Active Prince William

Advancing active mobility in greater Prince William, Virginia

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Our Comments for the National Capital Trail Network Update in Greater Prince William

October 2023 draft update of the National Capital Trail Network in greater Prince William.  The green lines are supposed to depict existing trail segments, whereas the purple lines are supposed to depict “planned” trail segments.

The National Capital Trail Network (NCTN) is a 1,400-mile, continuous network of long-distance, off-street trails, serving the entire [metropolitan Washington] region and consisting of both existing and planned segments.  The network was approved by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) in July 2020 and endorsed by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Board of Directors in August 2020.

As described by TPB staff:  The National Capital Trail Network is intended to be a network of long-distance, off-street facilities. It will be accessible for people of all ages and abilities, designed for non-motorized use, and suitable for both transportation and recreation.  Off-street path width minimums are 10 feet for new construction, 8 feet for existing paths. Paths must be paved or firm surface. On-street facilities must be protected from moving traffic (i.e. parked cars, curbs, or flexposts). All facilities must be directly connected to the network. Short on-street connections on low-volume, low speed streets are permitted to maintain network continuity. Facilities can be existing or planned, but they must be in an approved agency plan.

In June 2022, the TPB adopted a resolution (R18-2022) that called for completing the TPB’s National Capital Trail Network by 2030, as one of seven priority strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from surface transportation in the Washington region.

For at least several months, the TPB staff have sought to engage the region’s localities to submit updates and corrections to the NCTN mapThe main purpose of this update is to measure progress, in miles built, toward the completion of the National Capital Trail Network since its adoption in 2020. Other purposes include adjusting routes where the existing route has proven infeasible or undesirable, addition of new routes where a new plan or new development justifies it, and correction of errors or omissions in the network [emphasis added].

To facilitate this update, Active Prince William submitted the comments below on October 30, 2023.


Comments on the Draft Update to the National Capital Trail Network Map for Prince William County and the City of Manassas
by Allen Muchnick, Co-Chair Active Prince William

1) Nonexistent/”Planned” Trail Segments Erroneously Labeled As “Existing”:  The following segments on the NCTN map should be relabeled as “planned” because they do not currently exist.

  • Nokesville Rd/Rte 28 between the Fauquier County Line and Fitzwater Dr in Nokesville. The segment of Rte 28 west of Fitzwater Dr in Nokesville has not been widened.  It’s still a two-lane road without any bicycle or pedestrian facilities.
  • Minnieville Rd, between Old Bridge Rd and Dumfries Rd, is depicted as having an existing shared use path along it except for the segment (TIP_ID BP11611) between Fowke Ln and Cardinal Drive. However, the NCTN update map erroneously shows this planned segment with a southwest terminus at Smoketown Rd, rather than at Cardinal Dr.  The segment of Minnieville Rd that currently lacks any bicycle facilities is much longer than shown on the NCTN update map.

2) NCTN Segments Currently Labeled As Planned That Have Recently Been Completed:  The following NCTN segments should now be relabeled as “existing”.

  • Nokesville Rd/Rte 28 Shared-Use Path, between Godwin Dr and the PWC Line, in the City of Manassas (TIP_ID 11606).
  • Godwin Dr Shared-Use Path (south), between Wellington Rd and the Winters Branch Trail, in the City of Manassas (TIP_ID BP11604). Note: TIP_ID BP7624 appears to be a duplicate path, possibly on the PWC side of Godwin Dr, which is probably not actually planned and, if so, should be deleted from the map.
  • US-1 Shared-Use Path in North Woodbridge (southern segment of TIP_ID BP7634): The segment between Annapolis Way and Gordon Blvd is complete.
  • Blackburn Rd Shared-Use Path near Neabsco Creek (the bulk of TIP_ID BP7641): The segment between Rippon Blvd and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is complete.
  • Wellington Rd Shared-Use Path (the western end of TIP_ID 7632): The segment between Linton Hall Rd and University Blvd near Gainesville/Virginia Gateway is complete.
  • VA 234/Dumfries Rd Shared-Use Path (TIP_ID BP7639): This former gap segment between Country Club Dr and Exeter Dr near Montclair is complete.

3) Planned NCTN Segments Depicted On An Erroneous Alignment:

4) Planned NCTN Segments That Should Be Updated: 

  • Manassas Dr east of Signal View Dr in Manassas Park (TIP-ID BP7643): The new Manassas Park Active Transportation Plan identifies an even larger segment of eastern Manassas Dr (between Railroad Dr and Blooms Park) as a candidate for bicycle lanes implemented with a road diet (Project B-10). The NCTN map currently labels the segment of Manassas Dr east of Signal View Dr as planned for a shared-use path.

5) Nationally Significant Long-Distance Trails That Should Be Added to the NCTN Map As “Planned NCTN Segments”:

  • US Bicycle Route 1: At present, a considerable portion of US Bicycle Route 1 through Prince William County is quite hostile to bicycling, even by experienced cyclists.  However, the segments of this route along Fleetwood Dr (Fauquier County Line to Aden Rd), Aden Rd (Fleetwood Dr to Bristow Rd), Bristow Rd (Aden Rd to Independent Hill Dr), Independent Hill Rd (Bristow Rd to Route 234), all of Hoadly Rd, Minnieville Rd (the segment missing a shared-use path from Prince William Pkwy to Fowke Ln), and Old Bridge Rd (Minnieville Rd to Tanyard Hill Rd) are all identified for future shared-use paths in Prince William County’s December 2022 Comprehensive Plan and therefore should be depicted as Planned NCTN segments on the updated NCTN map.
  • East Coast Greenway and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail: Except to depict existing or planned sidepaths along Route 1, the current NCTN map does not depict most of the planned ultimate route(s) for the East Coast Greenway and the paved, shared-use segments of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail through Prince William County.  The updated NCTN map should depict those planned routes.

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Our Questionnaire for All 2023 PWC BOCS Candidates

Active Prince William emailed the following questionnaire to all 2023 nominees for Prince William Board of County Supervisors seats on September 28, 2023.  We will post each candidate’s responses below each question once we receive them. After October 20, we will also identify those candidates who have declined to respond to this questionnaire.

Please note:  As a non-partisan advocacy organization, Active Prince William will NEVER endorse or oppose any candidate for elected office.  The candidates’ responses (and non-responses) are recorded below–in the order received–simply to educate the voting public.

Active Prince William’s Questionnaire for All 2023 Candidates for the Prince William Board of County Supervisors (BOCS)

Active Prince William is an all-volunteer education and advocacy organization that seeks better walking, bicycling, and public transportation options in greater Prince William, Virginia, to create more livable, equitable, and sustainable communities.

This survey, intended for all nominated 2023 BOCS candidates, asks several multiple-choice questions concerning our organization’s current issue priorities. Each question, highlighted in bold, is preceded or followed with brief background information. Candidates are invited to elaborate on their answers in the final question.

For a few of the questions, we’ve recently added more background information.  The newly added information is underlined and bracketed by *** at the beginning and end and also shown here in a red font.

Candidate responses will be posted verbatim on Active Prince William’s website, to inform voters about your positions regarding these issues. Thank you in advance for completing our questionnaire!

Please feel free to email us at active.princewilliam@gmail.com if you need more information or clarification regarding any of these questions.



Early and proactive community involvement in the development of significant transportation improvement projects ensures that the community’s needs and preferences are well integrated into the selection and scope of those projects.  Currently, however, the Board of County Supervisors routinely endorses staff recommendations for non-local transportation funding requests with minimal public notice or opportunities for citizen comment.

*** If the BOCS were to require the PWC Department of Transportation to present–at one annual advertised public hearing–all transportation projects being considered in the coming year for various non-local transportation funding programs, both the Department and the BOCS could obtain valuable community input near the very beginning of the project development process. ***

Question 1:  Do you support requiring the PWC Department of Transportation to hold advertised public hearings before the Board of County Supervisors is scheduled to endorse any future applications for regional (e.g., NVTA, NVTC Commuter Choice), state, or federal transportation improvement funds? *

        Yes:
  • Andrea Bailey, Potomac District (incumbent)
  • Verndell Robinson, Potomac District
  • Deshundra Jefferson, Chairman At Large
  • Bob Weir, Gainesville District (incumbent)
  • Margaret Franklin, Woodbridge District (incumbent)
 
        Need more information:
  • Victor Angry, Neabsco District (incumbent)
  • Tom Gordy, Brentsville District
  • Kenny Boddye, Occoquan District (incumbent)

Except for Prince William County, virtually every local governing body in our region has an adopted master plan for active mobility (walking, rolling, and bicycling) that articulates policies, programs, and strategic actions to effectively and expeditiously develop well-connected pedestrian, bikeway, and trail networks; provide equitable non-motorized access and mobility for the entire community; and ensure the safety of vulnerable road users. 

Question 2:  Do you support directing the County’s Planning Office, Department of Transportation, and Department of Parks & Recreation to jointly develop a robust countywide plan for expanding active mobility (pedestrian, bikeway, and trails) infrastructure and programs, ideally using an extensive community engagement process and hiring an experienced outside consultant team, well versed in suburban active mobility planning, to organize and coordinate this vital community planning initiative?*

        Yes:
  • Victor Angry, Neabsco District (incumbent)
  • Tom Gordy, Brentsville District
  • Kenny Boddye, Occoquan District (incumbent)
  • Andrea Bailey, Potomac District (incumbent)
  • Verndell Robinson, Potomac District
  • Deshundra Jefferson, Chairman At Large
  • Bob Weir, Gainesville District (incumbent)
  • Margaret Franklin, Woodbridge District (incumbent)
 
        Need more information:

Prince William County is fortuitously situated along four designated long-distance non-motorized or multi-modal travel routes; namely, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, the East Coast Greenway, the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, and U.S. Bicycle Route 1.   (The first three routes listed above would meander along the Route 1/I-95 corridor between the Town of Occoquan and Triangle, whereas US Bicycle Route 1 runs generally southwest from the Town of Occoquan to Independent Hill and Aden, exiting the County on Fleetwood Drive).  In addition, both the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) and the MWCOG Board of Directors endorsed a 1,400-mile National Capital Trail Network in the summer of 2020, and, in June 2022, the TPB adopted a transportation-sector climate strategy to complete all currently planned segments of the National Capital Trail Network by 2030.

Question 3:  Do you support a formal commitment by the Board of County Supervisors to complete all planned Prince William County segments of the National Capital Trail Network, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, and the East Coast Greenway by the year 2030? *

        Yes:
  • Victor Angry, Neabsco District (incumbent)
  • Tom Gordy, Brentsville District
  • Kenny Boddye, Occoquan District (incumbent)
  • Andrea Bailey, Potomac District (incumbent)
  • Deshundra Jefferson, Chairman At Large
  • Bob Weir, Gainesville District (incumbent)
  • Margaret Franklin, Woodbridge District (incumbent)
         Need more information:
  • Verndell Robinson, Potomac District

Most large NoVA localities, including Fairfax County, Arlington, and Alexandria, have citizen transportation advisory commissions—appointed by and reporting to the governing body–to act as community advocates, assist with public outreach, and give timely advice to the governing body on diverse transportation issues, policies, planning, programming, and project designs and features.   (Loudoun County still only has a Transit Advisory Board that is focused on public transportation).

*** Several years ago, the BOCS directed the PWC Department of Transportation to engage the Planning Commission as a transportation advisory body.  However, that initiative has not produced effective citizen involvement: planning commissioners may lack transportation policy expertise; the transportation project briefings are an added burden; and the meetings have not allowed meaningful public comment on transportation matters. ***

Question 4:  Do you support having the Board of County Supervisors establish a citizen Transportation Advisory Commission that is separate from the Planning Commission?*

        Yes:

  • Victor Angry, Neabsco District (incumbent)
  • Tom Gordy, Brentsville District
  • Andrea Bailey, Potomac District (incumbent)
  • Verndell Robinson, Potomac District
  • Bob Weir, Gainesville District (incumbent)
        Need more information:
  • Kenny Boddye, Occoquan District (incumbent)
  • Deshundra Jefferson, Chairman At Large
  • Margaret Franklin, Woodbridge District (incumbent)

Over the past decade, Fairfax County and other Virginia localities have actively used VDOT’s scheduled roadway resurfacing program to cost-effectively reconfigure scores of roadways to improve safe access for people walking and bicycling.

Question 5:  Do you support directing the PWC Department of Transportation to actively engage with VDOT’s annual roadway repaving program to cost-effectively reallocate existing roadway space to better serve pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and motorists?*

        Yes:
  • Victor Angry, Neabsco District (incumbent)
  • Tom Gordy, Brentsville District
  • Kenny Boddye, Occoquan District (incumbent)
  • Andrea Bailey, Potomac District (incumbent)
  • Deshundra Jefferson, Chairman At Large
  • Margaret Franklin, Woodbridge District (incumbent)
        Need more information:
  • Verndell Robinson, Potomac District
  • Bob Weir, Gainesville District (incumbent)

The proposed Route 28 Bypass (Godwin Drive Extension) along the Flat Branch and Bull Run floodplains would remove more than 50 affordable housing units in a designated Equity Emphasis Area, establish a permanent freeway barrier between the West Gate/Sudley and Loch Lomond communities, foster more exurban sprawl and long-distance drive-alone commuting from west and south of Prince William County, and increase traffic congestion and delays along Centreville Road in Fairfax County.  Moreover, due to inflation since 2019, the roughly $300 million already earmarked for this project (including $200 million from the County’s 2019 transportation bond referendum that PWC taxpayers would then repay over perhaps two decades) may not cover all construction costs. 

Meanwhile, both our organization and the Prince William County Trails and Blueways Council have formally commented that the recently proposed shared-use path component of this highway project is substantially inadequate.

Question 6a:  Do you agree than any Route 28 Bypass should include a robust shared-use path component–both along and across the Flat Branch stream valley and with multiple connections to the adjacent neighborhoods—as recommended by both the Trails and Blueways Council and Active Prince William?*

        Yes:
  • Tom Gordy, Brentsville District
  • Kenny Boddye, Occoquan District (incumbent)
  • Andrea Bailey, Potomac District (incumbent)
  • Deshundra Jefferson, Chairman At Large
  • Bob Weir, Gainesville District (incumbent)
  • Margaret Franklin, Woodbridge District (incumbent)
        Need more information:
  • Victor Angry, Neabsco District (incumbent)
  • Verndell Robinson, Potomac District

Question 6b, also related to the proposed Route 28 Bypass:  Would you support asking the Upper Occoquan Service Authority (UOSA) to grant immediate public access to UOSA’s existing service road along this corridor as a key component of a shared-path network along and across the Flat Branch stream valley?*

        Yes:
  • Victor Angry, Neabsco District (incumbent)
  • Tom Gordy, Brentsville District
  • Kenny Boddye, Occoquan District (incumbent)
  • Andrea Bailey, Potomac District (incumbent)
  • Deshundra Jefferson, Chairman At Large
        Need more information:
  • Verndell Robinson, Potomac District
  • Bob Weir, Gainesville District (incumbent)
  • Margaret Franklin, Woodbridge District (incumbent)

Question 6c, also related to the proposed Route 28 Bypass:   When this highway project’s design, costs, and myriad impacts are more fully known in spring 2024, would you support the Board of County Supervisors objectively reevaluating the pros and cons of this controversial project and considering significant modifications or even a partial or full cancellation?*

*** On October 10, 2023, the BOCS authorized pursuing a potential alternative alignment (“Modified Alternative 2A”) that would not cross Bull Run into Fairfax County, because Alternative 2B, which was advanced for preliminary engineering in September 2020, may not be feasible for various reasons (cost, project impacts, and/or right-of-way acquisition issues).  Besides displacing additional affordable dwelling units, Modified Alternative 2A would create a substantial new bottleneck on Centreville Road in Yorkshire, necessitating an additional bridge and road-widening project in both Fairfax and Prince William Counties. ***

[As examples, substantial project changes might include 1) use automated tolling to both finance construction (in lieu of County bonds) and manage transportation demand and/or 2) construct the project segment across and north of Bull Run with the existing NVTA funds and separately expand Old Centreville Rd (possibly as part of an extended multi-locality, multi-modal transit-oriented-development corridor)–in lieu of extending Godwin Dr–to reduce net residential displacements and preserve the Flat Branch stream valley as valuable and much-needed regional parkland.]

        Yes:
  • Tom Gordy, Brentsville District
  • Verndell Robinson, Potomac District
  • Bob Weir, Gainesville District (incumbent)
        Need more information:
  • Victor Angry, Neabsco District (incumbent)
  • Kenny Boddye, Occoquan District (incumbent)
  • Andrea Bailey, Potomac District (incumbent)
  • Deshundra Jefferson, Chairman At Large
  • Margaret Franklin, Woodbridge District (incumbent)

Question 7 (Optional): What else would you like to share about your responses above and/or your views of active mobility and/or public transportation in Prince William County? You are welcome to elaborate here on any or all of your responses above and to provide any additional information that you wish to share with Prince William County voters.   See below for all responses received.

Tom Gordy, Brentsville District:

I am an outdoorsman. I love fishing, kayaking, hiking, boating, and fishing. I also travel extensively due to being a Navy Reservist and have been tremendously impressed by the trail networks in German cities like Stuttgart, where you see families spending their weekends on bike trails visiting local recreational sites and historical sites along with the occasional beer garden. I have a vision to be able to get from the Potomac to the Manassas Battlefield by trail, visiting local, state and national parks, and agribusinesses and agritourism sites along the way. I also support providing more and better access for blue trails in the county that allow residents to experience all of the beauty our county has to offer. Providing more bikeable and walkable communities must be a priority, but that means having a more disciplined and intentional planning and development program. Thank you for what you are doing to support these initiatives. You will always have an open door with and advocate in me if I am honored to be elected.


Kenny Boddye, Occoquan District (incumbent):

I’m committed to more transparency as it pertains to mobility in Prince William County. I gave a directive several years ago to have large scale transportation projects and grant applications heard at the Planning Commission level, which hadn’t been done before. I also still support creation of a Mobility subcommittee of the Planning Commission.

I’ve also been a vocal supporter of more robust multi-modal transportation planning. I supported and gained additional suuport for the DRPT Springfield to Quantico Enhanced Public Transportation Feasibility Study. I endorsed the Mobility chapter updates and Future Transportation Alternatives of the new Comprehensive Plan; I also directed staff to improve upon them by adding the aspirational trails map drafted by the Trails and Blueways Council. Finally, I had BOCS support for exploring bi-directional HOV lanes on I-95 added to the Comprehensive Plan Update.

I’ve also been an advocate for ped/bike/motorist safety improvements. Last year I called for a BOCS Work Session on Traffic Safety, which led to the creation of pilot programs for red light cameras and speed cameras, as well as the county getting a grant to develop its first Comprehensive Traffic Safety Plan.


Andrea Bailey, Potomac District (incumbent):

This application/questionnaire intrigued me because I am a strong advocate of improvements in transportation and mobility. I serve on the NVRC and PRTC Boards. Both boards have made major impacts on data driven solutions to improve mobility and community engaged changes for citizens to enjoy and travel in Northern Virginia. I believe that citizen participation is necessary to create transparency of needs in our region.

I need more information on item 6c in order to give a definite answer.


Verndell Robinson, Potomac District:

#3 Does this include the Potomac Tech Park that is planned next to Forest Park?

#5 What are the requirements for applying for the VDOT scheduled roadway resurfacing program?

#6a & b: this needs to be studied to determine an answer.


Deshundra Jefferson, Chairman At Large:

I am committed to using a multimodal approach to make it easier to get around the county, and I look forward to working with you to make that happen.


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Our Comments on the Mayfield Crossing Rezoning Application

Our key recommendations for the proposed Mayfield Crossing development are summarized above

On August 28, 2023, a rezoning application (Plan Number: REZ2024-00007; Mayfield Crossing) was submitted to Prince William County for a proposed new residential development at the intersection of Manassas Drive and Signal View Drive, just outside the City of Manassas Park.   The applicant seeks to rezone a forested 20.56-acre parcel adjacent to Signal Hill Park to develop a residential community with up to 288 dwelling units.  On September 5, Active Prince William submitted the following initial feedback on the proposed development:


We have reviewed the Mayfield Crossing Rezoning package [8/28/2023] (corner of Manassas Dr. and Signal View Dr.) posted through the PWC DAPS.  While we are disappointed to see this wooded lot adjacent to the Signal Hill Park be developed, we hope you consider the following comments and feedback as this project moves through the rezoning process.

Our concerns are regarding 1) bike/pedestrian infrastructure along Manassas Dr and Signal View Dr (connection to Signal Hill Park), 2) ingress/egress from the new development, and 3) the viewshed from Signal Hill Park/Signal View Dr.  Above is a diagram of our recommendations which are explained in detail below:

1. Bike/pedestrian infrastructure along Manassas Dr and Signal View Dr (connection to Signal Hill Park)

Below is a diagram of the current language for Pedestrian Circulation in the rezoning package.  The draft Manassas Park Active Transportation Plan calls for a shared-use path along Manassas Dr and a sidewalk along Signal View Dr next to the development.

The applicant’s proposed Pedestrian Circulation Plan

We recommend the applicant construct:

  • A shared-use path along Manassas Dr, from Digital Dr to Signal View Dr.
  • A shared-use path along Signal View Dr, from Manassas Dr to the Signal Hill Park Entrance.

Justification: These recommendations complete the trail segments adjacent to the development and the necessary connections to provide a safe connected bike/ped network to nearby destinations.  A shared-use path along Signal View Dr is more aesthetically pleasing and matches the existing infrastructure along the roadway.  In addition, it reduces the need to cross Signal View Drive in front of Signal Hill Park, which can be a hazard for people walking and bicycling.

2. Ingress/egress from the new development

The current language for ingress/egress in the rezoning package is below:

The site layout has approximately 950 feet of frontage along Manassas Drive to the north and 800 feet of frontage along Signal Hill Drive. Access to the site is proposed at a full movement entrance along Manassas Drive opposite Christopher Lane and a full movement entrance along Signal View Drive opposite Roseberry Farm Drive.

The package also indicates right-turn deceleration lanes on Manassas Dr and Signal View Dr. to access the new development

We recommend the applicant construct:

  • Right-In/Right-Out access to/egress from the new development on Manassas Dr with no deceleration lane.  We also recommended that the City of Manassas Park lower the speed limit on Manassas Dr, from Signal View Dr to Railroad Dr, to 25mph.
  • A Single-Lane Roundabout on Signal View Dr at the intersection of Roseberry Farm Dr and the ingress/egress point of the new development.

Justification:  As this area continues to urbanize, we must design our transportation network for all users and not on the elements that enable the fast movement of motorized vehicles.  A 25-mph speed limit would eliminate the need for a deceleration lane on Manassas Dr, whereas the full-movement unsignalized intersection on Manassas Dr proposed by the applicant would create more conflict points that lead to an increase in vehicle crashes.

A roundabout on Signal View Dr would provide much safer ingress/egress for residents of Roseberry Farms as well as residents of the new development.  It would also reduce the speed of vehicles on Signal View Dr and enable an opportunity to create gateway signage to enter Signal Hill Park (Signal Hill Park is on both sides of Signal View Dr.)

3. Viewshed from Signal Hill Park/Signal View Dr

The current illustrations in the rezoning package show limited or no tree buffer along Signal View Dr and along the south side of the development adjacent to Signal Hill Park.

We recommend that the applicant:

  • Maintain a 50’-100’ tree buffer along Signal View Dr (similar to Roseberry Farms)
  • Maintain a 50’-100’ tree buffer along the south side of the development adjacent to Signal Hill Park
  • Bury all utilities along Manassas Dr, from Digital Dr to Signal View Dr
  • Bury all utilities along Signal View Dr adjacent to development (prefer if all utilities could be buried in Signal Hill Park)

Justification:  The viewshed from the Civil War Monument/Entrance to Signal Hill Park along Signal View Dr should be maintained.  See picture below.

The current view from Signal View Drive (from Google Maps Street View)

Thank you for considering these recommendations as the Mayfield Crossing Rezoning project moves through the rezoning process.

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Our May 2023 Comments on the Route 28 Bypass Project

On April 19 and 20, 2023, the Prince William County Department of Transportation held a pair of public information meetings to present the status of its Route 28 Bypass project at roughly the 30% design stage.  In response to the information presented, Active Prince William submitted the following written comments on May 3, 2023.

Related Update:  On May 23, 2023, the Prince William County Trails and Blueways Council unanimously adopted this resolution that also calls for better shared-use path connections in the Route 28 Bypass project.


Please consider these comments on the Route 28 Bypass, based on information that was presented at the April 19 and 20 Route 28 Bypass Project Public Information Meetings:

Traffic and Environmental Studies, Sustainability, and Cost Comments

The ongoing traffic forecast and environmental studies for the Bypass should report relevant data that will help the public, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, environmental oversight agencies, and other stakeholders determine whether building this highway project would be a prudent investment for both our region and for Prince William County taxpayers.

 1.  Please report the additional Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions this project would generate vs. the no-build alternative.

Justification:  The information will help the PWC BOCS make an informed decision about the project as it weighs competing priorities about the environment and sustainability, including consistency with Visualize 2050’s policies and the objectives of the County’s own Community Energy and Sustainability Master Plan.

2.  Please report the additional noise and air pollution this project would generate within ½ mile of the corridor vs. the no-build alternative.

Justification:  Understanding the full impacts on nearby property owners within an Equity Emphasis Area that would lack direct access to the roadway facility is paramount for PWC BOCS to make strategic future decisions about this project vs. other priorities.

3.  Please report the residency locations of the projected Route 28 Bypass users; in particular, what percentage of projected highway users would reside in a) Prince William County, b) the City of Manassas, c) localities west or south of Prince William County, and d) localities north or east of Prince William County?

Justification:  With 90%+ of the cost of the project being funded by PWC taxpayers via NVTA and the 2019 Mobility Bond, this is useful information to help the PWC BOCS make strategic future decisions about this project vs. other priorities.

4.  Please report an updated project cost estimate based on the 30% design.

Justification:  With highway construction costs increasing by 50% in the past two years, it is difficult for stakeholders to understand the viability of a 2019 $300M cost estimate as the PWC BOCS plans to invest significant taxpayer $$$ into the project soon.

* * *

Shared Use Path/Trail Comments

If located in most other suburban communities, the Flat Branch stream valley would have been developed–decades ago–as a linear regional park, with non-motorized access serving and unifying the communities on either side.  Because the County has long reserved this corridor for a potential future freeway, the development of such a stream valley park has been delayed for decades.  Construction of the Bypass would establish a permanent man-made physical highway barrier between the equity-emphasis-area communities on each side.  In the interests of environmental justice and sustainable transportation, it is essential that the Bypass include a robust network of paved (and natural-surface) trails for transportation and recreation, both along and across the stream valley.

* * *

5.  Please consider relocating the adjoining shared-use path–along the Bypass segment between Sudley Rd and the Bypass bridge over Flat Branch–to follow the west side of the Bypass, to facilitate access from the Fairmont, West Gate, and Sudley communities.

In addition, build local asphalt shared-path connections between the relocated shared-use path along the west side of the Bypass to the Fairmont, West Gate, and Sudley neighborhoods from at least these five locations:

Also, please ensure that all shared-use paths are generally designed to be as flat/level as the Bypass roadway, except where needed to achieve grade-separated roadway or stream crossings.  Provide physical barriers between the shared-use path and the roadway–such as non-mountable concrete curbs and/or jersey barriers–especially wherever the grass buffer between the shared-use path and the roadway would be less than eight feet wide

Justifications:  The Flat Branch stream would limit and complicate access to any shared-use path along the east side of the Bypass from the neighborhoods in Loch Lomond; any shared-use  along the Bypass requires frequently spaced connections to nearby neighborhoods for reasonable access by foot or bicycle; and any shared-use path near the Bypass must provide a physical barrier from roadway departures by high-speed motor vehicles.

 *  *  *

6.  Please consider developing and improving the existing UOSA access road to the east of the Bypass as a second, better separated shared-use path , with trail bridge connections across Flat Branch and its tributaries to serve the Loch Lomond neighborhood between Sudley Rd and Splashdown Waterpark.  This shared-use path should be extended beyond the current northern end of the UOSA access road, to parallel the remainder of the Bypass to its northern terminus along its east side.  Trails along UOSA easements are common in Fairfax County.

In addition, provide access to the UOSA access road/future shared-use path along the east side of the Bypass from the Loch Lomond neighborhood via asphalt shared-use paths (with ped/bike trail bridges across Flat Branch and/or its tributaries where necessary) from at least these eight locations:

Use trail underpasses in stream box culverts, the Bypass bridge over Flat Branch, or along both sides of Lomond Dr to connect the shared-use path along the current UOSA access road to the relocated shared-use path along the west side of the Bypass and from there to the Fairmont, West Gate, and Sudley communities.

Justification:  The area along Flat Branch should be developed into a linear park for enjoyment by the surrounding communities that would lack direct access to the new roadway.  By providing shared-use paths along both sides of the Bypass, the shared-use path connections under the Bypass would become much more effective in linking the low- and moderate-income, majority-minority communities that the Bypass would otherwise permanently sever

* * *

7.  Please design a shared-use path /trail connection under the Bypass bridge that crosses over Flat Branch.

Justification:  This connection would provide non-motorized access between communities on the east and west of the Bypass and provide communities on the east side of the Bypass with access to Splashdown Waterpark, thus reducing vehicle trips along neighborhood streets.  Moreover, north of the Bypass bridge over Flat Branch, only one shared-use path would be provided along the Bypass, on its east side, and the UOSA access road ends south of that crossing .  In other words, this trail connection would extend any adjacent shared-use path that begins on the west side of the Bypass at Sudley Rd though the remainder of the Bypass route.

* * *

8.  Please consider leaving all or part of the existing Old Centreville Rd Bridge over Bull Run in place as the Ped/Bike connection over the waterway.

Justification:  This reduces the cost to the project and is a much more pleasant access point and amenity to the surrounding community than walking or biking next to a 45-mph roadway

* * *

9.  Please consider including as part of the project planting hundreds/thousands of canopy trees to absorb and filter stormwater, reduce highway noise in the adjoining neighborhoods, and provide much-needed shade for trail users in warm and hot weather.  The trail(s) should also include user amenities such as trail lighting, benches, and trash receptacles.

Justification:  This project clearly bisects Equity Emphasis Areas while simultaneously not providing them access to the roadway.  It is imperative to add trail, park, and flood control amenities with the project to support the surrounding community.

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Roadway Comments

10.  Please consider implementing a Continuous Green-T intersection at Route 28 Bypass/Old Centreville intersection.

Justification:  This allows for a non-stop southbound trip between existing Route 28 and Sudley Rd.

11.  Please consider providing some form of [emergency or uncontrolled] left turn capacity from Northbound Route 28 Bypass to Ordway Rd.

Justification:  During  incidents  in or around the Route 28/Compton Rd intersection, this capacity would provide a relief valve to clear traffic congestion more quickly

12.  Please consider adding a left turn from Route 28 Northbound to Route 28 Bypass Southbound (with access to Ordway Rd) and removing both left turns from Route 28 Compton Rd intersection.

Justification:  This creates a third light phase to the Route 28 Bypass/Route 28 intersection and reduces the Compton Rd/Route 28 intersection to three light phases.  Access via Ordway Rd provides the route to Compton Rd.  This will improve synchronization between the two adjacent light signals (Route 28/Route 28 Bypass & Route 28/Compton Rd).

* * *

Thank you for soliciting public comments at this early stage of project design.  We would be happy to meet with members of the project team to discuss these comments in more detail.

Sincerely,

Mark and Allen

Mark Scheufler & Allen Muchnick, Co-Chairs
Active Prince William
Advancing active mobility for a more livable, equitable, & sustainable greater Prince William, Virginia
Email: Active.PrinceWilliam@gmail.com
Website: www.activepw.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ActivePW
Twitter: @Active_PW https://twitter.com/Active_PW

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Our Statement At The VDOT NoVA District’s Spring 2023 Joint Transportation Meeting


Annual Joint Transportation Meeting for Northern Virginia, May 1, 2023
Statement of Allen Muchnick, Member of the Virginia Bicycling Federation
and Active Prince William Boards of Directors

Good evening.  I’m Allen Muchnick.  I live in the City of Manassas, and I serve on the boards of the Virginia Bicycling Federation and Active Prince William, statewide and sub-regional active transportation advocacy organizations, respectively.

We thank VDOT for recently re-filling its statewide bicycle and pedestrian planner position and for staffing a new statewide trails office.  We look forward to seeing those offices advance safe active mobility.  We believe it’s time to review and update both VDOT’s 2011 State Bicycle Policy Plan and the CTB’s 2004 Policy for Integrating Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations.

I commend VDOT’s NoVA District Office for initiating a study to estimate the cost to complete all locally planned but unfunded bicycle and pedestrian facilities within the NoVA District.  While most NoVA localities have robust active mobility plans and even Vision Zero programs, Prince William County still lacks both, so its official inventory of missing pedestrian and bicycle facilities is woefully incomplete.

Since 2010, VDOT’s roadway reconfiguration program has cost-effectively retrofit bike lanes and pedestrian crossing improvements on many dozens of roadways during scheduled resurfacing, especially in Fairfax County.  Prince William County, however, has largely ignored this enormous opportunity to improve the access and safety of its vulnerable road users.  We urge the County and VDOT to actively implement this program in our communities.

The alignment of US Bicycle Route 1 through Prince William County is a prime example where retrofitted bike lanes or paved shoulders are desperately needed.  Although AASHTO and VDOT established this route more than 40 years ago and a VDOT consultant re-evaluated the route’s alignment through NoVA nearly a decade ago, the bicycling conditions on several Prince William route segments are horrendous.  For example, the County’s online Bicycle Skill Level Map labels Old Bridge Road, part of Minnieville Rd, Aden Rd, and Fleetwood Dr—all lacking bicycle facilities and posted at 45-MPH–as “Roads to Avoid” and tags Hoadly Rd and Tanyard Hill Rd as “Low Comfort”.  VDOT’s 2015 Bicycle Level of Service Map for the NoVA District rated those segments similarly.  It’s long past time for VDOT and the County to fix these embarrassing and potentially deadly deficiencies.

To address the ongoing epidemic of pedestrian fatalities, VDOT should aggressively implement design-speed reductions and pedestrian safety improvements along its multi-lane commercial arterials.  VDOT and Prince William should also establish safer bike/ped crossings of I-95 and I-66 and extend the I-66 Trail, now being built in Fairfax County, over Bull Run to connect to both Balls Ford Rd and the Northern Virginia Community College’s Manassas campus.

In closing, we strongly support the recommended SMART SCALE, CMAQ, and RSTP awards for Manassas, Manassas Park, and Prince William County.

Thank you for this opportunity to comment.

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