Closing Georgetown Pike Ramp to I-495

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To all those who criticize others for not living in the same state where they work -- that's a fine idea, but many people here work as contractors, and you have to go to the location your employer assigns you to. You may be on a project in DC for a year, then one in VA for 2, then be sent to MD to work. It is simply not practical to sell one's home, uproot the family, and move every time you are sent to a different assignment.

If I had a job that could assign me to any of the 3 sites, then I would live in DC to be in the middle of all of them. Reverse commute everywhere. Makes perfect sense. Too bad you didn't think of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in langley forest where balls hill hits Georgetown pike and I, along with many of my neighbors, are very much against this idea. One of the reasons we bought our home was easy access to the beltway as our family travels all over for school, work and a activities. Traffic is bad because traffic is bad. This won’t solve the problem. At best, it will inconvenience many of us who count on that ramp, push the spillover traffic to other neighborhoods and access points making those areas even worse (thereby further increasing travel times for all). It’s a terrible idea. As someone who was at last night’s meeting, it’s clear they have not thought through all of the consequences but were trying to throw a quick fix at a systemic problem that goes far beyond the ramp in its root cause.

. So you live on Wemberly and Live Oak and aren't affected unless you need to go somewhere. What if you need an ambulance.


If you really live there, then you know Balls Hill Road, Benjamin, Holyrood and all of the residential streets below Georgetown Pike are clogged with cars trying to get on the beltway. Fire engines and emergency personnel cannot get through. I've seen parents taking photos on Dead Run - a residential street - their kids can't even go out and play in the afternoons. And even if you live on Wemberly or Live Oak and don't go through the intersection at those times, and don't have congestion in your neighborhood, what if you need a fire engine or EMT? So, gosh, to get to your "activities" you drive over chain bridge to get to your activities. Or you drive south on the Beltway (that won't be closed). Or you drop down one mile to the Tysons onramp between 1-7 M-F to go north on the Beltway. You can't use the northbound onramp as it is because of congestion - so why fuss now?

You’re hilarious. First, I have no reason to fake live in Langley Forest as your message implies. Second, had you attended the meeting you would have heard then say that the existing traffic at other entry points will get worse as a result of this. Duh. If you block an entry, that flow has to go somewhere else. That means traffic elsewhere will worsen such that my commute will get substantially worse since I now have to drive 15 minutes out of my way to access a different route, even without traffic. Third, although traffic impacts my neighborhood and others, that can be planned around or avoided entirely.

[Anonymous]

I am one of a dozen teachers working at Cooper Middle School and who live across the bridge in Maryland. There are others around the corner at Churchill ES and Langley HS. We will be forced to drive down through McLean to then get on the beltway at 123. Schools generally get out earlier than many businesses in McLean. Perhaps a later start time on the ramp closure would be a good compromise. 1:00 to 7:00 seems like such a bold grab and probably was meant to be the starting point for negotiation but I guess in the end, the wealth of McLean and Great Falls speaks to the politicians. More "inequality".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am one of a dozen teachers working at Cooper Middle School and who live across the bridge in Maryland. There are others around the corner at Churchill ES and Langley HS. We will be forced to drive down through McLean to then get on the beltway at 123. Schools generally get out earlier than many businesses in McLean. Perhaps a later start time on the ramp closure would be a good compromise. 1:00 to 7:00 seems like such a bold grab and probably was meant to be the starting point for negotiation but I guess in the end, the wealth of McLean and Great Falls speaks to the politicians. More "inequality".

It’s a very small group of wealthy people in your school district (Cooper/Langley) who favor this. Most people in McLean and elsewhere in NoVa think it is a terrible idea. If it gets implemented, you should work to the clock and let the Cooper families know how much they are inconveniencing you and other teachers.

[Anonymous]

Next meeting on the ramp closure is Sept. 13 at McLean High School - 7:00pm. If you feel strongly about closing the ramp, get to that meeting. Posting here does no good. And send your opinion to VDOT too at: [e-mail] — include McLean Area Traffic Analysis in the subject line.

[Anonymous]

the next meeting is Oct. 18th but how do you find out where it is and what time? Not on the web site

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am one of a dozen teachers working at Cooper Middle School and who live across the bridge in Maryland. There are others around the corner at Churchill ES and Langley HS. We will be forced to drive down through McLean to then get on the beltway at 123. Schools generally get out earlier than many businesses in McLean. Perhaps a later start time on the ramp closure would be a good compromise. 1:00 to 7:00 seems like such a bold grab and probably was meant to be the starting point for negotiation but I guess in the end, the wealth of McLean and Great Falls speaks to the politicians. More "inequality".

Oh the horror! You could also work out your schedule to leave before 4:00 or simply turn left as you exit the Langley parking lot and go over Chain Bridge. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am one of a dozen teachers working at Cooper Middle School and who live across the bridge in Maryland. There are others around the corner at Churchill ES and Langley HS. We will be forced to drive down through McLean to then get on the beltway at 123. Schools generally get out earlier than many businesses in McLean. Perhaps a later start time on the ramp closure would be a good compromise. 1:00 to 7:00 seems like such a bold grab and probably was meant to be the starting point for negotiation but I guess in the end, the wealth of McLean and Great Falls speaks to the politicians. More "inequality".

Oh the horror! You could also work out your schedule to leave before 4:00 or simply turn left as you exit the Langley parking lot and go over Chain Bridge. Problem solved.

So, go over Chain Bridge and then what? You can't turn left off the bridge. This makes no sense unless the driver lives in Glen Echo in which cases he or she probably goes this way already.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]the next meeting is Oct. 18th but how do you find out where it is and what time? Not on the web site
[/quote]

It will be held at McLean High School on Oct 18th at 7:00pm in the cafeteria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am one of a dozen teachers working at Cooper Middle School and who live across the bridge in Maryland. There are others around the corner at Churchill ES and Langley HS. We will be forced to drive down through McLean to then get on the beltway at 123. Schools generally get out earlier than many businesses in McLean. Perhaps a later start time on the ramp closure would be a good compromise. 1:00 to 7:00 seems like such a bold grab and probably was meant to be the starting point for negotiation but I guess in the end, the wealth of McLean and Great Falls speaks to the politicians. More "inequality".

It’s a very small group of wealthy people in your school district (Cooper/Langley) who favor this. Most people in McLean and elsewhere in NoVa think it is a terrible idea. If it gets implemented, you should work to the clock and let the Cooper families know how much they are inconveniencing you and other teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am one of a dozen teachers working at Cooper Middle School and who live across the bridge in Maryland. There are others around the corner at Churchill ES and Langley HS. We will be forced to drive down through McLean to then get on the beltway at 123. Schools generally get out earlier than many businesses in McLean. Perhaps a later start time on the ramp closure would be a good compromise. 1:00 to 7:00 seems like such a bold grab and probably was meant to be the starting point for negotiation but I guess in the end, the wealth of McLean and Great Falls speaks to the politicians. More "inequality".

It’s a very small group of wealthy people in your school district (Cooper/Langley) who favor this. Most people in McLean and elsewhere in NoVa think it is a terrible idea. If it gets implemented, you should work to the clock and let the Cooper families know how much they are inconveniencing you and other teachers.

That is absolutely not true. In fact, Langley High Schooll ran a three week long poll on the issue, and the majority of parents and teachers favor the closure pilot proposal. They can’t get to the school for extracurricular activities like sports and clubs that begin at or after 5:00. With 70 percent of the student population living outside of the Beltway this is impacting their education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am one of a dozen teachers working at Cooper Middle School and who live across the bridge in Maryland. There are others around the corner at Churchill ES and Langley HS. We will be forced to drive down through McLean to then get on the beltway at 123. Schools generally get out earlier than many businesses in McLean. Perhaps a later start time on the ramp closure would be a good compromise. 1:00 to 7:00 seems like such a bold grab and probably was meant to be the starting point for negotiation but I guess in the end, the wealth of McLean and Great Falls speaks to the politicians. More "inequality".

According to the Langley High School poll, less than ten percent of teachers and staff at Langley live in Maryland. The interests of students and Langley HS employees living in Virginia should be prioritized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a few problems at work with this complete mess that is GTP:

First, there is a cop that has been stationed on GTP because Marylanders do anything at all to get onto that part of the beltway, no matter how.

This includes blocking the box (most of the time), or the occasional Marylander who thinks thy are witty and will drive right TO the cop and pass the island (ie: instead of joining his fellow Marylanders on the offramp - this occasional snowflake bypasses his fellow offenders all together and makes a right AFTER the actual off ramp island - right AT the offramp.)

Witty? Not so much. Especially when the Governor of Virginia lives near the neighborhood and gets completely fed up with effects of Waze and its direct ramifications. So, you have a ramp closure. Congratulations Marylanders, you got what you asked for.

Sounds like PikeGate to me.

[Anonymous]

Its a win for VA to close the ramp. The MD commuters who have the financial means will bite the bullet and move over to McLean / Great Falls further pushing up real estate values. This will lesson the commute more and give VA more tax revenue. Its been happening for the past several years as Marylanders employed in VA have been migrating over. There simply aren't similar job opportunities in MD.

[Anonymous]

From the VA Schools Forum:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

--Langley HS PTSA Releases Traffic Survey Results for VDOT Pilot Proposal--
Majority of Parent & Teacher/Staff Respondents Support I-495 NB Ramp Closure

(MCLEAN, VA, October 11, 2018) -- Langley High School’s Parent Teacher Student Association (LHS PTSA) today announced that a majority of Langley High School’s parent and teacher/staff survey respondents support VDOT’s pilot proposal to close the northbound I-495 ramp from 1:00-7:00pm weekdays (Parents-47% YES/32% NO & Teachers/Staff 36% YES/27% NO) . An additional 16 percent of parents and 23 percent of teachers/staff who responded to the survey agreed they might support the proposal if the hours are modified by VDOT.

LHS PTSA President Patty Burgess said the survey results show increased traffic on Georgetown Pike and feeder roads to the NB I-495 ramp is having a negative impact on Langley HS students and families.

“40 percent of Langley parent survey respondents said traffic congestion inhibits their child’s ability to take part in extracurricular activities. A striking 60 percent of parent survey respondents report that afternoon or evening congestion has caused them or their child to miss an afterschool event at LHS,” said Burgess. “And 59 percent of survey respondents who have students participating in extracurriculars beginning after 5:00pm report their child stays after school to avoid traffic congestion. Considering that school begins at 8:10am, that’s a long 10-14 hour day for students with demanding academic schedules,” Burgess said.

Survey results also show that 8 percent of responding LHS teachers and staff live in Maryland and that 68 percent of responding LHS families commute 30-60 minutes or more for extracurriculars after 5:00pm.

[i]“Langley was built inside the Beltway on Georgetown Pike in 1965. Today, 70 percent of parent survey respondents and 63 percent of responding LHS teachers/staff live outside of the Beltway in Virginia. LHS families and staff are increasingly at the mercy of traffic congestion that backs up two miles or more on Georgetown Pike west of the I-495 NB ramp,” said Burgess. [b]“The stellar academic quality of Langley HS is a driving force of property values in McLean and Great Falls. We are hopeful VDOT recognizes the interests of public school students, teachers and staff deserve serious consideration for this proposal,” [/i]Burgess said.

Burgess is sending Langley’s PTSA parent and teacher survey results to VDOT and other local officials for consideration in determining whether or not to limit weekday access to the I-495 NB ramp.

LHS has 1606 families, 1939 students and 187 teachers. 355 families and 63 teachers/staff members responded to the survey. LHS PTSA requested only one response per family. Complete parent survey results may be accessed using this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-QWFLBBMPL/ Complete teacher/staff survey results may be accessed using this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-FPFM9HMPL/

###

KEY FINDINGS FROM THE LANGLEY HS PTSA SURVEY OF PARENTS & TEACHERS/STAFF

STRONG SUPPORT FROM LHS PARENTS, TEACHERS & STAFF FOR RAMP CLOSURE

• 47 percent of Langley HS parent survey respondents support VDOT’s pilot proposal to close the NB I-495 ramp weekdays from 1-7pm. An additional 16 percent say they might support VDOT’s pilot proposal with less restrictive hours. Only 32 percent of parent survey respondents do not support the VDOT pilot proposal. 5 percent would like more information before deciding.

• 36 percent of Langley HS teacher/staff survey respondents support VDOT’s pilot proposal to close the NB-I-495 ramp weekdays from 1-7pm. An additional 23 percent say they might support VDOT’s pilot proposal with less restrictive hours. Only 27 percent of Langley teacher/staff survey respondents do not support the VDOT pilot proposal. 15 percent would like more information before deciding.

INSIDE vs. OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY- WHERE LHS STUDENTS, TEACHERS & STAFF LIVE

• 70 percent of Langley parent survey respondents live outside of the Beltway. 92 percent of Langley teacher/staff survey respondents live in Virginia. Only 8 percent of Langley teacher and staff survey respondents live in Maryland. No teacher and staff survey respondents live in Washington, DC.

• A combined 31% of parents responding to the survey access Georgetown Pike at rush hour chokepoints at or close to the Beltway for afternoon or evening LHS extracurriculars beginning after 5:00pm. 10 percent at Balls Hill Road, 12 percent at Swinks Mill Road and 9 percent at Douglas Drive.

IMPACTS OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON STUDENTS’ EXTRA-CURRICULAR PARTICIPATION

• 40 percent of parent survey respondents report that afternoon or evening traffic congestion inhibits their child’s ability to take part in extracurricular activities at LHS. *Studies show participation in extra-curriculars leads to improved academic performance, higher self-esteem and improved mental health.

• 59 percent of parent survey respondents report their child stays at school for extracurricular activities that begin at or after 5:00pm. Langley starts at 8:10am so many students are at LHS for up to 10-14 hours. (Last year’s VHSL database shows 1454 LHS students participated in LHS sports extracurriculars.) 80 percent of LHS teacher/staff survey respondents report they stay at LHS if their participation is required for an afterschool activity.

• A combined 55 percent of parent survey respondents report that afternoon or evening traffic congestion impacts (26 percent) - or sometimes impacts (29 percent) - their child’s ability to complete required, LHS academic coursework when they participate in an extracurricular activity or other programming at LHS.

• A combined 68 percent of parent survey respondents report their average afternoon or evening commute to Langley High School for extracurriculars takes anywhere from 30-60 minutes or more. (32% = 30-45min., 36% = 45-60+min)