Build another bridge. It’s about 30 years overdue

Not happening according to an email that went out today.

“Good afternoon,

Thank you for your continued partnership as we study and consider potential congestion solutions for neighborhoods near the Capital Beltway in McLean. As a result of our analyses, public outreach and input collected, we will not pursue the proposed pilot to limit access from Georgetown Pike to northbound I-495.

Moving forward, VDOT and Fairfax County will continue to evaluate other proposals and solutions, which include potential intersection improvements at Balls Hill Road and Georgetown Pike—a joint effort with the county that is currently in design with need for construction funding—and potential timed turn restrictions at Dead Run Drive and Carper Street.

As we further evaluate alternatives, public outreach and input will continue to be an important component of consideration and will help guide recommendations.

Additional solutions currently under consideration include continued coordination with Maryland on proposed improvements to the American Legion Bridge, including Virginia’s environmental analysis on plans to study extending the I-495 Express Lanes by about three miles to the American Legion Bridge and Maryland line. A public meeting on this study is expected in early 2019; all who are interested are invited to attend.

The team will continue to carefully consider new ideas submitted through the latest meetings and comments, and will compile an updated list with responses similar to the first version published in 2017.

The project team is committed to open communication and continues to update the McLean Traffic Analysis study page as information becomes available.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone currently in the market for a 1m plus home and considering Mclean, this is absolutely true

Where are the $1m homes in McLean? Serious question.

PP said they are in the market for a "1m plus" house. What is your point?

Anonymous wrote:As someone currently in the market for a 1m plus home and considering Mclean, this is absolutely true

Where are the $1m homes in McLean? Serious question.

Comments must be postmarked, emailed or delivered to VDOT by November 12, 2018. Mail comments to meetingcomments@vdot.virginia.gov

Please include “McLean Area Traffic Analysis” in the email subject line.

VDOT has said the feedback to date is 65% against the ramp closure. Given their prior statements that they would not close the ramp without overwhelming community support, this should be DOA now, despite the Langley HS families who keep trying to divert traffic to other people's neighborhoods.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1

Plus, MD hasn't widened the bridge, and Marylanders are not going to wait for that to happen, so they are moving to VA, by necessity.

+2

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1

Plus, MD hasn't widened the bridge, and Marylanders are not going to wait for that to happen, so they are moving to VA, by necessity.

As someone currently in the market for a 1m plus home and considering Mclean, this is absolutely true

This measure is completely unacceptable.

I understand that some residents may want less traffic on the streets, but for all Mclean residents that need to commute to Maryland in the afternoon (which are many, including ourselves), this measure would add miles and at least 30 minutes to our commute as we would need to go all the way down to Tyson’s to then go all the way back up the inner loop.

Not to mention that this will negatively impact the home values in McLean, as part of the strong valuation of the neighborhood is how well connected it is to highways. Blocking highway access would dampen housing value, which any homeowner in the area should find find absolutely unacceptable.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The majority who responded, not the majority of families/teachers.