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The Prince William County Board of
Supervisors will consider an update to their Comprehensive
Plan chapters focusing on transportation and land use in
December. Prince William is seeking comments from
neighboring jurisdictions, including Fauquier County by the
end of September. At the direction of Chairman Trumbo,
staff has: (a) summarized the Prince William transportation
plan proposals for Lee Highway (Route 29), Catlett Road
(Route 28), and Vint Hill Road (Route 215); (b) described
the County’s adopted Comprehensive Plan recommendations for
the same roadways; and (c) provided a draft resolution for
Board of Supervisors’ consideration.
Prince William County
The Prince William Planning Commission
and their County staff have conflicting recommendations for
Route 215. The Prince William Planning Commission is
recommending that Route 215 be two lanes from the Fauquier
County line (CL) east to Rollins Ford Road, then four lanes
from Rollins Ford Road east to Route 28. Prince William
County staff, however, has recommended that Route 215 be
four lanes from the Fauquier CL east to Route 28. The
Prince William Planning Commission and staff both recommend
that Route 29 remain four lanes from the Fauquier CL east to
the intersection with Route 15 and six lanes from Route 15
to the 234 Bypass. The Prince William Planning Commission
and staff both recommend that Route 28 be planned for four
lanes from the Fauquier County line east to just before
Route 215 and then increase to six lanes through to Route
234.
Summary of Prince William
Plans
|
Road |
Prince William |
Description |
Total Proposed Traffic Lanes |
|
Route 215 |
Existing PW Comprehensive Plan |
Fauquier CL to Route 28 |
4 lane divided |
|
PW Planning Commission
|
From Fauquier CL to Rollins Ford Road |
2 lanes |
|
Rollins Ford Road to Route 28 |
4 lanes |
|
PW Staff Recommendation |
From Fauquier CL to Route 28 |
4 lanes |
|
Route 28 |
Existing PW Comprehensive Plan |
Fauquier CL to Route 215
|
4 lane divided |
|
PW Planning Commission |
|
PW Staff Recommendation |
|
Route 29
|
Existing PW Comprehensive Plan* |
Fauquier CL to Route 15 |
4 lanes divided (then six lanes from Route 15 to
Route 234 Bypass) |
|
PW Planning Commission |
4 lane divided |
|
PW Staff |
4 lane divided |
*On April 7, 2009, The PW Board of Supervisors passed a
resolution to change Route 29 from six lanes to four lanes
beginning at the Fauquier County line east to Route 15.
Fauquier County
Fauquier County has been updating
transportation policies in its Comprehensive Plan through
various Comprehensive Plan updates, including the recently
adopted amendment to keep Route 215 two lanes for as long as
practicable. Similarly, the Planning Commission recently
recommended to the Board of Supervisors, in the
Catlett-Calverton-Midland Draft Plan, that Route 28 remain
two lanes.
The County has been actively working
with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and
its consultant, Parsons Transportation Group, on the Route
29 Corridor Study. That study is nearing completion. The
County’s position on Route 29 has consistently been that
Route 29 be maintained as a rural freeway that efficiently
moves traffic.
All recent
transportation studies in Fauquier County have emphasized
the need for maintaining capacity through access
management. Recent studies in Fauquier have also been
cognizant of the rural and historic character of the County
and have been supportive of context sensitive design.
Fauquier County has also been consistently supportive of
multi-modal transportation and pedestrian accommodation.
In light of
all of the above points, the attached resolution provides
comments to Prince William County supporting the maintenance
and maximization of existing capacity on Routes 29, 28 and
215. The resolution does not provide comments on specific
lane configurations. The resolution also supports access
management, context sensitive design, multi-modal
transportation and pedestrian accommodation.
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