I'd devote one of the lanes in each direction to rapid bus transit, increase the number of buses traveling those routes, and place secure bike facilities at each stop so that riders can travel further on their own to get to the stops.

I would open up some of the side streets that were closed due to 9-11. One of the problems with the traffic in N-VA is that there are no alternative ways to get out of a traffic problem.

-I fully support the "widen-in-place" option for Route 1 between Ft. Belvoir and Lorton.
-Extending Metro's Yellow Line all the way to Fort Belvoir or even to Lorton would not be a bad Idea either.

I would prefer a widen in place near Woodlawn Plantation in lieu of proposed by-pass and use land on west side of Rt 1 to miss the cemetery. In addition, I believe the plans should be revised to have less diameter across to alleviate some of the concerns of the Trust which wants to protect land on the west side. For all of Rt 1 I would make it friendlier to bikers and other alternative commuting like commuter parking and ride share. One person in one car going into/out of the military base should not be allowed. Buses or carpools are the way to get those military staff that live off base to their jobs IMO.

A solution that could be implemented TODAY would be increased enforcement of traffic laws on US1. I would like to see an analysis (30 days, not 2 years), which I believe would be favorable, of a specially trained cadre of a few people whose sole responsibility is to enforce traffic laws. Tickets for EXTREMELY common offenses -- changing lanes in an intersection, crossing solid white lines, running red lights, failure to use turn signals, obstructing traffic by stopping in a lane (without turn signals), failure to use lights during inclement weather, obstructing traffic by traveling 10 or more miles below the posted speed limit in traffic, blocking lanes because you missed your turn and can't be bothered to go turn around, and similar infractions.

I believe US1 could handle today's traffic significantly better if drivers didn't have to slow and avoid these infractions. And the increased revenue from tickets would be a help as well.

Adjust some timing of traffic lights--especially near the busy strip malls--to prevent the problem of the Rte. 1 traffic filling in between the lights and "blocking the box," thus preventing the flow of traffic in and out of the shopping centers. BTW, this also needs to be done at the lights at Telegraph/S. King & Telegraph/Van Dorn.

While I appreciate the need for buses and mass transportation, having them stop every quarter mile blocks a lane. How about creating pull-offs for bus stops? Also, extending the turn lanes for major shopping centers (WalMart, Home Depot Plaza, the new Costco) would help also.

Though it may seem counter-intuitive, building housing at a higher density will help alleviate traffic.

BRAC has been complete for a few months now, and no new employees are expected to come to Fort Belvoir in the foreseeable future. While traffic is bad on Richmond Highway, it is expected to get worse as a result of population increasing, not as a result of more employees at Fort Belvior through BRAC.

But, when one problem presents itself, sometimes so too does a solution. The expected increase in population comes from the high and increasing demand to live in this area. Demand for housing causes developers to create more supply. Look at the Beacon of Groveton and the impending redevelopment of Penn Daw Plaza as prime examples of developers seeing the demand and meeting it. The demand is for denser, mixed-use development. There is nearly zero demand for single family homes, which is good, because SF homes take up so much more space (which we don't have) per person than higher density.

As denser development comes in, the developers are required to work with the county to pay for the impacts of their development. Those funds usually go toward not only traffic alleviation, but also to engineering solutions to actually improve the environment.

Instead of laying down more asphalt to accommodate more cars 1) find ways for folks to work from home or set up satellite offices in the areas where people are driving from. 2) Greatly increase mass transit via metro and bus service. Why not a metro stop in Ft Belvoir like we have at Pentagon? It must be convenient and affordable if people are to use it. 3) Charge tolls for non hov3/4 vehicles. Personally I'm kind of tired of paying higher taxes and higher home prices to live close to my work and then have to pay for roads for those choosing to live further out to save money on their homes.

We must not encourage more cars on the roads by adding/widening lanes. We have to start thinking about alternate modes of transportation. Go ahead and destroy Woodlawn with a ramp, in 5 years there'll be another insurmountable traffic issue that can only be solved by destroying a landmark. How about we burn down the bridges over the Potomac and fill in the river with asphalt, so drivers can have an easier time getting into dc. My point is that widening these roads or adding new lanes is like putting a band aid on a broken arm. Extend the metro, add more buses, have bike lanes and lanes only for electric cars. That problematic stretch of route one could take an hour by car, but on a bike, merely 15 minutes. Might help solve the obesity crisis, too. Win/win.

To expand on Mr(s) Thompson's post, we need to ask the Army commands on base to do a better job of staggering starting times. We had significant success in San Diego by working with military organizations to do their part in partnering with community interests. 0600- 1430, 0800- 1630, 1000 to 1830. These are shore commands and while everyone thinks they have to be there during traditional hours, that is simply not the case.

We have family in Atlanta and they have created a middle lane for turns on some highways BUT during Morning Rush Hour this lane is dedicated by Arrow Lights going into the city and the same lane is dedicated to leaving the city during Evening Rush.
Of course here it would also have to be dedicated to NO TURN LANES DURING THESE DEDICATED PERIODS. In the off hours, could be used for Left Turn lanes off the Highway. What will happen at the Bridges across Route 1 between Main Belvoir Entrance and the Fairfax County Parkway??

The first step should be to vote out ALL politicians in our area who have been there for more than a few years. Those newcomers get a pass, but if you have been there for year or decades --- and this is obviously something we saw coming in BRAC -- and nothing has been done. You ARE the problem.

It is important to remember that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), along with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) are looking at alternative forms of transportation, and have been improving the existing conditions.

The proposed widening of Richmond Highway reserves rights of way for the purpose of having other transportation options (streetcar, light rail, Metro, bus rapid transit, etc.) there in the future. The engineering also includes the installation of a sidewalk on the north side of the street (there currently isn't one), the creation of a wide, shared-use (walking/bike) path on the south side of the street, and wide curb lanes to accommodate cyclists.

Check out the files for that project: http://www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov/files/projects/environment/US-Rt-1/Public-Meeting-Handouts-and-Comment-Sheet-06.05.12.pdf http://www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov/projects/environment.aspx, scroll down to “US Route 1 Improvements at Fort Belvoir, VA”

Furthermore, the sidewalks along other parts of Richmond Highway are intermittent and often non-existent. FCDOT has done a great job of upgrading sidewalks and in some places installing new ones where they did not exist before - in front of Holly Woods and Vines for instance. For sure more needs to be done, but we applaud FCDOT for not ignoring that problem.

First, Old Mill/Mulligan Rd. needs to be completed and realigned with 235/Old Mt. Vernon Hwy. This would alleviate some of the traffic on Route One since many would take Old Mill/Mulligan to the gate on 235/Old Mt. Vernon Hwy. Then Route One needs to be widened in place. Many are concerned about the stables but we need to be more concerned about people than horses. Others are concerned about the cemetery but we need to be concerned about the living rather than the dead.

One of the things I definitely think should happen... is that the entrance to Woodlawn plantation should be altered. I suggest connecting it to Old Mill Road instead of Route One. One of the problems is the length of time it takes to rotate through all the lights at the intersection of Route 1 and 235 intersection. There should be a double-wide right turn on Old Mill Road next to Roy Rogers... or at least a right turn lane so that the light rotation is shorter.

I would like to see Poe Road connected with the FairFax County Parkway. This would lessen the number of cars at the Pohick Road/Route One intersection. Ideally, the road would connect via a 4 leaf clover/ramp and not a traffic light.

Thanks for posting that link SFDC. I also saw another link that was interesting on that same website:

http://www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov/files/projects/environment/US-Rt-1/Public-Meeting-Boards-06.05.12.pdf

I keep hearing that the bypass plan involves a 30 foot raised ramp, but according to the diagrams on that link (page 30), the widen in place plan is actually much taller in height than the bypass. In fact, in some places it looks like the bypass is lower than the existing ground. The widen in place appears to be 10 to 40 feet taller, and it towers above the stables! Also the pictures on page 36 don't seem like the widen in place would avoid the stables. I hope everyone has a chance to look at these.

Jaqueline,

In the Pictures on pages 32-37 of the link I posted, it looks like the Woodlawn driveway is being relocated to the west, across from the Baptist church. This appears to be a part of all the different proposals.

-Mary

Linda M. The biggest problem on Rt. 1 going south during the afternoon rush is the timing of the lights at the main gate of fort belvoir, tulley gate and fairfax parkway. The main gate allows 30-40 cars from fort belvoir on to Rte.1 (plus the 10 that run the light), the tulley gate light allows 50-60 cars from fort belvoir (same number runs the light there) as the light turns green for rte 1, the light at the fairfax parkway turns red! After the fairfax parkway turns green you can travel at speed (no back up after this light.) yes I sit in this traffic every evening and count the cars that goes through these lights. The need for reevaluation of these lights would alleviate some of the traffic at this time. But, I also think that if fort belvoir would have people leave at staggering times would help also. I think another alternative would be to begin the widening at Woodlawn road. Then all of the historic places would be left alone. It is only 1/2 mile that would not be widened. The need for more bus service on rte 1. You obviously do not know that there are three bus services running now-REX,Fairfax Connector, Metro- most of these buses are under utilized, are seen with only 1/3-1/2 capacity. Just a few observations and suggestions. thank you.

Thank you all for your suggestions and ideas! I enjoyed reading through them and hearing what Mount Vernon area residents have to say about improving Route 1.

Jessie Biele, Local Editor

Um Ms. Mcdonald,

Are you looking at some hard numbers or something for those bus numbers? Because I am a bit confused. Is capacity meaning NOBODY CAN MOVE PUNCHED IN LIKE SARDINES capacity? Because I ride the 151, 159, and REX almost daily and they have considerable usage at many times during the day on the main drag of Route 1. Some of them do indeed get pretty cramped just south of Huntington. While not "bursting at the seams", I would not consider them "underutilized" not in the least.

(Note, I don't ride the 162, 152 or 101 at all but looking at their scheds and where they go I'd bet those are the more 1/3-1/2ish full buses. 171 only been on a few times but that seemed decently used).

On the main point;

Light Timing, stricter traffic enforcement, opening up closed off sideroads (although I think that's a pipe dream). Those are great ideas that can be implemented quickly (relatively). The Mulligan Road Interchange will be a great help (although it might make it more dangerous for walkers in that part of Woodlawn)

Generally, I'm of the school that "roads are a vacuum waiting to be filled" as far as adding roads is concerned. but more than that, north of Woodlawn, where is the room? You have to encroach on a lot of buisness property and even some housing stock too! (You guys know those tiny little houses that face the highway in Groveton/Beacon Hill?)

Sadly there will be no long term or definite FIX to Route 1 traffic. Too many people live here already, the traffic isn't going away. It's all how we can manage it. Road augmentations and alignment improvements are good (and necessary) for now.

Long term (20-25 years), some form of mass transit I think is needed for Route 1 as the place is only going to continue growing and we can only do but so much road improvement and addition.

With the Route 1 overhauling plans, the aim is to densify the corridor in some spots. WHEN this is very apparent/iminent some sort of transit is gonna have to come here.

Metro over or underground will likely not be cost effective unless we want to go Rosslyn/Ballston style. And auto traffic will still be very necessary so exclusive BRT or Light Rail (without realignment of the lanes) will be HARD (to sell more than implement).

One idea that's under rated but interesting, MONORAIL. Takes up less room than Metro and (I think) no lost lanes. Plus very quick! The district council is interested in it. Check it out.

(Go to Page 8 under Transportation)
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:_AK_rICYfpkJ:mvcca.org/record/record_2009-03.pdf+mount+vernon+council+monorail&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiHaKY-qrKgmas3xiH4zf3FdfYcW2SzJXduhTQEr_8RKxlZPzZM3waRS57PyQr4TiJkaY0If75Fe9iRrSy_K8KN62GkSvufVR8CW8zBu4HPlrrturFa96pti3P0mdRaPFcIv__O&sig=AHIEtbSqHoqQ9VU6FSORRl9NSugPh9CA6g.

http://www.metroped.org/hvmr/index.htm

The county as well has it as a theoretical option in it's long term plan (with good illustrations of potential stations. It also has many more road proposals).

(Look at Area IV, Mount Vernon, it's an Adobe file).

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/comprehensiveplan/

also forgot to mention, Monorail would likely be CHEAPER than doing Metro. (Light Rail I am not sure about).

Connector Bus service could go into the neighboorhoods (along with connecting to attractions/parks on the East and South side of Mount Vernon area) and feed into certain areas of proposed stops/stations. (Belvoir, Woodlawn, South County Center, Hybla Valley, Beacon Hill, Kings Crossing and Huntington). I see it as almost wholly replacing REX in certain ways. Because the frequency and trip time would be very convenient.

Admittedly, the problem is with evacuations and disabled/eldery access. I have to research more about that and has to be considered as part of the regional transport plan. I don't think we can just up and get rid of long haul buses to Metro. But i think Monorail would be good for current transit riders AND SOME park and ride users as they could forgo parking fees and enjoy a fairly quick jaunt to Metro.

So yea, short term; roadwork (Mulligan Road, redoing the Kings Highway alignment, traffic enforcement and light timing) are necessary, long term; after we gain more people and overhaul our commercial centers, we GOTTA have transit.

Ok I'll clam up now. (^-^)

I have a question. There is a train bridge that goes over Route One and connects Ft. Belvoir. It doesn't look like it is actually used.. is it? If it is not used, why can't we alter it to carry cars and act as a 4 leaf clover for Route One/Belvoir/FFX PWY traffic? The tracks run close to FFX county parkway... so we could just pave over the tracks and connect it to the parkway.

Widen Rt. 1 in place, open at least one road through Ft. Belvoir to through traffic. Extend either Metro's Blue or Yellow lines to via Ft. Belvoir, to !-95 And the Fairfax Co. Parkway and add a VRE stop at Ft. Belvoir.

WOW !! Love the constructive discussions! This mostly home-bound for last 6 years sincerely appreciates the updates and varied points of view. Thanks to all for constructive ideas for short, medium, and long term solutions. Hope our representatives to various committees, councils, boards, legislatures, etc., take all these ideas seriously !! Monorails and water taxi services seem newer applications locally. Now - after vote cast today - am & will pay closer attention to see if our voices have been heard/read and ... ;8-)) How about all y'all ?? ...

Please better define "expected increase as more traffic comes to the area due to BRAC." No one has yet provided any measureable analysis of an increase based on BRAC, even though the jobs have been at Belvoir since BEFORE the 15th of last September. "Traffic caused by BRAC" is such a general statement that would seem to ignore the facts, chief among them the fundamental reality that a LOT of that "BRAC traffic" was already on the road, just driving through Belvoir and Mount Vernon headed to other places. As shown yet again just last week at the Hayfield meeting, the plans to widen Route 1 to six lanes from Telegraph Road north to the intersection with GW Memorial Parkway are the same plans that have been on the books for more than two decades. What does that tell you? The original plans, "Route 1 Corridor Revitalization," are based on pre-BRAC projections of residential and commercial growth from Woodbridge, through Lorton and South County, to the beltway. The only real connection to BRAC 2005 is that it prompted funding that had for so long eluded the state and local community. Even then it was not BRAC growth but the new medical facilities at Belvoir and Bethesda that enabled the Virginia and Maryland CODELs to make the case that the roads MUST be improved in order that our nation's Wounded Warriors and others entitled to military medical care not be prevented from getting to it.

A tunnel or overpass for through traffic to DC, but that would be too expensive and ugly also. More out-of-the-box: Move various government agencies to other parts of the country to spread around the government windfall wages/benefits and also decrease DC commuter traffic. (Also, get rid of agencies that are detrimental /useless such as the Dept. of Education) Make Mt. Vernon/Lee a competitive, desirable choice for young families who wouldn't need to live in Pr. William, Stafford etc. by (sub)urban renewal, enforcing immigration laws, restoring our schools, and forcing our county to build new low income housing and services spread out in areas of the county that currently have little to none.

et

Mulligan road will be nice i hate rt 1 if you live in mt vernon you know what i mean as for some people they have no idea how nice the old woodlawn rd was I cant wait for that new rd east and west travel will be great in the summer of 2014.