McLean residents sue to stop I-495 widening over environmental impacts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Widening doesn’t help. This has been well proven.

Yup. Widening the roads is a cop out instead of doing the very hard work to find other solutions. Good for them.

I just don’t understand how some of you think people should get to work. Not everyone can afford to live within biking/walking distance of where they work (particularly those who work in McLean!), and not all workplaces are near a metro. Most people would prefer not to spend hours on a soul-sucking metro commute but don’t have a better alternative.

Just because you widen major highways doesn't make traffic better. Widening 495 doesn't mean all of the access roads, neighborhood roads, and streets that are off 495 get bigger, the just stay the same size and now all you've done is encourage more car culture. Traffic is barely impacted because flow slows down when the same 2 way street with tons of traffic from the 495 off ramp is still the same 2 lane street even after widening.

According to you, if we add lanes, the traffic will get worse. So if we reduce lanes, will it get better?

There was no traffic when 495 was just a footpath for Native Americans....

Actually it was Georgetown Pike that was the original footpath

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.ffxnow.com/2023/03/20/mclean-residents-sue-to-stop-i-495-widening-over-environmental-impacts/

NIMBYism strikes again. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were some visitors of this forum.

What a nasty post, OP! If you had bothered to read, you would know that the citizens working on this are aligned with the Sierra Club. Have you seen what VDOT is doing at the Georgetown Pike interchange and the bridge? The trees have been all stripped out. It's horrible. And schools and churches sit right there along with homeowners.

Oh noooo! Not the poor churches!! Lmaooo

Cut it out. Cooper Middle School sits right there. Once upon a time it had a tree buffer but VDOT ripped the trees out in front if it without notice. That resulted in citizen outrage and protests from Cooper’s principal about air quality. Body then moved all of its vehicles in. John Foust promised it would become a dog park. It wasn’t now all of the remaining trees have been ripped out. It’s an unsightly mess

This is so sad. Can we hit 50 likes?

[Anonymous]

Maybe then they should start supporting a bridge crossing up stream. People are coming all the way from Loudoun County just to cross over there creating traffic in between.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you choose to live right next to 495 if your kid has asthma? These arent poor people without options

They lived there before it became a mess. We lived there in the same house for 32 years. That area has changed a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe then they should start supporting a bridge crossing up stream. People are coming all the way from Loudoun County just to cross over there creating traffic in between.

Been discussed a rejected ten years ago. No one owns the land. Eminent domain won’t work. Google it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe then they should start supporting a bridge crossing up stream. People are coming all the way from Loudoun County just to cross over there creating traffic in between.

Isn't that the point of NIMBY? The plaintiffs would be fine with a crossing anywhere by near where they live, just like the probably have no problem driving on widened roads anywhere else they go

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.ffxnow.com/2023/03/20/mclean-residents-sue-to-stop-i-495-widening-over-environmental-impacts/

NIMBYism strikes again. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were some visitors of this forum.

What a nasty post, OP! If you had bothered to read, you would know that the citizens working on this are aligned with the Sierra Club. Have you seen what VDOT is doing at the Georgetown Pike interchange and the bridge? The trees have been all stripped out. It's horrible. And schools and churches sit right there along with homeowners.

Oh noooo! Not the poor churches!! Lmaooo

Cut it out. Cooper Middle School sits right there. Once upon a time it had a tree buffer but VDOT ripped the trees out in front if it without notice. That resulted in citizen outrage and protests from Cooper’s principal about air quality. Body then moved all of its vehicles in. John Foust promised it would become a dog park. It wasn’t now all of the remaining trees have been ripped out. It’s an unsightly mess

This is so sad. Can we hit 50 likes?

Meant to type VDOT. I lived at that intersection for many years. Every time VDOT made a move it did so fast and violently, ripping out trees and brush so fast that by the time the Cooper Principal and residents realized the land had been stripped bare it was too late. Complaints to VDOT and Foust went unanswered. There is now sound and air pollution. The smart residents got out. Many left have been in those houses four decades and can’t move easily. It’s an environmental nightmare. I no longer have a dog in this fight but please note how ALL of the trees have been stripped out. The plaintiffs have the support of the Sierra club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe then they should start supporting a bridge crossing up stream. People are coming all the way from Loudoun County just to cross over there creating traffic in between.

Been discussed a rejected ten years ago. No one owns the land. Eminent domain won’t work. Google it

What are you talking about? They could easily do it, but even richer and more powerful people on the Maryland side oppose it so it will never happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.ffxnow.com/2023/03/20/mclean-residents-sue-to-stop-i-495-widening-over-environmental-impacts/

NIMBYism strikes again. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were some visitors of this forum.

What a nasty post, OP! If you had bothered to read, you would know that the citizens working on this are aligned with the Sierra Club. Have you seen what VDOT is doing at the Georgetown Pike interchange and the bridge? The trees have been all stripped out. It's horrible. And schools and churches sit right there along with homeowners.

Oh noooo! Not the poor churches!! Lmaooo

Cut it out. Cooper Middle School sits right there. Once upon a time it had a tree buffer but VDOT ripped the trees out in front if it without notice. That resulted in citizen outrage and protests from Cooper’s principal about air quality. Body then moved all of its vehicles in. John Foust promised it would become a dog park. It wasn’t now all of the remaining trees have been ripped out. It’s an unsightly mess

This is so sad. Can we hit 50 likes?

Meant to type VDOT. I lived at that intersection for many years. Every time VDOT made a move it did so fast and violently, ripping out trees and brush so fast that by the time the Cooper Principal and residents realized the land had been stripped bare it was too late. Complaints to VDOT and Foust went unanswered. There is now sound and air pollution. The smart residents got out. Many left have been in those houses four decades and can’t move easily. It’s an environmental nightmare. I no longer have a dog in this fight but please note how ALL of the trees have been stripped out. The plaintiffs have the support of the Sierra club.

Of course they do, they are rich and well connected. Roads are being widened across the region. When the locals are rich, then they find an environmental problem and delay the project in court and drive up the price (see the purple lane). When they aren't the roads just get built.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.ffxnow.com/2023/03/20/mclean-residents-sue-to-stop-i-495-widening-over-environmental-impacts/

NIMBYism strikes again. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were some visitors of this forum.

What a nasty post, OP! If you had bothered to read, you would know that the citizens working on this are aligned with the Sierra Club. Have you seen what VDOT is doing at the Georgetown Pike interchange and the bridge? The trees have been all stripped out. It's horrible. And schools and churches sit right there along with homeowners.

Oh noooo! Not the poor churches!! Lmaooo

Cut it out. Cooper Middle School sits right there. Once upon a time it had a tree buffer but VDOT ripped the trees out in front if it without notice. That resulted in citizen outrage and protests from Cooper’s principal about air quality. Body then moved all of its vehicles in. John Foust promised it would become a dog park. It wasn’t now all of the remaining trees have been ripped out. It’s an unsightly mess

This is so sad. Can we hit 50 likes?

Meant to type VDOT. I lived at that intersection for many years. Every time VDOT made a move it did so fast and violently, ripping out trees and brush so fast that by the time the Cooper Principal and residents realized the land had been stripped bare it was too late. Complaints to VDOT and Foust went unanswered. There is now sound and air pollution. The smart residents got out. Many left have been in those houses four decades and can’t move easily. It’s an environmental nightmare. I no longer have a dog in this fight but please note how ALL of the trees have been stripped out. The plaintiffs have the support of the Sierra club.

Of course they do, they are rich and well connected. Roads are being widened across the region. When the locals are rich, then they find an environmental problem and delay the project in court and drive up the price (see the purple lane). When they aren't the roads just get built.

Wouldn’t it be nice if poor people could hold up development of their own backyards?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Widening doesn’t help. This has been well proven.

Yup. Widening the roads is a cop out instead of doing the very hard work to find other solutions. Good for them.

I just don’t understand how some of you think people should get to work. Not everyone can afford to live within biking/walking distance of where they work (particularly those who work in McLean!), and not all workplaces are near a metro. Most people would prefer not to spend hours on a soul-sucking metro commute but don’t have a better alternative.

Just because you widen major highways doesn't make traffic better. Widening 495 doesn't mean all of the access roads, neighborhood roads, and streets that are off 495 get bigger, the just stay the same size and now all you've done is encourage more car culture. Traffic is barely impacted because flow slows down when the same 2 way street with tons of traffic from the 495 off ramp is still the same 2 lane street even after widening.

Oh please, the Wilson Bridge was rebuilt bigger and better 10+ years ago and traffic is still much much better than it used to be in that direction. One of the reasons is because of the thru lanes that were extended across the bridge, and the better interchange with 295.

The reality is that the American Legion bridge has to be rebuilt at some point, because it is deteriorating. They aren't going to demolish the bridge and eliminate any future river crossing, and it doesn't make sense to spend the billions to rebuild the bridge to be the same size it is now or smaller without attempting to improve the traffic. I actually agree a double-decker is a better option. However, the very rich people living close by on both sides of the river don't want to see a double decker bridge from their homes. So, the current plans are make accommodations for future HOT lanes connections, if Maryland would get its act together too.

1) The reconstruction of the Wilson Bridge didn't impact residential homes on both sides of it - homes, in some cases, that have been there since the 40s and 50s.
2) The bridge is Maryland's problem, as we all know. There are proposals but nothing ever happens.
3) I live there - no one has seriously suggested a double decker highway at any VDOT meeting.

1. Whether residential homes are there or not, American Legion bridge must be rebuilt and will be made bigger. It's going to happen, because it has to.
2. Maryland will eventually get in line as well, because they have to. Again, American Legion bridge must be rebuilt eventually.
3. No one has seriously suggested a double decker bridge because they know it's a non-starter with the residents of the area. But it is the most logical solution given the amount of throughput.

Look, I sympathize anyone living near any of these projects, but you know...that's life. Those living along I-66 had a rude awakening to it as well, only most of those people don't have the money to file these nuisance lawsuits.

The project may be delayed, but it will happen. Resistance is futile.

But nothing ever starts with the bridge. Proposal after proposal, and suit after suit, in maryland. So you can claim "it's going to happen" all you want but nothing ever starts. I've lived in the area 30 years and seen this discussed over and over and nothing ever happens.

I'm actually a bit worried about the continued stalling because sooner or later the bridge will become a safety concern. Can you imagine if they need to shut it down completely because officials couldn't get their act together?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully, this will start discussions on a Purple Line extension to Tysons (yes, I know, I know). I-66 has more cars traveling westbound during morning rush hour from DC than eastbound. Tysons is where the jobs are.

McLean residents aren't going to want that either! And given how many years the existing purple line construction is behind schedule.....I sort of agree with you though, my spouse commutes to Tysons from MoCo and its the pits. Seems like a rapid bus system would be easier to implement but would require expanding the beltway, which of course is a non-starter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully, this will start discussions on a Purple Line extension to Tysons (yes, I know, I know). I-66 has more cars traveling westbound during morning rush hour from DC than eastbound. Tysons is where the jobs are.

Virginia would take 3-5 years to build their portion. Maryland would take 27-30 years.

[Anonymous]

Good for McLean residents for doing that. I see that widening lanes doesn't help with traffic. When will the lane widening stop? How many lanes is "enough"?

I think it's nuts that one resident has to contend with them placing a cell phone tower on their property...Does someone have a vendetta against that person?

[Anonymous]

Unless you live out in the boondocks or (sometimes) in a forsaken area with declining population, buying within a mile of an Interstate highway is a dumb idea. The road will inevitably be improved. The road will inevitably be widened — often many times. It’s been like this for decades and it’s going to be like this for decades to come, even after the paradigmatic shift to electric vehicles.

I have no sympathy for the folks in McLean and Great Falls. They try to sound so smart and educated in their lawsuit attacking the scope of the project. Maybe they should have applied those “smarts” when choosing a place to live.