Reply to Closing Georgetown Pike Ramp to I-495

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[quote=Anonymous]From the VA Schools Forum:

[b]FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [/b]

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

[b](MCLEAN, VA, October 11, 2018)[/b] -- 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.

[b]“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,”[/b][/i] said Burgess. [b]“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,”[/b][i] 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,” [/i][b]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,” [/b][/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/

[b]### [/b]

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

STRONG SUPPORT FROM LHS PARENTS, TEACHERS & STAFF FOR RAMP CLOSURE [/b]

•	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.

[b]INSIDE vs. OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY- WHERE LHS STUDENTS, TEACHERS & STAFF LIVE [/b]

•	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.

[b]IMPACTS OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON STUDENTS’ EXTRA-CURRICULAR PARTICIPATION [/b]

•	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) [/quote]

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