Tri-County Parkway and Manassas Battlefield Bypass
Background
Two major highway proposals that could build portions of the WTC through Northern Virginia are proceeding: the relocation of Routes 29 and 234 from the Manassas National Battlefield Park and the Tri-County Parkway. These projects could not only create a "stealth WTC," but they each would generate sprawl, traffic, and air pollution. There are more effective and less destructive alternatives to each proposal. Click here to see a map of the proposals.
Tri-County Parkway
In November 2005, the Commonwealth Transportation Board approved the Tri-County Parkway. The north-south highway would connect the City of Manassas with I-66 and the Loudoun County Parkway in the Dulles Airport area. Several proposed alignments for this project would result in a new highway along or near the route identified for the proposed Western Transportation Corridor. The WTC, as well as these alternatives, would spur development in the area, increase traffic, harm historic resources, and generate noise, air pollution, and other adverse impacts.
SELC and our partners believe that the single best solution to address traffic problems in this area is to pursue more sensible development policies. In addition, we support improving mass transit alternatives in the area, such as extending Metrorail to Centerville, providing light rail and/or rapid bus transit between Manassas and Dulles Airport, and offering express bus service from developments near Route 15 and Haymarket to Metro and major employment centers. We also strongly support measures to increase the efficiency of the present system, such as ridesharing, Park & Ride lots, and optimizing traffic signal timing and coordination. Further, a number of upgrades of existing roads should be considered once these other steps are taken.
Read the report by Smart Mobility
Pprepared for SELC June 2005
(pdf; 47 pages)
Manassas Battlefield Bypass
Congress directed that alternatives be developed to allow closure of the portions of Route 29 and Route 234 that currently run through the Manassas National Battlefield Park and to provide alternatives for the traffic currently traveling through the Park. SELC supports this purpose. Traffic on these highways is inappropriate in the Park, interfering with visitor access to and experience of historic sites in the Park, as well as with park interpretation and management.
A number of alternatives being examined for the Manassas Battlefield Bypass will not enhance- and will in fact be detrimental to- public access to and experience of the historic sites in the Park, and would replace one set of damaging roads with another, defeating Congress' intent in requesting this study. Several alternatives would entail constructing a new highway along or near a portion of the route identified for the proposed Western Transportation Corridor. The WTC, as well as these specific build alternatives, would profoundly alter land use in the region. These projects also would increase traffic in the vicinity of the Park, generating noise, air pollution, and other impacts that will adversely affect the public's experience of the Park. Instead, we support a combination of mass transit improvements, co-locating Route 29 with I-66 from Gainesville to the east of the Park, and some upgrades of existing roads.
Read the report by Smart Mobility
Pprepared for SELC June 2005
(pdf; 47 pages)
