Yoland Stephens is not comfortable pulling onto Potomac View Road from First Baptist Church.
"It’s scary for me," said the Sterling resident. "When I’m trying to come out, you have cars coming both ways. … Once you’re out there, you’re out there."
Stephens and other members of First Baptist Church want turn lanes onto the church grounds, which would expand a 1,500-foot section of Potomac View Road south of Route 7 under the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)’s proposed plans. The turn lanes address a "safety issue" for the church, as stated by several of the church members, and allow the church to meet state requirements. The second phase of a project to construct a larger facility is at a standstill until the turn lanes are installed.
Across the street is Claude Moore Park with its own concerns to protect hard wood trees and a Civil War Signal Station site, which both sit near the two-lane roadway. Residents concerned about the park, church members and neighbors of the area, along with others — about 35 total — attended VDOT’s design public hearing Jan. 23 on the proposed improvements to the road, also known as Route 637. VDOT took verbal and written comments and answered questions about the preliminary design project.
"It’s really providing safety for traffic on 637 and for people leaving and entering the church," said Stephen Tyrrell, assistant resident engineer for VDOT.
THE PROPOSED PROJECT adds two 12-foot turn lanes about six-tenths of a mile south of Route 7 at an estimated cost of $1.73 million. One of the turn lanes will run along the west side of the roadway to allow right-hand turns into the parking lot, while the second turn lane will provide access from the middle of the roadway.
The Board of Supervisors asked VDOT to add the turn lanes and retain the section of road as two lanes following a community meeting in 1999. Three years earlier, VDOT had finished a project to expand Potomac View Road into a four-lane roadway, funding the work through the Loudoun Secondary Road Program. At that time, the county had asked VDOT to hold off on expanding the one section, since the road already tied into Cascades Parkway to provide access for the area. Once Dulles Town Center opened in the late 1990s, usage of the road south of Route 7 increased and now averages 7,600 vehicles per day on the one section, according to information provided by VDOT.
"When the plans were drawn up, we saw the impact to park frontage and to some property owners," said Terrie Laycock, assistant to the county administrator. "We feel we have a plan that has minimal impact on the park and takes care of issues for the church."
Merry Breed, assistant manager of Claude Moore Park, agreed. "I was very pleased with how this was handled," she said. "This plan does a good job minimizing the impact on the park."
As for First Baptist Church, a $2 million project is partially on hold to build an 800-seat facility that replaces the current church building, which seats about 250 people. First Baptist Church started the first phase, which will seat 400 people and include a gymnasium and classrooms, in June 2002 with plans to complete the section this spring. The second phase of the project will include an interior balcony and seating for another 400 people. Once the project is completed, First Baptist Church will remove the existing church building to use the space for a parking lot.
"We want to start phase two, but we can’t until the turn lanes are in," said Sterling resident Wayne Smith, the architect who designed the church and a church member for the past five years.
In the meantime, First Baptist Church is holding 8 a.m. Sunday services at the existing church building and 10:30 a.m. services at Herndon High School. Smith estimated the turnout to be 400 people at each service.
"It’s a point of getting it done. We need it done more sooner than later," said Shawn Stephens, minister of music at First Baptist Church.
"It’s been an eight-year project to get to this point," said Pastor Leslie Patterson, Jr., a Sterling resident. "We’re just excited the project is being looked at and is fully funded."
VDOT’S PUBLIC HEARING is scheduled through Feb. 3. The Board of Supervisors will consider a resolution supporting the plans presented at the public hearing, possibly at the Feb. 18 board meeting, Laycock said. VDOT will forward the resolution and public hearing comments to the commissioner’s office for final approval and to gain authorization to seek right-of-way access.
VDOT expects to take until winter 2003 to review and evaluate the feedback and in summer 2003 to begin right-of-way acquisitions. For the project, one to two easements will need to be obtained, Tyrrell said. First Baptist Church owns most of the property on the west side of the roadway, while Claude Moore Park, which is located on the east side, has already dedicated the easement.
"The indication we got from the church is they are willing to donate the right of way," Tyrrell said.
"Even if we donate, it doesn’t guarantee the project," said Patterson, who has hesitations about donating the right-of-way after attending the public hearing. "We were under the impression, if we gave it, it would expedite the process. … The church would definitely look favorably on donating the land if the project is guaranteed by VDOT."
"There is no way we could guarantee anything," Tyrrell said in response, adding that other entities besides VDOT will come into play for the project. "Everyone we talked to is indicating they want us to move forward for the project as quickly as we can."
"The project is a go. It’s not a hold. It’s funded," said Charles Acker, project manager for the county’s Office of Transportation Services.
VDOT tentatively has scheduled to advertise for construction in early 2004 and complete the project that summer.