Politics & Government

VDOT Study Could Offer Ideas for Better Travel on I-66

Year-long study will examine navigating the highway by public transportation, bike and roadways.

A Virginia Department of Transportation study now in the public comment phase could offer ways to make commuting along Interstate-66 more efficient.

The I-66 Multimodal Study is looking at 11 mobility options — HOV lanes, bicycle and pedestrian corridor access and highway improvements among them — to move commuters along the busy stretch of road between I-495 and the Roosevelt Bridge more quickly.

Kanti Srikanth, transportation planning director for VDOT, said the study is also looking at a variety of supportive multimodal improvement options like moving commuters by bicycle or mass transit, implementing transportation demand management and utilizing other roadways to alleviate congestion on the road, especially during peak hours.

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“The larger purpose of this study is to look at the corridor overall, including routes 50 and 29,” Srikanth said following a Tuesday public meeting in Falls Church. “More importantly, we want to hear from the public now.”

More than a dozen people showed up to presentation on the study Tuesday at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School in Falls Church.

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VDOT, which partnered with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation on the project, started the study in July and expect it to continue for a year. About $2.5 million was budgeted for the project, Srikanth said.  More than 3,500 people have completed a market research survey on commuter perceptions, attitudes and preferences. Srikanth said gathering public input is the focus of the study at this point; VDOT will collect more public comments at the next public meeting in Arlington on Dec. 14.

For the last 10 years, Ryan Kerstetter has driven along I-66 from his Ashburn home to Ballston every day for work. Over the years Kerstetter said he has noticed more vehicles during his hour and 15 minute commute each way. He said he is hopeful the study will yield ideas to shorten his commute time.

“I guess it should have been done sooner but I’m glad it’s being done now,” Kerstetter said.

Public comments gathered at meetings, on the Internet and through a designated phone line will all be analyzed before another round of public meetings in April, Srikanth said. He said a final report from the study is expected by thus summer.

“The results from the study will be recommendations to the Commonwealth’s transportation board,” Srikanth said.

The next public meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Arlington County Board Room, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington. The formal presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. For more on the study, visit the VDOT project site.


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