandle lane to accommodate the existing, eastbound left turns. The work would include realigning the S curve on Braddock by cutting 20 feet deep into the ground and removing a large section of rock.
Residents told VDOT that’s a terrible idea because it would just add more traffic to Braddock from Loudoun County, making it harder for Centreville residents to access that road. But VDOT chose that plan, anyway.
And championed by Supervisor Kathy Smith (D-Sully) – without any public hearing beforehand – in July, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recommended it receive nearly $16 million in Smart Scale funding from the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB).
VDOT held an online public hearing, Sept. 30, and Will Steinhilber, with the county’s Transportation Department, said the project would “maximize safety and operations.” Questions submitted by residents were read, without their names identified.
They suggested a traffic light, roundabout or turn lane at that intersection, but VDOT’s Andy Beacher said they wouldn’t best address traffic congestion there. When someone asked, “Why are you spending an enormous amount of money for a short-term fix?” Beacher said it would provide the most value for its cost.
Another person said, “I’d like to have a public meeting about this – not just you guys telling us what you want to do. FCDOT Director Tom Biesiadny said that’ll happen if the project’s funded.
Frustrated, a resident asked, “What’s the point of this meeting, if you guys have already made up your mind about what you’re going to do?” Beacher said they wanted to clarify what’ll happen, going forward. He also noted environmental impacts won’t be studied until funding’s secured. And Biesiadny said the CTB will hold a public meeting and receive written comments before deciding on this project.
Afterward, many residents were angry their questions weren’t read and answered, and their concerns not taken seriously. So one of them, Kathleen Leggette, later held her own, in-person meeting on her Centreville property – which the project would directly impact. She also invited two members of Virginia’s General Assembly to hear residents’ viewpoints firsthand. (See sidebar).