Soapstone Connector Public Information Meeting For Environmental Assessment June 15, 2016

1. SOAPSTONE CONNECTORSOAPSTONE CONNECTOR
Soapstone Connector
Public Information Meeting
For Environmental Assessment
June 15, 2016
Presented by:
Audra K. Bandy, P.E.
Fairfax County Department of Transportation

2. SOAPSTONE CONNECTORSOAPSTONE CONNECTOR
Overview
 Current Conditions
 Project History
 Environmental Reviews
 Improvement Options
 Purpose and Need
 Environmental Considerations
 Schedule and Next Steps
 Q&A

3. SOAPSTONE CONNECTORSOAPSTONE CONNECTOR
Current Conditions
 Major roadways in area include Wiehle Avenue, Sunset Hills Road and
Sunrise Valley Drive.
 Two crossings of Dulles Corridor on either side of Wiehle-Reston East
Metrorail Station.
 Vehicles traveling to and from
Wiehle-Reston East Metrorail
Station and entering and
leaving the Dulles Corridor
compete for same road space
on Wiehle Avenue.

4. SOAPSTONE CONNECTORSOAPSTONE CONNECTOR
Project History
 2008 Wiehle Avenue/Reston Parkway Station Access Management Plans Final
Report, April 2008
– Soapstone Connector was included in list of recommended roadway projects.
– Initiated to consider current status and future needs in vicinity of the two proposed Metrorail
stations in the area.
 Soapstone Connector Feasibility Study, November 2013
– Assessed engineering feasibility of a multimodal roadway that would provide connection
between Sunset Hills Road and Sunrise Valley Drive.
– Identified and screened multiple alternative alignments.
– Identified most promising alignment for Soapstone Connector.

5. SOAPSTONE CONNECTORSOAPSTONE CONNECTOR
Environmental Reviews
 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires:
– Consideration of potential environmental consequences of transportation
improvements
– Documentation of analyses
– Making information available to
the public for comment before
final decision making and
implementation

6. SOAPSTONE CONNECTORSOAPSTONE CONNECTOR
Improvement Options

7. SOAPSTONE CONNECTORSOAPSTONE CONNECTOR
Purpose and Need
 The purpose of the project is to provide additional multimodal capacity on
a new north‐south alternative to mitigate congestion on Wiehle Avenue.
 The project will address:
– Inability of Wiehle Avenue to accommodate current and forecasted traffic demand.
– Delays on Wiehle Avenue at the intersections with Sunset Hills Road and Sunrise
Valley Drive.
– Lack of direct access for buses to the Wiehle-Reston East Metrorail Station without
requiring travel on Wiehle Avenue.
– Lack of connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists to the Wiehle-Reston East Metrorail
Station, from Soapstone Drive and Sunrise Valley Drive on the south and Sunset Hills
Road on the north.

8. SOAPSTONE CONNECTORSOAPSTONE CONNECTOR
Environmental Considerations
 Some resources/issues to be studied include:
– Land Use and Development
– Impacts to Communities
– Historic and Archaeological Resources
– Parklands and Recreation Areas
– Traffic and Safety
– Wetlands
– Topography/Landscape
– Noise
– Water Quality
– Hazardous Materials
– Cumulative Impacts
– Indirect Impacts

9. SOAPSTONE CONNECTORSOAPSTONE CONNECTOR
Historic Properties
 Two historic districts
– Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad Historic District
– Wiehle/Sunset Hills Historic District
 The W&OD Railroad Historic District is considered eligible for the National
Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
 The Wiehle/Sunset Hills Historic District has not been evaluated for NRHP
eligibility but is considered potentially eligible.
 No adverse effects on the districts are anticipated, pending coordination
and concurrence from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

10. SOAPSTONE CONNECTORSOAPSTONE CONNECTOR
Archaeological Resources
 Prior disturbance in the area is associated with previous transportation
improvements including:
– Dulles Toll Road and associated overpasses
– Sunrise Valley Drive
– Sunset Hills Road
– Metrorail Silver Line
 Past clearing and grading for construction of buildings and parking lots and
installation of underground utilities also likely diminishes the potential for
undisturbed land with the potential for intact archaeological deposits.
 Fairfax County Park Authority and the Virginia Department of Historic
Resources have concurred that no further archaeological survey is
necessary.

11. SOAPSTONE CONNECTORSOAPSTONE CONNECTOR
Floodplains and Wetlands
 The project lies within the Difficult Run watershed and traverses one
stream, Colvin Run.
 According to the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) database, there are
no wetlands within the project area.
 There are no Federal Emergency Management Agency-mapped 100-year
floodplains within 500 feet of the project.

12. SOAPSTONE CONNECTORSOAPSTONE CONNECTOR
Air Quality and Noise
 Assessment of potential impacts will be conducted consistent with VDOT
and FHWA protocols and other applicable guidance.
 Findings will be presented in the EA and in an Air Quality Analysis Technical
Report.
 Potential air quality impacts from construction activities also will be
discussed in the report and EA.
 A noise analysis will be conducted in accordance with federal regulations
and consistent with VDOT and FHWA protocols.
 The findings will be presented in the EA and in a Noise Analysis Technical
Report.

13. SOAPSTONE CONNECTORSOAPSTONE CONNECTOR
Schedule

14. SOAPSTONE CONNECTORSOAPSTONE CONNECTOR
Next Steps
 Study team review of public comments.
 Evaluation of suggestions and concerns about conceptual alternatives.
 Assessment of environmental impacts.
 Preparation of Draft Environmental Assessment (EA).
 Revision of EA, as appropriate, to reflect changes or new information resulting
from comments received on the EA.
 Submission of EA to FHWA, along with a copy of the public hearing transcript
and a request that a decision be made by FHWA.
 Receipt of decision document from FHWA.

15. SOAPSTONE CONNECTORSOAPSTONE CONNECTOR
Thank you!
Q&A Session