The document summarizes a public meeting that presented plans for extending Shirley Gate Road in Fairfax County, Virginia. It discussed the project purpose of relieving congestion on Fairfax County Parkway by replacing an intersection with an interchange. Alternatives were analyzed and a preferred northern and southern alignment was identified. Benefits included reduced traffic and travel times. Mitigation considerations involved continued coordination on related projects. Next steps included public hearings and beginning design work in 2016.

1. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
Shirley Gate Road Extended
Corridor Planning Study
Public Information Meeting
12/07/2015

2. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Agenda
• Introductions
• Project Purpose and Need
• Existing Conditions Overview
• Screening of Alternatives
• Traffic Forecasting
• Alignment and Interchange Concept Development:
Preferred Alignment
• Benefits
• Mitigation Considerations
• Next Steps
• Questions/Comments
Department of Transportation
2
Shirley Gate Road Extended
Corridor Planning Study

3. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
3
Project Purpose and Need
• The Shirley Gate Road Extension was
added to the Transportation Map in the
Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan in
July 1991. It is in Area III, Pohick
Planning District and the Twin Lakes
Community Planning Sector (P1).
The plan text specifies:
– Extend Shirley Gate Road southward to connect with
the Fairfax County Parkway. Shirley Gate Road
Extended should be designed to utilize the existing
easements to the extent possible to minimize the
impact on the five acre lots and the existing homes on
Meath Court.
• There is a need to relieve congestion on
Fairfax County Parkway by replacing the
Popes Head Road intersection with an
interchange.
• Need to provide access to Patriot Park
East, avoiding entrance off Braddock
Road through an established
neighborhood and existing wetland area.
Current plan calls for 2 interchanges. This project will
identify the preferred location of a single interchange along
with the alignment of the Shirley Gate Road extension.
Shirley Gate Road Extended
Corridor Planning Study

4. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
4
Shirley Gate Road Extended
Corridor Planning Study

5. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
5
Analysis of Existing Conditions
LOS and Approximate 95th
Percentile Queue Lengths
Shirley Gate Road Extended
Corridor Planning Study

6. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
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Crash Analysis
Popes Head Road
Intersection Crash Rates
Average Intersection Crash Rates
along Fairfax County Parkway
Shirley Gate Road Extended
Corridor Planning Study

7. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
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Stakeholder Screening of Alternatives
• Five meetings held between May and September 2015
– Guided the development of measures of effectiveness (MOEs)
– Provided adjustments to weighting values
• Major categories of MOEs used for alignment selection:
– Impacts to Adjacent Properties
– Impacts on Transportation System
– Cost
Shirley Gate Road Extended
Corridor Planning Study

8. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Existing, 2040 No Build, and 2040 Build Volumes
8
NNOT TO
SCALE
0
(0)
[15,500]
34,000
(33,900)
[34,400]
16,000
(13,900)
[14,500]
39,000
(45,000)
[46,600]
35,000
(54,100)
[50,800]
72,000
(102,000)
[100,500]
71,000
(98,600)
[107,500]
Roadway Segment
Shirley Gate Road Extension
2014 Existing Link Volume (veh/day)
(2040 No Build Daily Link Volume (veh/day))
[2040 Build Daily Link Volume (veh/day)]
XX,XXX
(XX,XXX)
[XX,XXX]
25,000
(26,900)
[24,000]
3,400
(3,800)
[3,400]
44,000
(60,500)
[54,600]
31,000
(42,100)
[34,900]
31,000
(38,400)
[32,300]
7,200
(17,700)
[22,200]
20,000
(26,200)
[29,200]
Network Assumptions:
No Build
•Fairfax County Parkway: 6 Lanes
•Braddock Road: 6 Lanes (east of FCP)
Build (in addition to No Build)
•Shirley Gate Road Extension: 4 Lanes
•Interchange with FCP on Shirley Gate Road
Extension Alignment
66,000
(80,900)
[85,400]
Shirley Gate Road Extended
Corridor Planning Study
1,700
(2,400)
[4,300]

9. County of Fairfax, Virginia
No Build vs. Build Forecast (2040) Volume Change
9
NNOT TO
SCALE
Roadway Segment Daily Volume Change
(2040 Build vs. 2040 No Build)
Volume Increase of More Than 5%
Volume Increase of 0-5%
Volume Decrease of 0-5%
Volume Decrease of More Than 5%
Shirley Gate Road Extended
Corridor Planning Study

10. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Alignment and Interchange Options
Department of Transportation
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Option 1A Option 1B Option 1C
Shirley Gate Road Extended
Corridor Planning Study
Option 2A (2)
0 250 500 1,000
Feet
N
Alignment Option
Cul-de-Sac
Option 2A (1)
Potentia
l Park
Access
Potential
Park
Access
Option 2A/2B
Potential
Park
Access
*
Future Traffic Signal
Future Intersection
(traffic control TBD)
Future Local Road
Interchange Ramp
Proposed Bridge

11. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Preferred
Alignment
Northern Alignment 1B
Southern Alignment 2A (1)
Department of Transportation
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Shirley Gate Road Extended
Corridor Planning Study
Potential
Park
Access

12. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
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Benefits of Shirley Gate Road Extension and
Interchange Improvements
• Reduced traffic volumes along area roadways/intersections
– Popes Head Road
– Braddock Road
– Route 123
– Intersection of Route 123 and Braddock Road
• Reduced travel times along Fairfax County Parkway (FCP) and
Popes Head Road
• Improved safety at FCP/Popes Head Road
• Improved accessibility to FCP for Popes Head Road residents
• Improved access to the west end of the City of Fairfax/Fair Oaks
Shirley Gate Road Extended
Corridor Planning Study

13. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
13
Mitigation Considerations
• Follow-up Analysis/Coordination regarding Shirley Gate Road
Driveway Access (Route 29 to Braddock Road)
• Continuing efforts to improve intersection operations
– Shirley Gate Road/Route 29 (Lee Highway)
– Waples Mill Road/Route 50 (through Transform66 implementation)
• Coordination with City of Fairfax in update of Transportation Plan
– Consideration of extending Government Center Parkway to Jermantown Road
– Widening of Jermantown Road north of Route 50 to four lanes
• Identification of improvements during imminent Fairfax County
Parkway Visioning Project
Shirley Gate Road Extended
Corridor Planning Study

14. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
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• Public Hearing Process associated with amending the
Comprehensive Plan
• Submit Plan Amendment Nomination to Planning Commission and
Board of Supervisors
• Follow-up Analysis/Coordination regarding Shirley Gate Road
Driveway Access (Route 29 to Braddock Road)
• Begin design - 2016
Next Steps
Shirley Gate Road Extended
Corridor Planning Study