Board Agenda Item July 30, 2019

ACTION - 8

Endorsement of Design Plans for the Richmond Highway Corridor Improvements Project from Jeff Todd Way to Sherwood Hall Lane (Lee and Districts)

ISSUE: Board endorsement of the Department of Transportation (VDOT) Design Public Hearing plans for the 3.1-mile Richmond Highway Corridor Improvements Project between Jeff Todd Way/Mount Vernon Memorial Highway and Sherwood Hall Lane. The purpose of the project is to increase capacity, safety, and mobility for all users. Improvements include widening Richmond Highway from four to six lanes; reserving the median for the future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system; replacing structures over , Little , and the North Fork of Dogue Creek; intersection improvements; sidewalks; and two-way cycle tracks on both sides of the road.

RECOMMENDATION: The County Executive recommends that the Board endorse the design plans for the Richmond Highway Corridor Improvements project administered by VDOT as generally presented at the March 26, 2019, Design Public Hearing and authorize the Director of FCDOT to transmit the Board’s endorsement to VDOT (Attachment I).

TIMING: The Board should take action on this matter on July 30, 2019, to allow VDOT to proceed with final design plans and enter the Right-of-Way (ROW) phase in late 2019 to keep the project on schedule.

BACKGROUND: In 1994, the Virginia General Assembly directed VDOT to perform a centerline design study of the 27-mile Route 1 corridor between the Stafford County line and the Capital Beltway. There was a continuation of the Centerline Study in 1996 and 1998. The study divided the corridor into three segments: Project A-Stafford County Line to Route 123; Project B-Route 123 to Armistead Road; and Project C- Woods Parkway to the Capital Beltway. Project C encompasses the limits of the Richmond Highway Corridor Improvements project between Jeff Todd Way and Sherwood Hall Lane. While the Commonwealth Transportation Board selected centerline locations for Project A in 2004 and Project B in 2006, the centerline location for Project C remained unresolved. By 2009, the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan was amended to recommend six lanes on the northern portion of Project C along Richmond Highway between Mount Vernon Memorial Highway/Jeff Todd Way and the Capital Beltway without specifying the

346 Board Agenda Item July 30, 2019 centerline location.

In 2013 and 2014, the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) conducted a multimodal study of the 16-mile Richmond Highway corridor in Fairfax County. Several alternatives were studied included curb-running BRT, median-running BRT, light rail transit, and a hybrid median-running BRT with a Metrorail extension between Huntington Metrorail Station to Hybla Valley. The DRPT published the Route 1 Multimodal Alternatives study in 2015 and recommended pursuing median-running BRT in the near term with a Metrorail extension from Huntington to Hybla Valley in the long term. The Board endorsed this recommendation in May 2015.

Subsequently, multiple County departments implemented the recommendations of the Route 1 Multimodal Alternatives study. Fairfax County commenced the Embark Comprehensive Plan Amendment (PA 2015-IV-MV1) to assess and refine the recommendations in the DRPT study between Huntington Metrorail Station and Fort Belvoir, which included a consistent six lane section of Richmond Highway. The Embark Comprehensive Plan covers the land use densities and mix for the areas within one-half mile of radius of the proposed BRT stations, corridor wide transportation systems, urban design, public facilities, and other elements supportive of BRT.

The widening of this section of Richmond Highway from four to six lanes is included in Fairfax County’s Comprehensive Plan 2018 Edition (as amended) for Transportation. The Board of Supervisors included funding for the project as part of the County’s Four- Year Transportation Program, and Transportation Priorities Plan (collectively FY2013- FY2020). This project has long been a part of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (the Region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization) Constrained Long Range Plan and the Transportation Improvement Plan. In addition to being included in this regional plan, the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority’s regional transportation plan (TransAction) also includes the project. In addition, this project is included in VDOT’s VTrans2040 Vision Plan and Needs Assessment adopted by the Commonwealth Transportation Board in late 2015.

PUBLIC HEARING COMMENTS: In accordance with the Code of the Commonwealth of Virginia and policies of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, a Design Public Hearing was held on Tuesday, March 26, 2019.

Approximately 230 members of the public attended the Design Public Hearing. A total of 324 individuals or organizations provided written, emailed, or oral comments during the open comment period which was extended 30 days after the hearing. Of the 324 who provided comments, 289 members of the public provided technical comments seeking to improve the project. There were also 26 comments which were direct statements of support for the project and nine comments in opposition. A copy of the

347 Board Agenda Item July 30, 2019 public hearing brochure is attached (Attachment 2).

Through the public hearing process and County staff review of the project design plans, and recommends that VDOT incorporate the following major design features into the design of the project:

1. Two-Way Cycle Tracks: Within the proposed 178-foot right-of-way width for Richmond Highway, this project should construct two-way cycle tracks on both sides of Richmond Highway. Each cycle track should be eight feet in width to accommodate two-way cyclist traffic.

2. BRT Transitway Bridges: a. : The VDOT project should design and construct the BRT transitway bridge over Little Hunting Creek. There are multiple benefits of having the VDOT project accomplish this task instead of FCDOT, including reducing difficulties relating to constructability (e.g., narrow lateral width) and temporary traffic control (e.g., fewer disruptions to normal traffic patterns). The BRT project will compensate the VDOT project for the cost of BRT transitway bridge.

b. North Fork of Dogue Creek: Whether VDOT pursues a continuous culvert design or a bridge design, the VDOT project should design and build the transitway structure at this location.

3. Proposed Traffic Signal – U.S. Post Office Entrance/ Wyngate Manor Court: The County supports the construction of a new traffic signal along Richmond Highway at the U.S. Post Office entrance. A traffic signal at this location will help accommodate safe passage of pedestrians across Richmond Highway, improve accessibility for motorists between the half-mile section of Richmond Highway between Lukens Lane and Frye Road, assist emergency vehicle access, and improve access to the U.S. Post Office.

4. Pedestrian Underpasses: a. Little Hunting Creek: The project should design and construct a pedestrian underpass underneath Richmond Highway at the Little Hunting Creek bridge between north Buckman Road and Ladson Lane. The pedestrian underpass will offer another option to cross Richmond Highway without waiting for a traffic signal and without conflicts with motorists or buses. VDOT created an online survey to assess public reaction to a pedestrian underpass concept at this location which gathered 381 responses. Approximately 58% of those surveyed indicated they would use a pedestrian underpass at Little Hunting Creek. On June 11, 2019, FCDOT and VDOT staff met with the New Gum Springs Civic Association regarding the pedestrian underpass at Little Hunting Creek.

348 Board Agenda Item July 30, 2019

The New Gum Springs Civic Association does not support this underpass.

b. Dogue Creek: The project should design and construct a pedestrian underpass underneath Richmond Highway at the Dogue Creek bridge between Jeff Todd Way and Sacramento Drive. There is no traffic signal for the half-mile section of Richmond Highway between Jeff Todd Way and Sacramento Drive. The pedestrian underpass will offer the option of crossing Richmond Highway between these two traffic signals without conflicts with motorists or buses. The VDOT online survey also gathered 381 responses for this location. Approximately 59% of those surveyed indicated they would use a pedestrian underpass at Dogue Creek.

PROJECT SCHEDULE: The current schedule is as follows:

∑ Design Public Hearing – March 26, 2019 ∑ Begin Right-of-Way Acquisition – Winter 2019/2020 ∑ Utility Relocation – Winter 2020/2021 ∑ Begin Construction – Summer 2023 ∑ Complete Construction – 2026

FISCAL IMPACT: None. Of the $372 million estimated project cost, the County has allocated over $177.8 million in funding for the project from regional, state, federal, and local sources.

ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS: Attachment 1: Letter for transmitting Board Endorsement of Richmond Highway Corridor Improvements Project Attachment 2: March 26, 2019, Design Public Hearing Brochure

STAFF: Rachel Flynn, Deputy County Executive Tom Biesiadny, Director, Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) Eric Teitelman, Chief, Capital Projects and Traffic Engineering Division, FCDOT Michael J. Guarino, Chief, Capital Projects Section (CPS), FCDOT Vanessa Aguayo, CPS, FCDOT Ajmal ‘AJ’ Hamidi, CPS, FCDOT Andrew G. Beacher, Preliminary Engineering Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Dan Reinhard, Project Manager, VDOT

349 C o u n t y o f Fairfax, Virginia A t t a c h m e n t 1 To protect and enrich the quality of life for the people, neighborhoods and diverse communities of Fairfax County

July 31, 2019

Ms. Helen L. Cuervo, P.E. District Administrator Northern Virginia District Virginia Department of Transportation 4975 Alliance Drive Fairfax, Virginia 22030

Subject: Board Endorsement of the Richmond Highway (Route 1) Corridor Improvements Project with Comments, UPC 107187

Dear Ms. Cuervo:

On July 30, 2019, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors endorsed the design plans to widen 3.1 miles of Richmond Highway between Jeff Todd Way and Sherwood Hall Lane from four to six lanes, as generally presented at the March 26, 2019, Design Public Hearing. The following design modifications should be included in the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) project design:

1. Two-Way Cycle Tracks: The project should construct two-way cycle tracks on both sides of Richmond Highway. Each two-way cycle track should be eight feet in width within the 178-foot right-of-way designated for this project.

2. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Transitway Bridges:

a. Little Hunting Creek: The VDOT project should design and construct the BRT transitway bridge over Little Hunting Creek for constructability reasons. The cost of this bridge will be reimbursed by the County’s BRT project. b. North Fork of Dogue Creek: Whether VDOT pursues a continuous culvert design or a bridge design, the VDOT project should design and build the transitway structure at this location to save cost.

3. Proposed Traffic Signal at U.S. Post Office Entrance/Wyngate Manor Court: The Board supports the new proposed traffic signal along Richmond Highway at the U.S. Post Office entrance for pedestrian safety, mobility, and emergency vehicle access.

4. Pedestrian Underpasses: a. Little Hunting Creek: The VDOT project should the design and construct a pedestrian underpass underneath the Little Hunting Creek bridge.

Fairfax County Department of Transportation 4050 Legato Road, Suite 400 Fairfax, VA 22033-2895 Phone: (703) 877-5600 TTY: 711 Fax: (703) 877-5723 www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot

350 Ms. Helen L. Cuervo, P.E. July 31, 2019 Page 2 of 2

b. Dogue Creek: The VDOT project should design and construct a pedestrian underpass underneath the Dogue Creek bridge.

Please call Ajmal ‘AJ’ Hamidi at (703) 877-5828 or me at (703) 877-5663, if you have any questions or need additional information. Thank you for your assistance with this important project.

Sincerely,

Tom Biesiadny Director

cc: Board of Supervisors Bryan J. Hill, County Executive Rachel Flynn, Deputy County Executive Andrew G. Beacher, Preliminary Engineering Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Dan Reinhard, Project Manager, VDOT Tom Biesiadny, Director, Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) Eric Teitelman, Chief, Capital Projects and Traffic Engineering Division, FCDOT Ajmal ‘AJ’ Hamidi, Transportation Planner, Capital Projects Section, FCDOT

351 352 Ю±°ò ÎÉ

Ю±°ò ÎÉ 353