With recent announced cuts to the budget in the Commonwealth of Virginia and transportation needs ranking at or near the top of Northern Virginia’s wish list, U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10th) touted Bus Rapid Transit and telework/telecommuting as the leading solutions to an ever-increasing problem.
"There’s nothing magical about getting in a metal box and driving 35 miles in order to sit in front of a computer," said Wolf, supporting increased telecommuting after noting that there is $117 million earmarked for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
Wolf was one of three speakers to address members of the McLean Citizens Association as well as the public at-large last Thursday evening, Feb. 21 at the McLean Community Center. Wolf, who spoke first and needed to leave early, was joined by Kenneth Klinge, chairman of the Northern Virginia Transportation Coordinating Council and Pierce Homer, Deputy Secretary of Transportation for Virginia, reporting directly to Secretary Whit Clement.
Aside from the traditional issues of density and rail to Tysons, McLean resident Bill Burns raised the issue of public safety due to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 of last year. He asked if there is a method of protecting the CIA building via an evacuation plan.
"I’m not sure there even is a plan," said Wolf.
ON BEHALF of the MCA Transportation Committee, Dan Alcorn asked, in light of the CIA, Pentagon and defense industries located in this area what special needs there are for transportation due to Sept. 11.
"There is a greater need for rail to connect from Falls Church. There is more support for metro construction than any other rail projects in the nation. [U.S. Transportation] Secretary [Norman] Minetta believes there is a responsibility. We must have a plan — rail to Tysons with BRT, then farther west," said Wolf.
Asked how to fix the back ups on Route 66, Wolf first responded by saying, "I won’t do anything to hurt Arlington County — I once represented them." He called for the widening of Route 66 inside the Beltway. "Add that lane with sound walls — that should be a priority of V-DOT. Take people off residential roads and put them on 66 where they belong," said Wolf to applause from the audience 50 to 60 strong. He said it’s important to take cars off Old Dominion and that mass transit was part of the answer. "I have always sided with the residents," said Wolf.
Transportation Committee co-chairman Olivia Jenney said that while Northern Virginia is seen as a "cash cow, our tax dollars are never turned down. How do we integrate our transportation plans and transportation funding for today, a year from now and 20 years from now? There will be total gridlock in 20 years," she said.
THE 2020 PLAN was supposed to solve the problem, said Klinge. "If we had built half the roads from the plan of the mid-60s, we would not have the problem we have now," he said. "Every jurisdiction had its favorite project — nothing meshed. The 2020 Plan — not perfect — has every plan that would be built. It takes political will. Elected officials need to say ‘we need this.’ If it weren’t for Jack Herrity, the Fairfax County Parkway wouldn’t exist. That’s political will," said Klinge, not directly answering Jenney’s question except to point to the politicians who have been calling for transportation projects such as rail to Tysons for years.
McLean resident Germaine Broussard raised the issue of the potential loss of federal funding if the Clean Air Standards are not met.
"The lady is absolutely correct," said Klinge. "Atlanta is already out of business — they cannot build any more transportation projects and we’re heading in that direction. Instead of having a year, we have three to four months," he said, without offering a solution.
McLean resident Bill Frazer, president of the Broyhill Estates Homeowners Association didn’t have a question, but a gripe to lodge against V-DOT. "V-DOT is like a four-letter word," said Frazer. "They’re not very responsive. Three weeks a go, Chain Bridge Road went from 25 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour. We’re very upset about it," said Frazer, adding that V-DOT made the decision unilaterally.