Richmond Highway Bus Rapid TransitPublic Meeting #1:April 17 & 18, 2018

1. County of Fairfax, Virginia
1
Richmond Highway
Bus RapidTransit
Public Meeting #1
April 17 & 18, 2018

2. County of Fairfax, Virginia
BRTVIDEO
2

3. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Agenda
• Introduction & Background
• Why is this Project Needed?
• Environmental Evaluation
• BRT ProgramToday
• Next Steps
• Staying Involved
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Department of Transportation

4. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Purpose ofTonight’s Meeting
• Share information about…
− The future transformation of the
Richmond Highway Corridor
− The features of Bus RapidTransit
(BRT) systems
− Your role in the planning process
• Gather your input on the scope
related of the environmental
evaluation
4
Department of Transportation

5. Richmond Highway Bus RapidTransit
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Introduction & Background
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6. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Who We Are: Richmond Highway BRT ProjectTeam
• Project led by FCDOT
• Supported by Project
Management
Consultant (PMC)
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• DOT Director: Tom Biesiadny
• Senior Leadership: Eric Teitelman
• Project Manager: Vanessa Aguayo
• Project Advisor: Tom Fahrney
• Environmental Specialist: Doug Miller
• Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit
Partners
• Program Manager: Lara Hegler
Department of Transportation

7. County of Fairfax, Virginia
How We Got Here
• Route 1 Multimodal Alternatives Analysis
• Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan Amendment
2015-IV-MV1
• Richmond Highway Corridor Improvements Projects
7Department of Transportation

8. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Route 1 Multimodal Alternatives Analysis
• Led by theVirginia Department of Rail and
PublicTransportation (DRPT)
• Studied 15-mile segment of Richmond
Highway from Huntington Metrorail to
Woodbridge
• Extensive public involvement
− Three public meetings, three advisory
groups, information booths, business
association and neighborhood meetings
− Flyers, newsletters, press releases, ads
− Website, social media
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Department of Transportation

9. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Route 1 Multimodal Alternatives Analysis
• Final recommendation was phased
implementation of Alternative 4
− Near-term: Median-running BRT
− Long-term: A Metrorail extension to
HyblaValley, with BRT
− Assumes Richmond Highway has a
consistent six-lane cross-section
• Cost estimate from study $524M
• Completed in January 2015
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Four Transit Alternatives
1: BRT – Curb
2: BRT – Median
3: LRT
4: Metrorail/BRT Hybrid
Department of Transportation

10. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Embark Richmond Highway
Embark Richmond Highway is the County’s vision for the corridor that
encompasses and expands upon the DRPT recommendations
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COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AMENDMENT
ROAD WIDENINGBUS RAPID TRANSIT (BRT)

11. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan Amendment
2015-IV-MV1
• Began in 2015
• Establishes corridor-wide planning goals and objectives, with
an urban design vision and land use changes in support of BRT
• Strong public outreach with community and stakeholders
− Six public meetings, hearings, advisory group
− Flyers and postcards, website, social media
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Department of Transportation

12. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan Amendment
2015-IV-MV1
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*
* Potential BRT Station
• Includes guidance for
creating transit-oriented
places
• Implementation will occur
through the rezoning and
development process
• Adopted March 20, 2018
Department of Transportation

13. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Richmond Highway Corridor Improvements
Projects
• Project 1:Telegraph Road to MountVernon Highway [FHWA
Eastern Federal Lands]
− Completed in fall 2017.
• Project 2: JeffTodd Way to Napper Road [VDOT]
− Ongoing
− 2.9 miles
− Environmental and preliminary design work is currently underway
− Last remaining four-lane section north of Fort Belvoir
• Outreach:
− Public information meetings and hearings
− Website: virginiadot.org/projects/northernvirginia/richmond_highway.asp
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Department of Transportation

14. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Richmond Highway Corridor Improvements
Project 2
• VDOT project is in preliminary stages, with construction anticipated for
2023-2025
• In each direction: an additional lane, bicycle and pedestrian
improvements, and BRT accommodations
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The intent of
this graphic is
to depict the
configuration
of elements
within the
proposed
right-of-way.
For clarity,
potential
landscaping is
not shown.
TYPICAL SECTION
Department of Transportation

15. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Richmond Highway BRT Project
• The Richmond Highway Bus RapidTransit
(BRT) Project is an effort to plan, design,
and construct a BRT system between
Huntington Metrorail Station and Fort
Belvoir
• Nine potential BRT stations
• Two phases:
− Phase I: Huntington Metrorail Station
to HyblaValley
− Phase II: HyblaValley to Fort Belvoir
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Department of Transportation

16. County of Fairfax, Virginia
What is Bus RapidTransit (BRT)?
• BRT is a high-quality public
transportation system
designed to be fast, reliable,
and more convenient than
traditional bus routes
• It operates much like rail
service, on a dedicated transit
way, but with the flexibility
and lower cost of bus vehicles
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Department of Transportation

17. County of Fairfax, Virginia
What is Bus RapidTransit (BRT)?
• Key elements of BRT systems often
include:
− Service plans and frequencies that
prioritize reliable, frequent, efficient
service
− Dedicated lanes & traffic signal
priority
− Information technology systems
− “Rail style” stations, with features
that enhance rider comfort and
convenience
− High-quality buses
− Unique graphics & name
• The Richmond Highway BRT system has
not yet been designed
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Department of Transportation

18. County of Fairfax, Virginia
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Richmond Highway BRT Improvements
• Two dedicated BRT lanes in median for majority of alignment;
brings quality, reliability, and safety
• Roadway widening, where necessary (no increase in number of
lanes)
• Consideration of future connections to walkways, trails, and
bicycle facilities
• Streetscape (station/landscape, walkways, signage)

19. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Where else do BRT systems exist in the
U.S.?
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In Virginia
Existing:
• Alexandria / Arlington
(Metroway)
Under Construction:
• Richmond (GRTC Pulse)
Planned:
• Fairfax County (Richmond
Highway BRT)
• Route 7 Tysons to
Alexandria
Department of Transportation

20. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Preliminary BRT Schedule
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Note: Timeframes and durations for design, utilities, right-of-way, vehicle procurement, and
construction will vary depending on the project delivery method and funding.
Department of Transportation
We are here

21. Richmond Highway Bus RapidTransit
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Why is this Project Needed?
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22. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Needs to be addressed:
• Insufficient transportation
choices and infrastructure
• Congestion relief and reduction
in single occupant auto travel
• Unreliable travel times for transit
and automobiles
• Insufficient transit network
• Corridor is unsafe or inaccessible
for all users
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Department of Transportation

23. County of Fairfax, Virginia
The purpose of the BRT Program:
• Expand travel choices by
offering a higher speed, higher
capacity alternative
• Provide more reliable travel
times for transit and
automobile
• Provide additional transit and
roadway capacity
• Increase safety by upgrading
or replacing existing
substandard transportation
facilities
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Department of Transportation

24. Richmond Highway Bus RapidTransit
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Environmental Evaluation
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25. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Environmental Evaluation
• The National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) requires
that we consider how the
project will affect the
community and the
environment before we
make decisions
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Department of Transportation

26. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Environmental Evaluation
• Environmental effects
include more than only
impacts to natural resources
• They also include impacts to
social, cultural, historic, and
economic resources, and air
quality & noise
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Department of Transportation

27. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Environmental Evaluation
• Examples of resources to be studied:
− Community facilities
− Cultural resources
− Natural resources
• Examples of impacts:
− Minority and low income
populations
− Noise and vibration
• The project team is actively soliciting
your help in identifying environmental
resources and in finding ways to avoid,
minimize, or mitigate any negative
impacts to those resources.
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Department of Transportation
Original Mount Vernon High School

28. Richmond Highway Bus RapidTransit
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BRT ProgramToday
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29. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Accomplishments so far:
• Program Management Consultant (PMC) selected
• Environmental work initiated
• Project Delivery methods studied
• Some funding secured
• Community Advisory Group (CAG) established
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Department of Transportation

30. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Community Advisory Group (CAG)
• The members of the CAG function as advisors to the BRT
Technical Committee
• Input from the CAG will be presented to theTechnical
Committee by members of BRTTeam
• The CAG will provide input on a variety of elements of
the BRT program
− Will focus on community involvement strategies /
materials, community impacts of design and
construction, and system branding.
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Department of Transportation

31. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Ongoing Work
• We have started and continue
our working relationship with
FTA
• We continue to work in close
coordination with the
widening project to minimize
reconstruction efforts, cost and
future problems for the BRT
system
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Department of Transportation

32. Richmond Highway Bus RapidTransit
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Next Steps
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33. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Next Steps
• Between now and Public Meetings #2, theTeam will:
− Review comments from this meeting to better understand the needs in
the corridor
− Develop maps of corridor resources
− Create drawings to illustrate what the project will look like
− Develop an understanding of the types of impacts that the project could
have on environmental resources
− Continue to work with the Richmond Highway community to provide and
receive information, and begin development of system branding
− Continue to work on securing funding
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Public Meetings #1
• April 17 & 18, 2018
(We are here!)
Public Meetings #2
• Fall/Winter 2018
Department of Transportation

34. Richmond Highway Bus RapidTransit
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How to Stay Involved
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35. County of Fairfax, Virginia
How to Stay Involved
• This process will be most effective with input from
people who live, work, travel along, or spend time on the
corridor
− Sign up for Fairfax Alerts! on the County website
(Category: Richmond Highway BRT Project Updates)
− Track the project on social media
(#RichmondHwyBRT)
− Materials from the meeting will be posted at South
County Center
• More information at Station 4!
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Website: fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation
Key words: Richmond Highway BRT

36. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Tonight
• Please browse the boards, speak
with staff, draw on the maps, and
fill out the comment form
• There are multiple ways to submit
comments:
− Online: On your phone or at
home.
− Paper: Please leave on sign-in
table or fold and mail comment
sheet to address shown on
back.
• Thank you for coming!
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Department of Transportation

37. Richmond Highway Bus RapidTransit
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Questions
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Contact Information
• Website: fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation (key words: “Richmond
Highway BRT”)
• Email the Project Team: DOTBRT@fairfaxcounty.gov
• Address (for mailing comment sheets): Fairfax County Department
of Transportation, Richmond Highway BRT Project Manager, 4050
Legato Rd, Fairfax, VA 22033.
Department of Transportation