19991012 r-99-31RESOLUTION NO. R-99-31
A RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE PROPOSED
NORTHERN VIRGINIA 2020 TRANSPORTATION PLAN,
INCLUDING NECESSARY AMENDMENTS TO
THE PROPOSED PLAN
WHEREAS, the Virginia General Assembly passed Senate Joint Resolution 434 that
requested the Transportation Coordinating Council (TCC) of Northern Virginia to "identify
the most immediate, highest priority, unfunded projects in the Northern Virginia 2020
Regional Transportation Plan, identify the costs for those projects and the process and time
scale necessary to implement them, and recommend funding mechanisms to facilitate the
timely construction of those projects..."; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Coordinating Council has drafted the Northern
Virginia 2020 Transportation Plan and has requested local jurisdictions in Northern Virginia
to endorse and comment on the plan; and
WHEREAS, the City of Fairfax is located at the geographical and transportation
center of Northern Virginia, bisected by Routes 29, 50, 123, 236, and 237 and flanked by
Braddock Road and 1-66 (which, as it parallels Routes 29 and 50 in the City results in
significant additional east-west traffic spilling off of 1-66); and the significant impact of
George Mason University traffic (of which 65% transits the City); and
WHEREAS, the Northern Virginia 2020 Transportation Plan includes significant
widenings of Routes 29, 50, and 123 to the City's west and south that will result in
exacerbating the traffic congestion in the City of Fairfax (which currently endures
approximately 300,000 vehicle trips per day within six square miles with a 20,000
population); and
WHEREAS, the City of Fairfax's Comprehensive Plan is supportive of regional
initiatives, especially
· "Improved accessibility and capacity of the region's interstate routes, particularly 1-66;
· The westward extension of rail service in the Dulles and 1-66 corridors;
· Completion of the Fairfax County Parkway with signage on the Route 123 Corridor
encouraging Parkway use to bypass the City;
· The extension and enhancement of Virginia Rail Express (VRE) service in the 1-95
and 1-66 corridors;
· Establishment and enhancement of commuter parking facilities throughout the
region;" and
WHEREAS, key elements in addressing City transportation concerns in this regional
context include:
Completion of a Central Fairfax Bypass that will provide a North-South alternative to
Route 123, from the Fairfax County Parkway connecting with Shirley Gate Road,
Waples Mill Road, and Jermantown Road, reconnecting with Route 123 in Oakton;
and
I
Shifting East-West traffic (in the City) to an enhanced Lee Highway corridor (Routes
29/50), dependent on VDOT/Fairfax County improvements to Route 50 to the east of
the City; and
· On the 1-66 corridor, capacity improvements designed in a manner that they will not
adversely impact on the residential areas adjacent to the corridor; and
Redesign of the traffic circulation in Old Town Fairfax from high-speed through-put
to a destination orientation in conjunction with major redevelopment of the downtown
area, and
· City express concern over any extensive widening of Route 50 to the west of the City
between the west City line and Fair Oaks;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Fairfax does hereby
endorse the Northern Virginia 2020 Transportation Plan, with the following necessary
amendments:
Consistent with City Council's position on the 1-66 MIS study, the City Council
strongly supports the extension of Metrorail to Centreville; however, the Council does
not support a Metrorail station location at Routes 123 and 1-66; and
· Any expansion ofi-66 between the Capital Beltway and the Route 50/I-66 interchange
must have no adverse impact on the adjacent residential communities in the City; and
Potential widening of Lee Highway (Route 29/50) to six lanes from Route 123 to West
City Line (WCL) should be implemented dependent upon the widening of Route 50 to
six lanes from East City Line to the Capital Beltway; and
Improvements to the Route 236/Pickett Road intersection should be implemented in
conjunction with the Route 236 corridor improvement between Pickett Road and the
Capital Beltway; and
Adding to the 2020 Plan the widening of Route 236 (North Street) to four lanes and
conversion to two-way traffic between Old Lee Highway and Main Street by 2005;
and
Adding to the 2020 Plan the completion/construction of the Central Fairfax Bypass
(NortlgSouth 123 bypass) connecting Waples Mill Road to Jermantown Road in
conjunction with any widening of 1-66; and
That the projected unsatisfactory performance of 1-95 is a major concern to all
jurisdictions along this corridor (and includes the City's concerns about spill-over
effect on Route 123); therefore, additional efforts must address this corridor, to
include an eastern bypass crossing of the Potomac River that permits through 1-95
traffic to bypass the Beltway.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Fairfax extends
its appreciation to the Transportation Coordinating Council, the Virginia Department of
Transportation, and the participating jurisdictional leadership of Northern Virginia for their
dedicated participation in this critical transportation planning for Northern Virginia.
Adopted this 12th day of October, 1999.
ATTEST:
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