FABB wants Northern Virginia riders to be aware that the next regional long-range transportation plan, Visualize 2050, is taking the path of “more of the same.” We need your help to steer it toward the better future originally promised by the Transportation Planning Board (TPB) by commenting on the survey at the link below.
Three years ago, the TPB proposed a groundbreaking plan that aimed at slashing our greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 50% and achieving other safety and equity goals. However, the current draft misses the mark, leaning heavily towards more highway and arterial road expansions while sidelining vital transit and safe streets projects, especially in our suburbs.
Despite previous votes by regional leaders to align all projects with climate, safety, and equity objectives, this new draft is disappointingly familiar. Most proposed projects are either existing or new road expansions which threaten to increase sprawl, driving, and emissions, contradicting the vision for a greener, more connected region with more multimodal transportation options.
Moreover, the evaluation process seems flawed; projects that contribute little to environmental and safety goals are scoring high, while crucial pedestrian safety and bus lane initiatives are undervalued. Shockingly, there’s a lack of accountability, with no agency providing adequate explanations on how their projects would reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This Is Where You Come In! Your voice is essential to ensure our community’s future is not dominated by more cars and congestion but is instead a model of sustainable and inclusive transportation. We urge you to participate in the TPB survey and express your concerns and visions for a transit-rich, bike-friendly, and walkable region by commenting on the specific projects in your local area (just click on the map markers in the survey to see the proposals).
To help you comment, the Coalition for Smarter Growth’s Visualize 2050 primer provides valuable background and details. The following are examples of projects in Fairfax County addressed in the CSG primer that should be opposed:
- I-495 Southside Express Toll Lanes: Springfield Interchange to MD210 – VDOT failed to seriously examine other alternatives, starting with a project purpose to extend the Express Lanes. VDOT’s plan creates a bottleneck in Maryland and builds HOT lanes in the space on the bridge reserved for future rail, likely blocking future conversion.
- Dulles Airport Access Road Widening – This outdated $400M proposal is unnecessary and would undermine the region’s major investment in the Silver Line.
- Chain Bridge Rd (VA 123) Widening – Further widening this already expansive highway within the Tysons and McLean area would undermine investments in the Silver Line and a transit-oriented, walkable Tysons. This project somehow gets a perfect 8 for 8 score in meeting regional goals from TPB, despite not actually listing any TPB priority strategies that it supports or helping the region meet its GHG reduction goals.
- US 50 Improvements – Remove further widening of US 50. Instead, support the STARS study recommendations for safety and operational improvements and study BRT on this corridor. Unbelievably, this $450M project gets a perfect 8 for 8 score in meeting regional goals from TPB, despite not actually listing any TPB priority strategies that it supports or helping the region meet its GHG reduction goals.
Fill out the TPB survey today!
Act Now Before It’s Too Late! The deadline for submitting your comments is March 30.
Your input can make a real difference in shaping a sustainable and equitable transportation future for our community. Let’s get Visualize 2050 back on the right track!
