Purpose and Need

EASTBOUND WIDENING

The purpose of the project is to increase capacity in order to improve traffic operations and reduce congestion issues, as well as address safety needs between the Dulles Connector Road and Fairfax Drive.

TRANSFORM 66

Environmental Assessment Findings

EASTBOUND WIDENING

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE RESOURCE SUMMARY

Property Impacts No relocations or displacements are anticipated. Minor permanent right of way acquisition (0.1 acre) and temporary/permanent easements (4.73 acres) associated with the Build Alternative would occur.

Community Facilities Impacts include enhancements to the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, Custis Trail and Bon Air Park.

Environmental Justice (Minority/Low-income)

No disproportionate impacts.

Historic Properties No adverse effect.

Section 4(f) Protected Properties* De minimis impacts to Washington and Old Dominion Trail, Custis Trail and Bon Air Park.

Noise Under the No Build Alternative, 236 receptors are predicted to be impacted, under the Build Alternative an additional 113 receptors are impacted (349 total). Approximately 3.7 miles (19,490 linear feet) of noise walls have been preliminarily identified to mitigate noise. This includes the replacement of existing noise walls.

Air Quality No adverse impacts to ambient air quality and no violation of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Wetlands and Streams Impacts to 137.5 linear feet of stream and 0.6 acre of wetlands are expected.

Floodplains Impacts to 0.39 acre of the 100-year floodplain are anticipated.

Wooded Areas Permanent conversion of wooded areas within the proposed right of way for the Build Alternative is 0.05 acre. Impacts to 11.49 acres of wooded and semi-wooded areas within the existing VDOT right of way and 0.84 acre within areas of temporary easements.

Wildlife and Habitat Minimal impacts.

Threatened and Endangered Species

The federally listed species, the northern long-eared bat (NLEB), may be affected by the project. However, the project is within a highly-developed urban area, which the USFWS indicates is extremely unlikely to be suitable NLEB habitat.

*Public comment is invited on proposed de minimis impact findings for the Build Alternative on Section 4(f) resources, which include parks, trails and historic properties under the provisions of 23 CFR §774 (Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act).

TRANSFORM 66

Schedule

EASTBOUND WIDENING

MILESTONE 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Revised Environmental Assessment and Federal Highway Administration Decision

Early

Begin Tolling and Implement Initial Multimodal Projects

Mid

Award Design-Build Contract Late

Construction Early Late

Open New Eastbound Lane Late

Timeline

PROGRAM OF IMPROVEMENTS

I-66 Transit/TDMStudy Final Report

December 2009

Secretary Layne Announced Inside the Beltway Plans

March 2015

Public Information Meetings on Tolling and MultimodalImprovements Project

June 2015

Public Information Meetings on Tolling and MultimodalImprovements Project

October 2015

CTB Public Meetingand Approval ofInside the Beltway Proposal

December 2015

Governor McAuliffeAnnounced BipartisanCompromise on Eastbound Widening February 10, 2016

Design Public Hearingson Tolling Gantries andSignage

March – April 2016

Public Availability of Tolling Environmental Document (Categorical Exclusion)

NVTC Open Houses and Public Hearings onMultimodal Components

May 2016

CTB Decision onMultimodal Projects

July 2016

Start TollingConstruction

August 2016

Release Environmental Assessment andPublic Hearings on Eastbound Widening

Late 2016

Revised Environmental Assessment and FHWA Decision on Eastbound Widening

Early 2017

Begin Tolling andImplement InitialMultimodal Projects

Mid 2017

Award Design-Build Contract for Eastbound Widening

Late 2017

Begin EastboundWidening Construction

Early 2018

Open NewEastbound Lane

Late 2020

K E Y

CTB: Commonwealth Transportation BoardFHWA: Federal Highway AdministrationNVTC: Northern Virginia Transportation CommissionTDM: Transportation Demand Management

2 0 0 9 2 0 1 2 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 7 2 0 1 8 2 0 2 0

I-66 Multimodal Study Inside theBeltway Final Report

June 2012

I-66 MultimodalStudy Inside the BeltwaySupplemental Report

August 2013

Public InformationMeetings onEastbound Widening May - June 2016

Transform 66 Inside the Beltway Program Improvements:

• Tolling during weekdays, peak hours, peak directions – Eastbound: 5:30 AM – 9:30 AM – Westbound: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM – HOV 2+ toll free in 2017, HOV 3+ toll free when express lanes on I-66 outside the

Beltway open – All vehicles using the lanes during tolling periods must have an E-ZPass or E-ZPass

Flex, if they are HOV

• Multimodal improvements funded by toll revenue to support transit, transportation demand management (TDM) strategies, and other multimodal improvements benefitting the I-66 Corridor (selected by NVTC)

• Widening of I-66 eastbound from two to three lanes from the Dulles Connector Road to Fairfax Drive-Exit 71 (approximately 4 miles)

Noise Analysis Process

EASTBOUND WIDENING

Fin

al D

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EPA

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MAY–JUNE 2016

NOV-DEC. 2016

JUNE–SEPT. 2016

2018

Identify noise receptors• Identify Common Noise Environments (CNE) (typically within 500 feet of the highway)• Identify noise sensitive receptors within each CNE (such as residences, parks, and schools)

Perform noise modeling• Develop noise models of existing and future roadway conditions using computer modeling

(incorporates roadway design, traffic volumes and speed, receptors, topography, and ground type)• Validate model with noise measurements data• Compute existing, no-build and build design-year sound level

Identify impacts (is noise mitigation warranted?)• Approach or exceed Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) noise abatement criteria (e.g., 67 dB(A)

for residences, parks, or schools) or• 10 decibel increase above existing noise levels

Design and assess mitigation (typically noise walls)

Is the wall feasible?• Does it work acoustically (do 50% or more of

the impacted receptors receive a 5 dB(A) or more noise reduction)?

• Can it be constructed (e.g., are there safety, drainage, utilities, maintenance, or other issues)?

Is the wall reasonable?• Cost-effectiveness (1,600 maximum square

feet or less per benefited receptor)• Design goal (7 decibels of noise reduction at 1

impacted receptor)

Perform noise measurements at representative receptors along the corridor

Post noise study results and preliminary noise wall locations on project website and present at public hearings

Finalize noise barrier designs once the project has received design approval

Obtain VDOT Chief Engineer approval

Obtain FHWA concurrence

Solicit public input from benefited property owners and renters (voting process)

Incorporate approved noise wall(s) into the final road design construction plans