In April, the expansive Springfield Interchange project, at the intersection of Interstates 395, 495 and 95, passed the half-way point for being completed. This is a massive project that involves over 50 bridges and overpasses, lane additions and signage designed to move traffic through the Interchange more smoothly. This will also mean the elimination or the bobbing and weaving in an area previously known as the "mixing bowl" or "malfunction junction" to some. The project is highlighted by a 120-foot overpass going from the Beltway, over all the highway lanes, to I-95 south. At last count, the project was priced at $676 million and has been given the ceiling of $700 million by Virginia politicians.
New West Springfield Station
After months of renovations, the Supervisor Elaine McConnell (R-Springfield) and the West Springfield District Police Station have returned to the same building. The $10,840,000 renovation updated and reconfigured the police, fire and supervisor’s offices, adding about 18,000 for a total of 41,500 square feet. Funded with a 1998 bond, the renovation includes increased facilities for the police and supervisor as well as the fire department, which is gaining another truck bay long enough for a hook-and-ladder unit, which will be an addition as well. The new station breaks down into 49 percent for police facilities; 34 percent for fire; 10 percent dedicated to lobby, community room and public facilities; and 7 percent going to the supervisor’s office.
At the same time, the county added another station to it's police arsenal called the Sully Station in western Fairfax.
Revitalization
Recognizing the need for the "new," local businesses have joined forces with Fairfax County to revitalize central Springfield. Leading the effort, a group concentrating on the effort, called CSPARC (Central Springfield Revitalization Committee) pushes forward. The introduction of the new Veteran's Bridge over Old Keene Mill Road constructed by VDOT was part of the effort, as was the opening of Trader Joe's, an upscale grocer, in Springfield Plaza. From the other side of the highway, the Northern Virginia Community College medical campus will start classes in the fall. In the office space surrounding the campus, businesses in the bioinformatics field are opening as part of a "bioinformatics incubator," according to Supervisor Dana Kauffman (D-Lee).
VRE
Each year, the Virginia Railway Express is gaining popularity as a commuting option. Mark Roeber, VRE spokesperson, noted the increased ridership from April 2002 and April 2003.
"If you look at April last year and April this year, you see a 16 or 17 percent growth," he said.
One thing VRE is planning to do on the Manassas Line, which services the Burke and Springfield at the Rolling Road and Burke Centre stations, is put in more bi-level cars, said Roeber.
"In June, we'll be bringing more of the Pullman Gallery's," he said. "On each train, it will give you a couple of hundred extra seats." VRE will incorporate the bi-level cars in the train and put the single-seat cars on the end of the train.
Last spring, Gov. Mark Warner (D) laid out plans for several quick-fix solutions, including Burke Centre shuttles for the Virginia Railway Express at both the Burke Centre and the Rolling Road stations. Warner's directive included 26 projects, totaling $9.9 million for Northern Virginia and $9.3 million in Hampton Roads.
According to information released by the governor's office, "each project is designed to reduce traffic congestion, enhance air quality, and be implemented within twelve months from the date of funding availability."
Burke Centre has no map etched out for the shuttles yet, according to VRE spokesperson, Mark Roeber.
"We're looking at putting in shuttles at both locations," he said. "Fairfax County is working with us to make it more direct. The hope is to free up spaces at the stations."
Libraries
In a move that Supervisor Kauffman called "land-banking," which is setting aside land for future uses, a permanent home for the Kingstowne Regional Library was purchased. It is located near the intersection of Beulah Street and the Springfield-Franconia Parkway. While no funding is set aside for the library at this time, the land is designated for that and it will be used for ball fields in the meantime. The present Kingstowne Library, which is in the Landsdowne Center at Telegraph Road and Beulah, is in temporary quarters and will move when the library bond comes through in the future.
Northern Virginia Community College Medical Campus
South of Springfield Mall near the Government Services Administration (GSA) land, NVCC system is opening a medical campus for those interested in the medical field. The campus is close to the Springfield-Franconia Metro station, providing a viable source of transportation for the school. Also in that area, an economic experiment is taking with the introduction of the bioinformatics incubator. This is open to technology oriented companies spurring growth around the campus and Washington, D.C. area. In addition, the Inova Healthplex emergency center opened on the other side of the Metro station, providing an outlet for medical students from the school to gain experience in a hands on training.
Springfield-Franconia Metro Station
At the end of Metro's Blue Line, the Springfield-Franconia Metro Station is growing as a valuable transportation facility. Since opening in the late 1990s, a Virginia Railway Express station has gone into operation as well as a Greyhound Bus station, which all have access to the Metro system. A new parking garage is under construction now as well. It will be connected to the present parking garage, providing an ample amount of parking for Metro customers.
Parkway Enforcement
The wide-open roadways and 50 miles per hour speed limit make the Fairfax County Parkway a haven for speeders. A number of fatalities have occurred on the roadway, making it a target for police as well. In the past year, the Fairfax County Police Department incorporated LIDAR into its arsenal of speed enforcement. LIDAR uses a lasar, pointed directly at the car, and uses digital readout when the officers notify the drivers of the speed limit.