Oppose I-66 Widening in TPB Plan

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has asked the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) to amend its financially constrained long-range transportation plan (CLRP) and FY08-13 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to construct three discontinuous pieces of a third westbound travel lane along I-66 in Arlington.  VDOT's proposed widening of I-66 would negatively impact the adjacent Custis Trail, public open space, wetlands, forested habit, and other environmental and aesthetic mitigations specified in the 1977 Coleman Decision. Moreover, this could eventually lead to further I-66 eastbound widening that could obliterate a critical segment of the adjacent W&OD Trail, now sandwiched between an I-66 noise wall and Four Mile Run.

The TPB, which will act on VDOT's request on April 18, is collecting public comments on its website.

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT OPPOSED TO CONSTRUCTING THE SO-CALLED I-66 SPOT IMPROVEMENTS.

Individualized comments are far more effective than a copied form letter, so feel free to pick a few of the points below, to modify them, and to add your own ideas. Our basic objective is to demonstrate that VDOT's proposed widening of I-66 is a bad idea, is strongly opposed, and should not be approved (at least not now), and many unique comments would accomplish that best.

* The so-called I-66 "spot improvements" involve neither spots nor improvements and are unnecessary, counterproductive, and unwarranted.

* This VDOT project is merely a thinly disguised scheme to shoehorn three large segments of a third westbound I-66 travel lane with minimal consideration of it's adverse environmental and regional travel impacts.

Moreover, it disregards clearly superior alternatives, strong local opposition, and the landmark 1977 Record of Decision, by USDOT Secretary William Coleman, that established I-66 inside the Capital Beltway as four managed freeway lanes with Metrorail in the median.

* Congestion on I-66 could be eliminated immediately, permanently, and with almost no construction cost or traffic disruption, simply by expanding the current hours of HOV-2 restrictions which have been overly limited to 2.5 hours Monday-Friday in one direction only.

* DIRECTLY ASK YOUR LOCALITY'S TPB MEMBER(S) to oppose adding the I-66 widening project to the CLRP and TIP inputs on April 18. For a list of TPB members, click here.

ADDRESS THE TPB ON APRIL 18 @ NOON: We need brief (under 3-minute) public statements from both individuals and diverse organizations (including civic associations) at the TPB meeting on Wednesday, April 18. The TPB meets in DC, a few blocks northwest of the Union Station Metro station, at 777 N Capitol St NE 20002, in the Council of Governments Board Room on the third floor. Speakers must be signed up to speak by noon and may call 202-962-3315 to do so in advance. You may bring written copies of your remarks (65 copies) for distribution at the meeting.