Manassas Journal Messenger | Lane Ranger

Dear Lane Ranger: I’d like to know if the Virginia Department of Transportation can look at the traffic signal “green” time going west from Wayside Drive in Southbridge onto U.S. 1 south between 5 and 7 a.m.

I usually approach that light on my way to Va. 234 at 6 a.m., and find that the light only stays green for about 15 seconds.

Often, there are about 12 cars side by side at that hour trying to go from Wayside onto U.S. 1 south.

Most of these cars try to “hurry over” to the far right lane of U.S. 1 south after the light changes, because there is only about 300 feet of road left on U.S.1 up to Va. 234.

All of us know that the light changes to red WAY too fast and stays red for more than three minutes to allow U.S.1 traffic to flow better during rush hour.

As a result, many Southbridge residents attempt to thwart the system by turning right onto U.S. 1 north at the red light, then making a U-turn to go through the extended green light on U.S. 1 south.

I think this is an accident waiting to happen.

Any chance VDOT can extend the green light slightly longer for this fast growing community?

Thanks,

Bill

Dear Bill: If everything goes well your light should be good to go soon.

VDOT started the process of retiming all of the lights in the U.S. 1. corridor earlier this month, said Ryan Hall VDOT spokesman.

“We’re looking at all the timing on Route 1,” Hall said.

Tri-County Parkway hearing

VDOT has released a Draft Environmental Impact Study on the proposed Tri-County Parkway, a new north-south highway that would traverse Loudoun, Farifax and Prince William counties.

An open public forum hearing held from 5 to 8 p.m. May 9 at Stonewall Jackson High School at 8820 Rixlew Lane in Manassas for residents to discuss proposed alternatives to the parkway.

The study explains the purpose and need for the parkway and identifies the environmental impacts of the proposed alternatives, according to a recent VDOT press release.

Air quality, land use, traffic noise, parks and rights of way were among the issues the study evaluated, according to the release.

The following are the alternatives that are under consideration.

? Comprehensive Plan Alternative — This 11.7-mile alternative would begin at U.S. 50 near South Riding in Loudoun and extend through South Riding, intersect with Braddock Road and cross the Fairfax County line west of Bull Run Post Office Road.

It would then pass west of the Manassas Battlefield Park, intersect with U.S. 29 and Interstate 66 and extend south through the eastern portion of Bull Run Regional Park along the Prince William County line to Va. 234 Business and Godwin Drive.

The alignment would end at the Va. 234 and U.S. 28 interchange South of Manassas.

? West Two Alternative — This 10.5-mile alternative would begin at U.S. 50 in Loudoun County east of Racefield Lane and extend south to intersect with Braddock Road and south along Lightridge Farm Road.

It would then follow Sanders Road until it reaches Artimus Road where it would turn east then south.

It would intersect with Va. 234 in Prince William County, proceed southwest along Pageland Lane, cross U.S. 29 and end at the Va. 234 and I-66 interchange near the western boundary of the Manassas Battlefield Park.

? West Four Alternative — This 9.2 mile alternative begins at U.S. 50 in near South Riding in Loudoun County and extends south through South Riding.

It would cross Braddock Road, turn east then south near Bull Run Post Office Road, turn west-southwest and then cross Gum Springs Road between Sweetwater Lane and Katabini Lane.

It would then cross the Loudoun-Prince William County line and continue west then south to Aldie Road, pass east of Sudley Park where it would intersect with Va. 234 and follow Pageland Lane south of Thornton Drive across U.S. 29 and end at the Va. 234 and I-66 interchange near the western boundary of the Manassas Battlefield Park.

? No-Build Alternative — Under this alternative the Tri-County Parkway would not be built. It is used as a baseline for comparing the other alternatives.

The public can e-mail comments to [email protected] virginiadot.org or mail them to Ken Wilkinson, Virginia Department of Transportation, 1401 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23219, according to the release.

Additional public hearings will be held May 10 at Bull Run Elementary School in Centreville and Arcola Elementary School in Arcola, according to the release.

Input from the public hearings will be submitted to the Commonwealth Transportation Board for its decision on a preferred alternative.

The study is available at http://www.virginiadot.org/ projects/tcp.asp.

Those who wish to read hard copies of the study can visit the following Prince William County libraries:

? Bull Run Regional Library, 8051 Ashton Ave., Manassas

? Central Community Library, 8601 Mathis Ave., Manassas

? Gainesville Neighborhood Library, 4603 James Madison Highway, Haymarket

? Independent Hill Neighborhood Library, 14418 Bristow Road, Independent Hill

? Nokesville Neighborhood Library, 12993 Fitzwater Drive, Nokesville

Please send questions or comments on transportation to: Lane Ranger, c/o Potomac News, P.O. Box 2470, Woodbridge, VA 22195; fax: (703) 878-8099; e-mail: [email protected]; or by phone: (703) 878-8063.