Widening Braddock Road between Guinea Road and the Capital Beltway to relieve gridlock is dead, killed by NIMBYs from Kings Park and other neighborhoods who only want better egress to Braddock Road from their homes.

A Community Meeting for the Braddock Road Multimodal Study, sponsored by Supervisor Cook, was held on February 6 in the cafeteria of Lake Braddock Secondary School to update the community and solicit community input. About 300 people attended, and many asked questions of Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) staff and reviewed information at various stations.

The findings and recommendations of the Braddock Road Task Force, a citizen council formed by Supervisor Cook to provide input and review potential options to improve Braddock Road from Guinea Road to the Beltway, which has studied the corridor in depth over the last two years, and FCDOT, are that no additional lanes should be built on Braddock Road from Guinea Road to the Beltway. Instead, a series of intersection improvements, including significant adjustments to the Burke Lake Road and Wakefield Chapel Road intersections, and access management techniques – such as making some unsignalized intersections right-in right-out only – among others, should be built.

FCDOT is the organization that designed and built the so-called improvement to the Danbury Forest intersection at Braddock Road last year against the advice of VDOT, which resulted in massive backups onto the Beltway. The change was undone months later at a cost to Fairfax County of over $2 Million.

Implementation of the proposed intersection improvements recommendations would present only one-third the cost of adding lanes to the roadway. VDOT, which is funding the project, is expected to go along with the recommendations as the budgeted money can be used elsewhere in Virginia. The intersection improvement plan does show temporary reductions in travel time when compared with the no-build option, but will result in gridlock over time.

The study was based on a 2040 planning horizon. The no-build option showed significant degradation in roadway conditions and significant increases in travel time compared to today. VDOT had proposed additional unrestricted and possibly HOT/HOV lanes.

The Task Force acknowledged that without adding lanes to Braddock Road, neighborhood cut-through traffic will continue to increase, which will need to be addressed by additional traffic calming measures and police enforcement. Some traffic will also use neighborhood streets to divert to Old Keene Mill Road and Little River Turnpike to avoid Braddock Road congestion.

The task force also presented pedestrian and bicycle options, but not recommendations, which will come later in the spring. These options include construction of shared use paths on both sides of the road, completion of all missing trail connections, and one or more pedestrian overpasses.

The task force set aside the question of whether to build a transit center at Kings Park Shopping Center, recognizing that the abandoned Northern Virginia Training Center site three miles west is a much better solution, but is outside the scope of this study. The NVTC site is also being eyed by George Mason University and other developers.

Once road and pedestrian recommendations are finalized, then the group will take back up the transit center questions.

Options for transit will be presented to the public at a community meeting in the late spring.

It sure looks like the project was met with approval by those who showed this, because this was the plan that was approved:

http://www.slideshare.net/fairfaxcounty/braddock-road-multimodal-studyguinea-road-to-i495-community-meeting-no-3-feb-6-2017

I am basically ok with the intersection improvement approach as long as the pedestrian and bicycle options are kept to a reasonable expense. At most, 1 or 2 overpasses/underpasses should be installed and bicycle crossings should be controlled by improved pedestrian signals that are incorporated into the traffic improvements. Most importantly, the improvement project should not become a toy of the King's Park subdivision when their resistance resulted in a more limited improvement project for the commuter artery.

The community meeting, and the task force, were populated by those living in the neighborhoods along the study area.

These people are not interested in making the commute faster for those who are just passing through.

As long as I can speed through the neighborhood cut through there is no need to add lanes to Braddock Road.

That would be any road where speed bumps are already in place.

The purpose of the transit center is to get the buses out of the neighborhoods. Residents can then drive to the transit center instead of walking to a bus stop.

The VDOT plan was to widen Braddock Road AND realign the intersections, at a cost of $84M, project numbers 45 and 46:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pdf/cdot/unfundedprojects.pdf

Currently funded for planning and engineering, with funding budgeted for construction beginning with utility relocation in 2018.

Pretty dumb for the locals to try to do just the intersection improvements.

The bike lanes are there to take up the space that would have been used for the additional through lanes.

The Transit Center is just a 500 space parking lot, for $10 Million.

Item #75:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pdf/cdot/unfundedprojects.pdf

It's amazing that decisions about the road are not made by the users of the road, but by the people that live near the affected area.

When will the voice of the road's user's be heard?

This isn't classic NIMBYism. Most of those who live in the neighborhoods east of Rolling Road do not oppose widening Braddock Road. What they oppose is efforts to cut off access to their neighborhoods as part of that widening project. If someone told you that they were going to cut off access to your neighborhood while increasing the noise and pollution, you'd probably oppose the plan too.

Travelling eastbound on Braddock, once you get past Guinea Road the problem areas are Rolling Road to Lake Braddock, Port Royal and the Beltway and the left turn lane at Wakefield Chapel. The only one of these three that is easily fixable is the Wakefield Chapel intersection, which could be solved with an overpass, and which also would allow better access to Danbury Forest. The land is there. That won't happen though, because VDOT does not want to build a bridge. Routing the northbound Wakefield Chapel traffic through the Danbury Forest jughandle will likely slow things down without a bridge, because it would mean the light would have to stay red longer for traffic heading eastbound on Braddock.

While a grade-separated intersection at Danbury/Wakefield Chapel would be ideal, a jughandle (aka Jersey Left) would be a big improvement over left turn lanes.

Without additional through lanes this project FAILS.

The result was wired Wrote:
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> It's amazing that decisions about the road are not
> made by the users of the road, but by the people
> that live near the affected area.
>
> When will the voice of the road's user's be heard?

The result was wired Wrote:
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> It's amazing that decisions about the road are not
> made by the users of the road, but by the people
> that live near the affected area.
>
> When will the voice of the road's user's be heard?


That may be a good question for Cook. While his primary concern would be his constituents but a carefully tailored guest list could have been used to guide the decision into the less expensive alternative.

Jughead Wrote:
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> While a grade-separated intersection at
> Danbury/Wakefield Chapel would be ideal, a
> jughandle (aka Jersey Left) would be a big
> improvement over left turn lanes.

Notice how that slide show didn't mean much about the ecological impact of that realignment.

Leave it the fuck the way it is. Just don't pull any of that crazy shit like you did last summer when you took away the ENTIRE FUCKING LEFT LANE of westbound Braddock right after that beltway entrance.

Boy, that sure was fun. And SO FUCKING WELL PLANNED!

I hope whoever approved that was not only fired, but also flayed and had salt poured into their open flesh while tiny bamboo slivers were shoved under their fingernails all the while water was poured over their towel covered head to simulate drowning.

Leave Braddock Road the FUCK ALONE.

NIMBY Wrote:
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> Leave it the fuck the way it is. Just don't pull
> any of that crazy shit like you did last summer
> when you took away the ENTIRE FUCKING LEFT LANE of
> westbound Braddock right after that beltway
> entrance.
>
> Boy, that sure was fun. And SO FUCKING WELL
> PLANNED!
>
> I hope whoever approved that was not only fired,
> but also flayed and had salt poured into their
> open flesh while tiny bamboo slivers were shoved
> under their fingernails all the while water was
> poured over their towel covered head to simulate
> drowning.
>
> Leave Braddock Road the FUCK ALONE.

I printed your comment and will post it above my Dilbert calendar on Monday morning. It's a pleasure to serve you!

You can also send anonymous comments to my boss about the Braddock Road project here:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/braddockroadmmstudy/

Comment period closes on February 20, 2017. That's this Monday.

The section of Braddock Road being studied currently handles approximately 70,000 vehicle trips a day.

It only makes sense that the 300 people nearest Braddock Road make these engineering decisions.

When our numbers show that intersection improvements are better and cheaper, no one should question the assumptions that led to this answer.

We know that engineers often lack common sense.

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/braddockroadmmstudy/

I told them so. You should also.

So adding more houses and commuters is a solution too...

local... Wrote:
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> So adding more houses and commuters is a solution
> too...


Where would you like to see the future P&R be built?

They need to do what they did on Old Keene Mill/Franconia Road and create elevated express lanes from Guinea to 495. Once you're on them, you cannot exit until the Beltway. Oh...except unlike Franconia Road, let's make sure there's tolls paid to an Australian company.

If they were interested in a regional solution they should have included membership from oh, say, Burke Conservancy, KPW Civic Association, GMU etc etc. Next opportunity to engage are FC BOS boards.

Why the Burke Conservancy? I don't believe any of their property borders Braddock Road.

Because Braddock Road is a regional artery supporting a bunch of commuters from all those places west of Guinea Road. I mean if signal hill is included why not? And it's their tax dollars that will help pay for this. Etc etc. Most of what I see makes sense.

The correct fix for Braddock Road is no traffic lights from Ravensworth to Olley.

This can be done.

just tunnel it from Ravensworth to Olley and put the trees back on top and narrow the road again the way it use to be; or pave it 10 lanes flat and straight to Centreville, like a runway.
Attachments:

But whatever you do, don’t pay some international company to toll us. For Crying Out Loud! There isn’t a sane Virginian would elect such an idiotic notion.

You’re new Braddock Road with E-Z Pass
Attachments:

Needed Improvements Wrote:
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> The correct fix for Braddock Road is no traffic
> lights from Ravensworth to Olley.
>
> This can be done.

Only if you are talking about installing overpasses with cloverleafs at Ravensworth, Queensbury, Wakefield Chapel, Southhampton, Lake Braddock, Rolling Road and Guinea. Removing traffic lights means cutting off access to Braddock Road for a large number of people who live east of Olley. If fucking people over is an acceptable alternative, why not sever Braddock Road east of Guinea. The roadway's current capacity is more than adequate to meet the foreseeable needs of those entering Braddock east of that point, and those living further west can use alternate routes that would include the Fairfax Parkway, 236 and 66.

bv7mL Wrote:
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> Needed Improvements Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The correct fix for Braddock Road is no traffic
> > lights from Ravensworth to Olley.
> >
> > This can be done.
>
> Only if you are talking about installing
> overpasses with cloverleafs at Ravensworth,
> Queensbury, Wakefield Chapel, Southhampton, Lake
> Braddock, Rolling Road and Guinea. Removing
> traffic lights means cutting off access to
> Braddock Road for a large number of people who
> live east of Olley. If fucking people over is an
> acceptable alternative, why not sever Braddock
> Road east of Guinea. The roadway's current
> capacity is more than adequate to meet the
> foreseeable needs of those entering Braddock east
> of that point, and those living further west can
> use alternate routes that would include the
> Fairfax Parkway, 236 and 66.

Monticello Freeway 2.0

I have it on good authority that every interchange will provide a sign directing motorists to the nearest Arthur Treacher's where they can obtain good fish and chips at a fair price.

bv7mL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Needed Improvements Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The correct fix for Braddock Road is no traffic
> > lights from Ravensworth to Olley.
> >
> > This can be done.
>
> Only if you are talking about installing
> overpasses with cloverleafs at Ravensworth,
> Queensbury, Wakefield Chapel, Southhampton, Lake
> Braddock, Rolling Road and Guinea. Removing
> traffic lights means cutting off access to
> Braddock Road for a large number of people who
> live east of Olley. If fucking people over is an
> acceptable alternative, why not sever Braddock
> Road east of Guinea. The roadway's current
> capacity is more than adequate to meet the
> foreseeable needs of those entering Braddock east
> of that point, and those living further west can
> use alternate routes that would include the
> Fairfax Parkway, 236 and 66.

Monticello Freeway is in the yellow. This should answer anyone's question on why there is a large amount of highway ROW on Braddock Road from Guinea Road to I-495.
Attachments:

We would not have half the traffic problems if they had not taken these roads off the plan.

Didn't build and they came anyway.

Building that yellow freeway would still be helpful today, even if some houses need to go away.

WuYdD Wrote:
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> Building that yellow freeway would still be
> helpful today, even if some houses need to go
> away.

And now you know why Braddock Road from Guinea to the Beltway has all that ROW.

Joke Insurance Wrote:
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>
> And now you know why Braddock Road from Guinea to
> the Beltway has all that ROW.


There is enough right-of-way already owned by the state that they could add two lanes in each direction.

They should add at least one each way now.

And eliminate half the left turns.

MOVE. There are enough roads but one to many people. Losers move here then cry about transportation.
You can't fix stupid.

If You don't like it then....... Wrote:
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> MOVE. There are enough roads but one to many
> people. Losers move here then cry about
> transportation.

Yes, Audrey.

The population growth will then certainly slow down in the Braddock Road corridor west of Guinea Road, starting immediately.

You are correct that stupid is not fixable, Stupid.

If You don't like it then....... Wrote:
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> MOVE. There are enough roads but one to many
> people. Losers move here then cry about
> transportation.
> You can't fix stupid.

Most residents only thought about the house without considering the commute.
This region was once considered recession resistant until the population tripled.
People aren't even considering the years of major delays during construction. And when this area is hit with another recession, the project will be extended for even more years.
I'm glad I never moved to this corridor.

you wanna fix beltway traffic start with the inner loop exit to Rt. 7. Rt. 7 backs up the whole beltway. Leave braddock alone its already 3-4 lanes each way to just Burke Lake Rd.

VDOT Executive Wrote:
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> I have it on good authority that every interchange
> will provide a sign directing motorists to the
> nearest Arthur Treacher's where they can obtain
> good fish and chips at a fair price.


This has been confirmed. Arthur Treacher's will be going in at each interchange.

Since everyone wants to send the immigrants back across the border, then why not send the Carpetbaggers back to wherever they migrated from?
It would be a whole lot cheaper than road improvements

All carpetbaggers get 1/2 off a fish and chips platter at the Fairfax Circle Arthur Treacher's. Come on down!

Instant Gratification? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If You don't like it then....... Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > MOVE. There are enough roads but one to many
> > people. Losers move here then cry about
> > transportation.
> > You can't fix stupid.
>
> Most residents only thought about the house
> without considering the commute.
> This region was once considered recession
> resistant until the population tripled.
> People aren't even considering the years of major
> delays during construction. And when this area is
> hit with another recession, the project will be
> extended for even more years.
> I'm glad I never moved to this corridor.

And what part of the county are you in?