October 23, 1999
Paul Ferguson, Chair
Arlington County Board
2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201
Dear Mr. Ferguson:
We are writing to express our concern over the proposed widening of I-66 inside the Beltway. This plan does not appear on the Master Transportation Plan of Arlington County, nor does it appear on the Northern Virginia Transportation 2020 Plan. As residents of Arlington County, it is increasingly plain that this plan has been pushed through legislative channels without consultations with the people most affected by it. We ask that do all that is in your power to stop what is, after all, a temporary solution to traffic congestion.
Governor Gilmore has represented that widening I-66 inside the Beltway will benefit everyone by easing congestion, reducing pollution from emissions, and that adding an extra lane will never attract additional cars. On the contrary, increasing the lanes on I-66 will encourage more development, since I-66 will be perceived as free flowing and convenient. This will pour even more cars onto the newly improved I-66, and these commuters will become mired in traffic equal to or worse than what we experience today. What will that leave the residents of Arlington? Six lanes of idling, polluting traffic as opposed to the current four.
I would like to direct your attention to the case of Maryland Route 270 as a prime example. MD 270 was tripled in size, and it eased congestion for a few years. But when was the last time you heard that traffic flows freely on MD 270? It is one of the worst gridlock producers in the state.
Virginia is no different from Maryland in this regard.
I-66 does not need to be widened. Instead, VDOT needs to enact HOV restrictions in both directions. By instituting HOV restrictions on the "reverse commute," VDOT will incur a trivial expense, eliminate congestion, and encourage carpooling, which is much better for our environment than increased traffic flow. Perhaps it is time for Arlington County to suggest to VDOT and Governor Gilmore that VDOT revisit its decision which decreased the HOV restrictions on I-66 to HOV-2.
A long term solution to the traffic issues must involve establishment of a light rail system or Metro rail link to major technology corridors in the Tyson's Corner/Herndon area. Adding additional highway lanes is a temporary solution, at best. When the road crews start dismantling the sound walls is not the time to take action. The Arlington County Board needs to take a more vigorous stance now and publicize the issues and impacts regarding the I-66 expansion to its citizens.
Very truly yours,
October 23, 1999
Barbara Favola, Vice Chair
Arlington County Board
2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201
Dear Ms. Favola:
We are writing to express our concern over the proposed widening of I-66 inside the Beltway. This plan does not appear on the Master Transportation Plan of Arlington County, nor does it appear on the Northern Virginia Transportation 2020 Plan. As residents of Arlington County, it is increasingly plain that this plan has been pushed through legislative channels without consultations with the people most affected by it. We ask that do all that is in your power to stop what is, after all, a temporary solution to traffic congestion.
Governor Gilmore has represented that widening I-66 inside the Beltway will benefit everyone by easing congestion, reducing pollution from emissions, and that adding an extra lane will never attract additional cars. On the contrary, increasing the lanes on I-66 will encourage more development, since I-66 will be perceived as free flowing and convenient. This will pour even more cars onto the newly improved I-66, and these commuters will become mired in traffic equal to or worse than what we experience today. What will that leave the residents of Arlington? Six lanes of idling, polluting traffic as opposed to the current four.
I would like to direct your attention to the case of Maryland Route 270 as a prime example. MD 270 was tripled in size, and it eased congestion for a few years. But when was the last time you heard that traffic flows freely on MD 270? It is one of the worst gridlock producers in the state.
Virginia is no different from Maryland in this regard.
I-66 does not need to be widened. Instead, VDOT needs to enact HOV restrictions in both directions. By instituting HOV restrictions on the "reverse commute," VDOT will incur a trivial expense, eliminate congestion, and encourage carpooling, which is much better for our environment than increased traffic flow. Perhaps it is time for Arlington County to suggest to VDOT and Governor Gilmore that VDOT revisit its decision which decreased the HOV restrictions on I-66 to HOV-2.
A long term solution to the traffic issues must involve establishment of a light rail system or Metro rail link to major technology corridors in the Tyson's Corner/Herndon area. Adding additional highway lanes is a temporary solution, at best. When the road crews start dismantling the sound walls is not the time to take action. The Arlington County Board needs to take a more vigorous stance now and publicize the issues and impacts regarding the I-66 expansion to its citizens.
Very truly yours,
October 23, 1999
Jay Fisette
Arlington County Board
2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201
Dear Mr. Fisette:
We are writing to express our concern over the proposed widening of I-66 inside the Beltway. This plan does not appear on the Master Transportation Plan of Arlington County, nor does it appear on the Northern Virginia Transportation 2020 Plan. As residents of Arlington County, it is increasingly plain that this plan has been pushed through legislative channels without consultations with the people most affected by it. We ask that do all that is in your power to stop what is, after all, a temporary solution to traffic congestion.
Governor Gilmore has represented that widening I-66 inside the Beltway will benefit everyone by easing congestion, reducing pollution from emissions, and that adding an extra lane will never attract additional cars. On the contrary, increasing the lanes on I-66 will encourage more development, since I-66 will be perceived as free flowing and convenient. This will pour even more cars onto the newly improved I-66, and these commuters will become mired in traffic equal to or worse than what we experience today. What will that leave the residents of Arlington? Six lanes of idling, polluting traffic as opposed to the current four.
I would like to direct your attention to the case of Maryland Route 270 as a prime example. MD 270 was tripled in size, and it eased congestion for a few years. But when was the last time you heard that traffic flows freely on MD 270? It is one of the worst gridlock producers in the state.
Virginia is no different from Maryland in this regard.
I-66 does not need to be widened. Instead, VDOT needs to enact HOV restrictions in both directions. By instituting HOV restrictions on the "reverse commute," VDOT will incur a trivial expense, eliminate congestion, and encourage carpooling, which is much better for our environment than increased traffic flow. Perhaps it is time for Arlington County to suggest to VDOT and Governor Gilmore that VDOT revisit its decision which decreased the HOV restrictions on I-66 to HOV-2.
A long term solution to the traffic issues must involve establishment of a light rail system or Metro rail link to major technology corridors in the Tyson's Corner/Herndon area. Adding additional highway lanes is a temporary solution, at best. When the road crews start dismantling the sound walls is not the time to take action. The Arlington County Board needs to take a more vigorous stance now and publicize the issues and impacts regarding the I-66 expansion to its citizens.
Very truly yours,
October 23, 1999
Michael Lane
Arlington County Board
2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201
Dear Mr. Lane:
We are writing to express our disappointment over your support for the proposed widening of I-66 inside the Beltway. This plan does not appear on the Master Transportation Plan of Arlington County, nor does it appear on the Northern Virginia Transportation 2020 Plan. As residents of Arlington County, it is increasingly plain that this plan has been pushed through legislative channels without consultations with the people most affected by it. We were stunned when you came out in support of this benighted proposal and ask that you withdraw your support for what is, after all, a temporary solution to traffic congestion.
Governor Gilmore has represented that widening I-66 inside the Beltway will benefit everyone by easing congestion, reducing pollution from emissions, and that adding an extra lane will never attract additional cars. On the contrary, increasing the lanes on I-66 will encourage more development, since I-66 will be perceived as free flowing and convenient. This will pour even more cars onto the newly improved I-66, and these commuters will become mired in traffic equal to or worse than what we experience today. What will that leave the residents of Arlington? Six lanes of idling, polluting traffic as opposed to the current four.
I would like to direct your attention to the case of Maryland Route 270 as a prime example. MD 270 was tripled in size, and it eased congestion for a few years. But when was the last time you heard that traffic flows freely on MD 270? It is one of the worst gridlock producers in the state. Virginia is no different from Maryland in this regard.
I-66 does not need to be widened. Instead, VDOT needs to enact HOV restrictions in both directions. By instituting HOV restrictions on the "reverse commute," VDOT will incur a trivial expense, eliminate congestion, and encourage carpooling, which is much better for our environment than increased traffic flow. Perhaps it is time for Arlington County to suggest to VDOT and Governor Gilmore that VDOT revisit its decision which decreased the HOV restrictions on I-66 to HOV-2.
A long term solution to the traffic issues must involve establishment of a light rail system or Metro rail link to major technology corridors in the Tyson's Corner/Herndon area. Adding additional highway lanes is a temporary solution, at best. We supported you in the interim election, for you promised a change in Arlington's Board. Little did we know that you would support a change that will disrupt the very character of Arlington. If you do not withdraw your support for this project, we will have no choice but to register our disappointment at the polls.
Very truly yours,
October 23, 1999
Christopher Zimmerman
Arlington County Board
2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201
Dear Mr. Zimmerman:
We are writing to express our concern over the proposed widening of I-66 inside the Beltway. This plan does not appear on the Master Transportation Plan of Arlington County, nor does it appear on the Northern Virginia Transportation 2020 Plan. As residents of Arlington County, it is increasingly plain that this plan has been pushed through legislative channels without consultations with the people most affected by it. We ask that do all that is in your power to stop what is, after all, a temporary solution to traffic congestion.
Governor Gilmore has represented that widening I-66 inside the Beltway will benefit everyone by easing congestion, reducing pollution from emissions, and that adding an extra lane will never attract additional cars. On the contrary, increasing the lanes on I-66 will encourage more development, since I-66 will be perceived as free flowing and convenient. This will pour even more cars onto the newly improved I-66, and these commuters will become mired in traffic equal to or worse than what we experience today. What will that leave the residents of Arlington? Six lanes of idling, polluting traffic as opposed to the current four.
I would like to direct your attention to the case of Maryland Route 270 as a prime example. MD 270 was tripled in size, and it eased congestion for a few years. But when was the last time you heard that traffic flows freely on MD 270? It is one of the worst gridlock producers in the state.
Virginia is no different from Maryland in this regard.
I-66 does not need to be widened. Instead, VDOT needs to enact HOV restrictions in both directions. By instituting HOV restrictions on the "reverse commute," VDOT will incur a trivial expense, eliminate congestion, and encourage carpooling, which is much better for our environment than increased traffic flow. Perhaps it is time for Arlington County to suggest to VDOT and Governor Gilmore that VDOT revisit its decision which decreased the HOV restrictions on I-66 to HOV-2.
A long term solution to the traffic issues must involve establishment of a light rail system or Metro rail link to major technology corridors in the Tyson's Corner/Herndon area. Adding additional highway lanes is a temporary solution, at best. When the road crews start dismantling the sound walls is not the time to take action. The Arlington County Board needs to take a more vigorous stance now and publicize the issues and impacts regarding the I-66 expansion to its citizens.
Very truly yours,
