Fairfax County General :
Fairfax Underground
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
Stuck In Traffic
()
Date: July 17, 2017 12:57PM
Please share this email with your neighbors, especially if you you use Braddock Road from west of Guinea Road, or from Rolling Road, Burke Lake Road, or Guinea Road. Your voices are not being heard by the county!
Many of you have seen previous posts on the proposed Braddock Road expansion from the beltway to Guinea Road, and the proposed Park and Ride lot next to King's Park Shopping Center. The Fairfax County Department of Transportation has posted a survey to get input from local residents on the Park and Ride lot.
You may already know that the community task force with representatives from each of the local neighborhoods has lobbied the county to cancel the additional lane in each direction and instead use the money to just improve the intersections into their neighborhoods to make it easier for them to go in and out and make their left turns. Now they want to cancel the park and ride lot, which has already been scaled down from the needed 1,200 space garage and transportation center.
This NIMBY approach to traffic planning fails every time. These are the same planners who were convinced that taking away a lane on Braddock Road at Wakefield Chapel Road at the urging of these community idiots was a good idea - then was forced by VDOT to put it back, all on the county's dime. They have produced a nonsensical study that purports to show that intersection changes with more left turns will actually improve traffic flows.
The real reason that these NIMBYs don't want the Park and Ride lot is that they are afraid that express buses will go there, replacing the slow routes through their neighborhoods.
I strongly encourage you to visit the site and put in your input. In the spaces for remarks please tell them:
- Without an additional through lane in each direction using the already existing rights of way, this project is doomed.
- The Park and Ride will serve commuters who currently are forced to park in neighborhoods or the shopping centers to catch the bus.
- Cut through neighborhood traffic will get significantly worse if only intersection changes are made, as it will be easier to access these short cuts.
- The Park and Ride should be built BEFORE the other Braddock Road improvements, followed by new traffic studies conducted to confirm the need for additional through lanes instead of just intersection improvements.
Survey deadline is July 24.
Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BraddockCorridorTransportation
Details on the project: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/braddockroadmmstudy/
Please also share your concerns with John Cook at braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov. He is currently overwhelmed with emails from the NIMBYs and welcomes emails from others in his district.
Many of you have seen previous posts on the proposed Braddock Road expansion from the beltway to Guinea Road, and the proposed Park and Ride lot next to King's Park Shopping Center. The Fairfax County Department of Transportation has posted a survey to get input from local residents on the Park and Ride lot.
You may already know that the community task force with representatives from each of the local neighborhoods has lobbied the county to cancel the additional lane in each direction and instead use the money to just improve the intersections into their neighborhoods to make it easier for them to go in and out and make their left turns. Now they want to cancel the park and ride lot, which has already been scaled down from the needed 1,200 space garage and transportation center.
This NIMBY approach to traffic planning fails every time. These are the same planners who were convinced that taking away a lane on Braddock Road at Wakefield Chapel Road at the urging of these community idiots was a good idea - then was forced by VDOT to put it back, all on the county's dime. They have produced a nonsensical study that purports to show that intersection changes with more left turns will actually improve traffic flows.
The real reason that these NIMBYs don't want the Park and Ride lot is that they are afraid that express buses will go there, replacing the slow routes through their neighborhoods.
I strongly encourage you to visit the site and put in your input. In the spaces for remarks please tell them:
- Without an additional through lane in each direction using the already existing rights of way, this project is doomed.
- The Park and Ride will serve commuters who currently are forced to park in neighborhoods or the shopping centers to catch the bus.
- Cut through neighborhood traffic will get significantly worse if only intersection changes are made, as it will be easier to access these short cuts.
- The Park and Ride should be built BEFORE the other Braddock Road improvements, followed by new traffic studies conducted to confirm the need for additional through lanes instead of just intersection improvements.
Survey deadline is July 24.
Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BraddockCorridorTransportation
Details on the project: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/braddockroadmmstudy/
Please also share your concerns with John Cook at braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov. He is currently overwhelmed with emails from the NIMBYs and welcomes emails from others in his district.
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
ne7hp
()
Date: July 17, 2017 01:08PM
How about VDOT fix that shit road, Burke Lake Rd, in front of Giant where Braddock Rd is?!?!?!? That fucking road has bumps and potholes all over it.
How about fixing the right lane of Braddock Rd when you make a right turn off of Burke Lake Rd. Fuck! Another half ass pot filled lane!
How about fixing the right lane of Braddock Rd when you make a right turn off of Burke Lake Rd. Fuck! Another half ass pot filled lane!
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
Not NIMBYs this time
()
Date: July 17, 2017 01:30PM
The Braddock Road improvement project isn't your classic NIMBY situation. Those who oppose some of the proposed plans do not do so because they oppose improving Braddock Road to increase capacity. They oppose them because the plans limit their ability to access and/or use Braddock Road. What is happening is that VDOT is trying to screw over residents who access Braddock Road from Rolling Road east in order to make the drive a couple of minutes faster for those who are coming from Guinea Road west, or who are coming via Burke Lake Road.
There are only two choke points east of the Braddock-Burke Lake Road, and ironically one of them was created by VDOT as part of the Beltway Express Lane project.
There are only two choke points east of the Braddock-Burke Lake Road, and ironically one of them was created by VDOT as part of the Beltway Express Lane project.
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
omghov
()
Date: July 17, 2017 01:50PM
Putting an HOV lane on Braddock has to be one of the stupidest ideas I have ever heard of. Its a local road not a highway. Why take land and lanes from locals living near the beltway to help people from far away? If they are proposing pay for HoV then double-fuck that shit.
I would support a bus lane and paths for bikes and pedestrians. Commuter lot would be ok as well. We need mass transit solutions for increased property value and reduced traffic. Need to move more people not more cars.
I would support a bus lane and paths for bikes and pedestrians. Commuter lot would be ok as well. We need mass transit solutions for increased property value and reduced traffic. Need to move more people not more cars.
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
Mistakes of our Fathers
()
Date: July 17, 2017 10:56PM
Tell me again why the Monticello Freeway was taken off the planning maps?
The same reason we can't add two more lanes to Braddock Road now.
The same reason we can't add two more lanes to Braddock Road now.
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
Only Two
()
Date: July 17, 2017 11:01PM
Not NIMBYs this time Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> There are only two choke points east of the
> Braddock-Burke Lake Road, and ironically one of
> them was created by VDOT as part of the Beltway
> Express Lane project.
Which two?
Guinea Road?
Rolling Road?
Burke Lake Road?
Southampton Drive?
Wakefield Chapel Road?
Wakefield Rec Center?
Most days I find backups at all six of these major intersections.
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> There are only two choke points east of the
> Braddock-Burke Lake Road, and ironically one of
> them was created by VDOT as part of the Beltway
> Express Lane project.
Which two?
Guinea Road?
Rolling Road?
Burke Lake Road?
Southampton Drive?
Wakefield Chapel Road?
Wakefield Rec Center?
Most days I find backups at all six of these major intersections.
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
Joke Insurance
()
Date: October 15, 2017 11:58PM
Mistakes of our Fathers Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tell me again why the Monticello Freeway was taken
> off the planning maps?
>
> The same reason we can't add two more lanes to
> Braddock Road now.
Do you know where in Manassas the Monticello Freeway was supposed to end up at?
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tell me again why the Monticello Freeway was taken
> off the planning maps?
>
> The same reason we can't add two more lanes to
> Braddock Road now.
Do you know where in Manassas the Monticello Freeway was supposed to end up at?
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
Like the General, Stupid Choices
()
Date: October 16, 2017 12:44AM
Any idiot who lives off of the Braddock Road corridor gets what they deserve. It has and will always be a clusterfuck. Why waste more taxpayers money to attempt to improve a road that by original design, was not built for suburban commuters.
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
yuvnf
()
Date: October 16, 2017 01:04AM
Only Two Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not NIMBYs this time Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> >
> > There are only two choke points east of the
> > Braddock-Burke Lake Road, and ironically one of
> > them was created by VDOT as part of the Beltway
> > Express Lane project.
>
>
> Which two?
The first choke point for Braddock is the Braddock-Beltway-Port Royal intersection and immediately to the east the Braddock-Express Lanes-Beltway intersection. Eastbound this intersection causes backups which regularly stretch to Wakefield Chapel, and sometimes all the way to Burke Lake Road. Traffic backups at Wakefield Rec are almost always caused by these Beltway intersections which are a few hundred yards further east. By forcing westbound Braddock traffic to make a left turn to access the Beltway south they made the Port Royal interchange worse, although it appears they may have reduced this recently by getting the lights for the two close together interchanges in sync.
Burke Lake Road-Braddock is the other major choke point within the study area. Backups at Southampton are almost always triggered by backups at Burke Lake Road or further east on Braddock. Guinea and Rolling are both west of Burke Lake Road.
The only other interchange that is a problem on its own is Wakefield Chapel, and it is a distant third to the two above.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not NIMBYs this time Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> >
> > There are only two choke points east of the
> > Braddock-Burke Lake Road, and ironically one of
> > them was created by VDOT as part of the Beltway
> > Express Lane project.
>
>
> Which two?
The first choke point for Braddock is the Braddock-Beltway-Port Royal intersection and immediately to the east the Braddock-Express Lanes-Beltway intersection. Eastbound this intersection causes backups which regularly stretch to Wakefield Chapel, and sometimes all the way to Burke Lake Road. Traffic backups at Wakefield Rec are almost always caused by these Beltway intersections which are a few hundred yards further east. By forcing westbound Braddock traffic to make a left turn to access the Beltway south they made the Port Royal interchange worse, although it appears they may have reduced this recently by getting the lights for the two close together interchanges in sync.
Burke Lake Road-Braddock is the other major choke point within the study area. Backups at Southampton are almost always triggered by backups at Burke Lake Road or further east on Braddock. Guinea and Rolling are both west of Burke Lake Road.
The only other interchange that is a problem on its own is Wakefield Chapel, and it is a distant third to the two above.
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
Flow Study
()
Date: October 16, 2017 08:38AM
Mistakes of our Fathers Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tell me again why the Monticello Freeway was taken
> off the planning maps?
>
> The same reason we can't add two more lanes to
> Braddock Road now.
Because if we don't build increased traffic capacity it will slow residential development. It is the core value of traffic planning in Northern Virginia.
And, of course, is completely false.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tell me again why the Monticello Freeway was taken
> off the planning maps?
>
> The same reason we can't add two more lanes to
> Braddock Road now.
Because if we don't build increased traffic capacity it will slow residential development. It is the core value of traffic planning in Northern Virginia.
And, of course, is completely false.
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
Angry Commuter
()
Date: October 16, 2017 08:46AM
Only Two Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not NIMBYs this time Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> >
> > There are only two choke points east of the
> > Braddock-Burke Lake Road, and ironically one of
> > them was created by VDOT as part of the Beltway
> > Express Lane project.
>
>
> Which two?
>
> Guinea Road?
> Rolling Road?
> Burke Lake Road?
> Southampton Drive?
> Wakefield Chapel Road?
> Wakefield Rec Center?
>
> Most days I find backups at all six of these major
> intersections.
Yes, all of them. Not unusual for it to take 20-30 minutes to go from Olley Lane to the beltway in the morning and the same is true in the evening in the other direction.
The nimby's succeeded in convincing the Virginia Tech grads who claim to be county planners to remove the additional through lanes from the plan, despite the professionals at VDOT advising against it.
Intersection improvements do not provide sufficient additional capacity - they mostly make it easier to enter and leave the neighborhoods. The neighborhood cut-throughs will only see more use after this project is completed.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not NIMBYs this time Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> >
> > There are only two choke points east of the
> > Braddock-Burke Lake Road, and ironically one of
> > them was created by VDOT as part of the Beltway
> > Express Lane project.
>
>
> Which two?
>
> Guinea Road?
> Rolling Road?
> Burke Lake Road?
> Southampton Drive?
> Wakefield Chapel Road?
> Wakefield Rec Center?
>
> Most days I find backups at all six of these major
> intersections.
Yes, all of them. Not unusual for it to take 20-30 minutes to go from Olley Lane to the beltway in the morning and the same is true in the evening in the other direction.
The nimby's succeeded in convincing the Virginia Tech grads who claim to be county planners to remove the additional through lanes from the plan, despite the professionals at VDOT advising against it.
Intersection improvements do not provide sufficient additional capacity - they mostly make it easier to enter and leave the neighborhoods. The neighborhood cut-throughs will only see more use after this project is completed.
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
Angry Commuter
()
Date: October 16, 2017 08:51AM
yuvnf Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Only Two Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Not NIMBYs this time Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
>
> The only other interchange that is a problem on
> its own is Wakefield Chapel, and it is a distant
> third to the two above.
It took me three light cycles to get past Wakefield Chapel this morning.
Therefore, your assertion is false.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Only Two Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Not NIMBYs this time Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
>
> The only other interchange that is a problem on
> its own is Wakefield Chapel, and it is a distant
> third to the two above.
It took me three light cycles to get past Wakefield Chapel this morning.
Therefore, your assertion is false.
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
More Slow Downs
()
Date: October 16, 2017 09:00AM
More opportunities to be stuck in traffic:
A “HAWK” (pedestrian controlled) signal will be constructed at Grantham and Burke Lake Road, with the shopping center entrance there becoming right in, right out only.
Another “HAWK” signal will be constructed on Braddock Road, between Bradfield Drive and King David Boulevard/Dunleigh Drive.
A HAWK beacon (High-Intensity Activated crossWalK beacon) is a traffic control device used to stop road traffic and allow pedestrians to cross safely. It is officially known as a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB). The purpose of a HAWK beacon is to allow protected pedestrian crossings, stopping road traffic only as needed. Where standard traffic signal 'warrants' prevent the installation of a standard three-color traffic signal, the HAWK beacon provides an alternative.
A “HAWK” (pedestrian controlled) signal will be constructed at Grantham and Burke Lake Road, with the shopping center entrance there becoming right in, right out only.
Another “HAWK” signal will be constructed on Braddock Road, between Bradfield Drive and King David Boulevard/Dunleigh Drive.
A HAWK beacon (High-Intensity Activated crossWalK beacon) is a traffic control device used to stop road traffic and allow pedestrians to cross safely. It is officially known as a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB). The purpose of a HAWK beacon is to allow protected pedestrian crossings, stopping road traffic only as needed. Where standard traffic signal 'warrants' prevent the installation of a standard three-color traffic signal, the HAWK beacon provides an alternative.
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
note to dumbasses
()
Date: October 16, 2017 10:12AM
When you are the first one stopped at those lame ass HAWK things, you can GO once the pedestrian is out of the way. You do not have to wait for the lights to stop. Most people don't seem to get that.
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
Guinea Road Years Ago
()
Date: October 16, 2017 10:34AM
Does anyone remember the Guinea Pig farm that was on the site of where the school is located. At one time the farm was about 400 acres in size, and was the home to roughly 5 million Guinea Pigs.
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
Joke Insurance
()
Date: October 16, 2017 01:25PM
I saw this on Reddit.
Here are the final plans for the Braddock Road Improvement Project (images inside): https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/braddock/pdfs/braddock_road_final_project_announcement_final_8-21.pdf
If the images in the URL don't suite you, here are some others:
1. Between Guinea Road and Burke Lake Road - https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pdf/braddockroadstudy/plan1.pdf
2. Between Burke Lake Road and Southampton Drive - https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pdf/braddockroadstudy/plan2.pdf
3. Between Danbury Forest Drive/Wakefield Chapel Road and Queensberry Avenue - https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pdf/braddockroadstudy/plan3.pdf
4. Between Ravensworth Shopping Center and Ravensworth Road - https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pdf/braddockroadstudy/plan4.pdf
5. Ravensworth Road, from Braddock Road to Greenfield Road - https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pdf/braddockroadstudy/plan5.pdf
Here are the final plans for the Braddock Road Improvement Project (images inside): https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/braddock/pdfs/braddock_road_final_project_announcement_final_8-21.pdf
If the images in the URL don't suite you, here are some others:
1. Between Guinea Road and Burke Lake Road - https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pdf/braddockroadstudy/plan1.pdf
2. Between Burke Lake Road and Southampton Drive - https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pdf/braddockroadstudy/plan2.pdf
3. Between Danbury Forest Drive/Wakefield Chapel Road and Queensberry Avenue - https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pdf/braddockroadstudy/plan3.pdf
4. Between Ravensworth Shopping Center and Ravensworth Road - https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pdf/braddockroadstudy/plan4.pdf
5. Ravensworth Road, from Braddock Road to Greenfield Road - https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pdf/braddockroadstudy/plan5.pdf
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
Insane Traffic, simple solution
()
Date: October 26, 2017 03:12PM
Add an additional Lane on 495 to the exit ramps for Braddock Road Inner loop.
So many accidents, (rear endings) because traffic gets backed up for a mile during evening rush.
Also, just create 2 elevated highway lanes in the median along Braddock from 495 to Rolling road. Open both Eastbound during morning rush, both Westbound during evening rush, and one in each direction the rest of the time.
And don't make it a damn toll lane, hot lane or HOV BS lane!!
This will alleviate a lot of the backup between 495 and Rolling.
Beyond that Westward, just add a lane in each direction for a mile or 2.
THAT's IT!!! No Further Proposed "improvements".
Don't need to implement all this other fancy shit -- too much already.
Pedestrian stop lights for overcrowded neighborhoods. Build pedestrian bridges INSTEADXN .. the traffic is Bad enough.
So many accidents, (rear endings) because traffic gets backed up for a mile during evening rush.
Also, just create 2 elevated highway lanes in the median along Braddock from 495 to Rolling road. Open both Eastbound during morning rush, both Westbound during evening rush, and one in each direction the rest of the time.
And don't make it a damn toll lane, hot lane or HOV BS lane!!
This will alleviate a lot of the backup between 495 and Rolling.
Beyond that Westward, just add a lane in each direction for a mile or 2.
THAT's IT!!! No Further Proposed "improvements".
Don't need to implement all this other fancy shit -- too much already.
Pedestrian stop lights for overcrowded neighborhoods. Build pedestrian bridges INSTEADXN .. the traffic is Bad enough.
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
You would still be angry
()
Date: October 26, 2017 03:30PM
Angry Commuter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, all of them. Not unusual for it to take
> 20-30 minutes to go from Olley Lane to the beltway
> in the morning and the same is true in the evening
> in the other direction.
>
You could remove all the lights on Braddock except for those at Port Royal & the Beltway, Burke Lake Road and Guinea and it would still take you almost as long. The light at Rolling just slows down your ability to get stuck at the light as Burke Lake or Guinea. The light at Wakefield Chapel just slows down your ability to get stuck at the lights at Port Royal and the Beltway.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, all of them. Not unusual for it to take
> 20-30 minutes to go from Olley Lane to the beltway
> in the morning and the same is true in the evening
> in the other direction.
>
You could remove all the lights on Braddock except for those at Port Royal & the Beltway, Burke Lake Road and Guinea and it would still take you almost as long. The light at Rolling just slows down your ability to get stuck at the light as Burke Lake or Guinea. The light at Wakefield Chapel just slows down your ability to get stuck at the lights at Port Royal and the Beltway.
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
Traffic Planning 101
()
Date: October 27, 2017 01:32PM
Given a multi-lane road with numerous traffic lights, what is the most cost effective means to improve traffic flow?
a. Grade-separated intersections
b. Intersection enhancements and removing lights
c. An additional through lane
d. Mast transit and high-occupancy vehicle lanes
The correct answer is C.
a. Grade-separated intersections
b. Intersection enhancements and removing lights
c. An additional through lane
d. Mast transit and high-occupancy vehicle lanes
The correct answer is C.
Re: Last Chance To Voice Your Opinion On Braddock Road Project
Posted by:
HOV added TO Braddock study
()
Date: November 21, 2017 06:35PM