The New Plan for Transportation in Virginia?

Dear Concerned Citizen,

The text from VDOT's plan is full of smart growth ideas, but the project list is full of sprawl-inducing road projects. See the Road Projects

VDOT has released the latest version of its long-range transportation plan for the Commonwealth and is taking public comments through the end of this week (July 30).

The plan is called the Virginia Surface Transportation Plan and the text is an improvement over that of previous plans. However, the proposed road projects, unfortunately, follow VDOT's historic pattern of planning for unnecessary expansions, and construction of new highways that we can't afford.

Please take a minute to write to VDOT and ask the agency not to include unwarranted and unwanted projects in their plan.

Widening Roads Without Justification

There are a number of road projects that would harm our region, including:

• Widening I-66 from Prince William to I-81 - This expansion to six lanes would cut through all of Fauquier County and most of Warren County --including Thoroughfare Gap and five historic districts. This is a massive expansion that would promote sprawl further west along 66 while increasing overall congestion in the region, and cost over $670 million. (Chapter 7, p 56 and 58)
  
  
• Widening Rt. 211 from Warrenton to Rt. 229 - This proposal would six-lane Rt. 211 from Warrenton to Culpeper at a cost of $90 million. This concept is not supported by any comprehensive plan, and if you've ever driven this road, it makes absolutely no sense (unless the goal is to encourage more development in Culpeper). (Chapter 7, p 58)
  
  
• Widening Rt. 20 from the Town of Orange to Rt. 3 - This project would 4-lane Rt. 20 from the Town of Orange to Rt. 3. This proposal is not supported by traffic counts or accident rates. It is also counter to the Orange Comprehensive Plan and would negatively impact the Wilderness Battlefield. It would cost $105 million. (Chapter 7, p 57)
  
  
• Widening Rt. 15 through Culpeper, Madison and Orange - This project would widen Rt. 15 from two lanes to four lanes from Culpeper to the Town of Orange. This widening would negatively impact historic resources and one of the more scenic drives in the central piedmont region and a critical part of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground. The estimated price tag is $142 million. Orange County is already on record in opposition to a widening of Rt. 15. (Chapter 7, p 57)

The full list of road projects throughout the state can be found in Chapter 7 of the plan. As a note, much of PEC's region can be found in Region 3: Blue Ridge. Loudoun is in Region 2: Northern.

Comments to VDOT Are Due This Week

The report includes plans for all surface transportation, such as transit, rail and roads. Please use our online form to send comments -- we've drafted a letter that you can submit as is, or edit to reflect your own personal comments. You can also submit comments using the email address: statewideplan@VDOT.Virginia.Gov.

PEC's land use team is carefully reviewing the plan for our region, and we'll submit our own comments this week. In the meantime, please let me know if you have any questions, or if the links are giving you any trouble.  

Sincerely,

Dan Holmes
Director of State Policy
Piedmont Environmental Council
dholmes@pecva.org

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