OFFICE OF STATE SENATOR PATERSEN: Lawmakers Push for "Rapid Bus" in Rt. 66 Corridor

FROM THE OFFICE OF STATE SENATOR PATERSEN

March 10, 2010

CONTACT: Julia Kim
804-698-7534

Richmond, Virginia - March 10, 2010 - On Tuesday, Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) and nine "outside the Beltway" legislators whose districts border Interstate 66 in Fairfax and Prince William Counties petitioned Governor McDonnell to develop a dedicated bus service within the I-66 corridor to provide some immediate relief to the area's excessive traffic congestion that has worsened with recent "HOT Lanes" construction.

A 1999 "MIS" study conducted by the Virginia Department of Transportation found the need for extensive transportation improvements specifically to ease the I-66 corridor's gridlock. An expansion of the Orange Line Metrorail from Vienna to Centreville was among the study's recommendations, none of which have been acted upon.

According to Petersen, VDOT has been planning to reopen the "MIS" study's recommendations and develop an environmental impact statement, a formal feasibility study, despite the historically protracted pace of such a process and the lack of funding for projects such as expanding the Orange Line Metrorail.

A separate "Transit/DTM" study conducted by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit analyzes swifter solutions to alleviate I-66 congestion and has determined bus rapid transit ("BRT") to be a viable, cost-effective answer. According to a 2001 U.S. General Accounting Office report, "BRT" has already been implemented in cities nationwide such as Dallas, Denver and Seattle. The ten lawmakers who signed the letter to the Governor support "BRT" as a practical solution, which can occur in the near term.

"A rapid bus system could be staged at various convenient locations along the I-66 corridor. It could use the existing dedicated lanes for HOV usage or right-of-way created for the Orange Line extension… All this could be done at a fraction of the cost required for fixed rail," wrote Petersen.

VDRPT estimates that the cost of developing the "BRT" program is approximately $250 million, about 6% of the cost to expand the Dulles Metro rail line from East Falls Church to Reston's Weihle Avenue in a different project aimed at reducing traffic conditions in a similar transportation corridor.

The letter calls for Governor McDonnell and his administration to promptly consider "BRT" and work with "outside contractors with innovative solutions for this project, which could be a national example for cost-efficient mass transit."

The letter to the Governor was signed by Senators Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax), Charles Colgan (D-Manassas), Dave Marsden (D-Fairfax) and Delegates Mark Keam (D-Fairfax), James LeMunyon (R-Fairfax), Bob Marshall (R-Prince William), James Scott (D-Falls Church), David Bulova (D-Fairfax), Timothy Hugo (R-Fairfax) and Jackson Miller (R-Manassas).

Senator Chap Petersen serves Virginia's 34th State Senate district, which includes Fairfax City and much of Fairfax County.

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