Bi-County Parkway

“Question the Generalizations”

Traffic Source for Graph• Source: VDOT Traffic

Modeling and Analysis Memorandum

• May 18 Revised• 366 pages• Page 15 Analysis is easy

to understand• The proposal for this

road is based on percentages, should be based on actual numbers and capacity

Notice significant decrease in traffic on Gum Spring Road, but not significant decrease on other roads

This road helps Gum Spring RoadPersonal Testimony:I drove up Gum Spring Road during PM rush hour last week and there was no traffic.

Recently, Gum Spring Road has been widened to four lanes.

There is no need to relieve congestion on Gum Spring Road anymore.

I question whether these traffic numbers take the new lanes on Gum Spring Road into consideration.

• Notice Gum Spring Road is Purple going south

• Arrows point to true congestion

• Source: Mr. Kilpatrick’s VDOT Hylton Presentation, July 3rd, 2013

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2040 PM Traffic No BuildRoad color indicates capacity

2040 PM Build Scenario

• Notice Gum Spring Road is now pink going south

• All other areas stay the same for rush hour traffic

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Land Bought by Developers

• Source: Piedmont Environmental Council

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Population Growth Per Square Mile

Source:Corridor Master Plan

Population Growth Per Square Mile

With Developer’s

Map

Source:Corridor Master Plan

What about the economic benefit?

Employment Growth Per Square Mile

Economic Growth is east and north of

PWC

Source: Corridor Master Plan

• I thought it was interesting that Mr. Connaughton’s presentation showed economic growth in the Gainesville area, but that doesn’t seem to be reflected in the maps in the Corridor Master Plan

• Leesburg City Council is against the Bi-County Parkway

• Political threats

• Source: Leesburgtoday,

• July 20, 2013

Why Leesburg City Council is against this Road

“I attended almost all of the meeting VDOT held including in Prince William and other locations and I found it interesting that

every meeting I went to the message was different. In Prince William they talked about air cargo and in the next meeting it wasn't going to have anything to do with airport cargo,” Burk

said. “So every one of the meetings I went to I got more frustrated because I felt there was a different emphasis on each

meeting. It is obvious economic development has twice as much value with the project. I don't necessarily agree with

that, but what struck me is the economic development is all east of the actual road.” Burkehttp://

www.loudountimes.com/news/article/leesburg_town_council_stands_firm_opposes_vdot_north_south_corridor_stud312

% of Pages Dedicated to Economic Data to Support Bi-County Parkway in the

Corridor Master Plan

2 of 173 pages included data to indicate there would be an increase in cargo at Dulles

Growth at Dulles• This is the only

evidence of cargo growth in the Corridor Master Plan

• Found on page 50• Notice the source

for the freight data is Boeing and MWAA

Facts about Dulles Cargo Growth• Dulles

Cargo down 11% this past year

• Tied to Europe’s economy

• Source: Wash Biz Journal, 4/11/13

Facts about Dulles• Dulles

ridership down 8% this past year

• Meanwhile, Raegan and BWI are growing

• Source: Washington Post, July 19 2013

Question the Generalizations

“This road will bring economic benefit to Prince William County.”

• Growth will be north and east of PWC• Dulles is currently on the decline• Corridor Master Plan doesn’t seem to have a lot

of objective data to support their economic claims

Question the Generalizations• “…all should be able to agree that traffic in western

Prince William and eastern Loudoun County is bad and going to be getting worse unless we build the transportation facilities necessary to address it.” Mr. Connaughton, letter to the editor, June 20, 2013

• This road does not address the traffic issues in Western Prince William, it is designed to help Gum Spring Road – and that road is already clear because of the widening to 4 lanes. It will also help Rt. 15 10% - 16%.

Question the Generalizations• “Anyone regularly traveling in this area knows

going north and south already can be a miserable slog. Current traffic counts and projected forecasts show that roads like Routes 15, 234, Gum Spring Road and other north-south routes already are overwhelmed and face pandemic congestion by 2040 if the Bi-County Parkway is not built.” Mr. Connaughton, June 20, 2013, Letter to the Editor Ashburn Patch

“Pandemic” Congestion is Still East-West in 2040

?• Notice traffic on Balls Ford Road gets worse with the build scenario

Question the Generalizations

• I would like to request the Board of County Supervisors look for data to support the claims

Suggestions• Focus on public transportation– Gas prices are going to go up as we run out of

“easy oil”– Advocate to build bus, VRE, and metro

infrastructure now to prevent an uncomfortable transition to alternative transportation later• Build VRE to Gainesville• Increase buses to/from DC, including the commuter lot

at 234 bypass and during off-peak hours• Advocate for Metro to Fairfax County Parkway• Add a bus from Gainesville to Woodbridge

What about the connection b/t PWC and Loudoun?

• Build the Battlefield Bypass first before closing 234, as was intended in the 1988 resolution

• Is there a way to make a little two lane connection from 234 Bypass to Pageland Lane that doesn’t utilize park land?

What about the traffic in the park?• Put up “No

Trucks” signs• Lower the roads

within the park - or - • Build pedestrian

tunnels under the road

• Example:JMU pedestrian tunnel to the arts facility. It’s beautiful!