I-66 HOT lanes proposed, with multimodal improvements

[PotomacCyclist]

VDOT is supposed to present the project today to the regional Transportation Planning Board. They want to construct two Express Lanes in both directions along 25 miles of I-66 between the Beltway and Route 15 in Haymarket. They also want to convert I-66 inside the Beltway to part-time HOT (high-occupancy toll) lanes.

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/breaking_ground/2015/01/virginia-detailsi-66-toll-lanes-inside-and-outside.html?page=all

The article also mentions this:

“VDOT also proposes to construct multimodal upgrades on I-66 (enhanced bus, pedestrian and bicycle improvements, funded by tolls) and to widen I-66 from two to three lanes in both directions between Fairfax Drive and the Beltway, though that project will not be completed until 2040.”

The Custis Trail already runs along I-66 for most of the route in Arlington. Does anyone know what sort of upgrades are being proposed here? Are they significant upgrades? If so, where? Or is this just a way to lower any opposition to the I-66 proposal? Arlington has battled with VDOT in the recent past over proposed HOT lanes on I-395.

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MORE INFO:
A link to Item 11 – Information, dated Jan. 21, 2015: Briefing on Project Submissions for the 2015 CLRP [National Capital Region Long Range Transportation Plan]:
http://www.mwcog.org/uploads/committ…0121083616.pdf

The general public can comment on the proposals through the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board website:

http://www.mwcog.org/clrp/#public-comment

“Public Comment

On January 15, 2015, the TPB released for public comment the following documents and information related to the 2015 CLRP update. The TPB is scheduled to consider these items for approval at its meeting on February 18.

– Additions and Changes Proposed for Inclusion in the 2015 CLRP Update (summary memo)
– Project Inputs for the Air Quality Conformity Analysis
– Draft Scope of Work for the Air Quality Conformity Analysis

Visit http://www.mwcog.org/TPBcomment to submit comments by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, February 14.

Comment by February 14:
http://www.mwcog.org/TPBcomment

Materials may also be reviewed at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), 777 N. Capitol St. NE, Washington, DC 20002. Submit written comments to:

TPB Chair Patrick Wojahn
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG)
777 N. Capitol St. NE, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20002″

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WABA email re public meetings for the I-66 multimodal project: https://hq-org.salsalabs.com/o/451/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=1314948

VDOT public meetings

“Your help is needed to ensure bicycle and pedestrian safety and accessibility, and to ask for a shared use trail along I-66. We ask that you attend one of the upcoming public meetings and submit comments to VDOT below. This is our chance to insist that biking and walking be an integral part of multi-modal improvements to the I-66 corridor.”

Monday, January 26, 2015 – 6:00pm to 8:30pm
Oakton High School Cafeteria (Entrance #1 or #14)
2900 Sutton Road, Vienna, VA 22181

Tuesday, January 27, 2015 – 6:00pm to 8:30pm
Bull Run Elementary School Cafeteria (Entrance #1)
15301 Lee Highway, Centreville, VA 20121

Thursday, January 29, 2015 – 6:00pm to 8:30pm
VDOT Northern Virginia District Office, 1st Floor, Occoquan Room

Transform 66 Comments
VDOT
Email:Transform66@VDOT.Virginia.gov

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Other links:

http://transform66.org/

Topic

[chris_s]

VDOT has produced a concept plan for extending a “trail” along I-66 from the Beltway out to Haymarket.

It’s….not great. Every time they come to an interchange they basically throw their hands up in the air and yell “it’s just all too hard!”

Fairfax County Portion
PW County Portion

[Mikey]

I think the far worse item is the divergent diamond interchange at Nutley and 66. Not that this is a bastion of pedestrian safety right now, but the DD interchange will increase car speeds, add more awkward pedestrian crossings, and increase the time to make it across a much wider car only zone.
See this GGW write up from a few years back for more info:

[mstone]

@chris_s 116526 wrote:

VDOT has produced a concept plan for extending a “trail” along I-66 from the Beltway out to Haymarket.

That’s huge. Yes it sucks that it can’t be more direct, but there seemed to be zero appetite at VDOT to even consider something like the custis along the 66 ROW outside the beltway. To get anything down on the pavement means we have the ability to grow the utilization and push for improvements. I can bike to Manassas battlefield now; this proposal might mean that I could bike there with my kids. (Of course, by the time it’s implemented, my kids will be pulling away from me on the road but I’m sure it will be great for someone’s kids.)

[chris_s]

@mstone 116530 wrote:

That’s huge. Yes it sucks that it can’t be more direct, but there seemed to be zero appetite at VDOT to even consider something like the custis along the 66 ROW outside the beltway. To get anything down on the pavement means we have the ability to grow the utilization and push for improvements. I can bike to Manassas battlefield now; this proposal might mean that I could bike there with my kids. (Of course, by the time it’s implemented, my kids will be pulling away from me on the road but I’m sure it will be great for someone’s kids.)

Props to WABA for getting several hundred emails into the VDOT comment period.

[Mikey]

More issues with the DDI:

[mstone]

Expecting VDOT not to prioritize cars is like expecting the scorpion not to sting the frog. The DDI is pedestrian-unfriendly, but we can probably still get something that’s an improvement over the current implementation. Strategically, it’s one of those items that we probably need to swallow, but point to when we demand more improvements in other sections. (“If you want us to shut up about your crappy DDI you’d better throw us 50 feet of pavement for a continuous bike route even though you’d rather not bother.”)

[Author]

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