Status of I-66 Corridor Improvement Projects: US Route 15 to I-495

County of Fairfax, Virginia

Department of Transportation

Status of I-66 Corridor Improvement Projects

US Route15 to I-495


Tiered Approach to NEPA Process• Tier 1 (completed) – Examines potential

impacts and focuses on broad issues at conceptual level

• Tier 2 (next step) – Analyzes one or more improvement concepts from Tier 1 EIS and focuses on site specific details, including impacts, cost and mitigation measures

Department of Transportation 2


Tier I Process• Summer 2011 – Study Start• June 2011 – Public Information Meeting• Jan./Feb. 2012 – Public Information Meeting• February 2013 – Draft Environmental Impact

Statement Released• March 2013 – Public Hearing• November 2013 – Final Environmental Impact

Statement and Record of Decision



Tier 1 EIS• Key purposes to address:

– Existing and future capacity deficiencies– Improve spot locations/chokepoints– Limited mode choices– Safety deficiencies– Unpredictable Travel Times

• 10 Alternative Concepts• VDOT established a staff working group including

Fairfax and Prince William Counties to assist in evaluating concepts that might proceed to Tier 2



Tier 1 EIS Alternative Concepts1. General Purpose Lanes

2. Managed Lanes

3. Metrorail Extension

4. Light Rail Transit

5. Bus Rapid Transit

6. VRE Extension (outside of Corridor)

7. Spot Improvements

8. Intermodal Connectivity

9. Safety Improvements

10. Transportation Communication and Technology



Tier 1 Record of Decision • No specific concept, on its own, will satisfy

the need on I-66• All Tier 1 concepts may advance to Tier 2• Tolling as a funding source will be studied

further



Public Information Meetings• Thursday, January 30, 2014 - Oakton HS • Wednesday, February 5, 2014 - Wyndham

Garden Hotel, Manassas (snow date)• Details on Tier 1 Record of Decision• Information about responses

to the Request for Information• Status report on current projects

in the corridor• General information on next steps for Tier 2



Request for Information (RFI)• The Office of Transportation Public-Private

Partnerships (OTP3) issued a Request for Information (RFI) in June 2013.

• The RFI solicited input from the private sector on how to best evaluate potential options for the development, financing, procurement and delivery of improvement to the I-66 Corridor between I-495 and Route 15.

• The responses are posted on the OTP3 website



Request for Information (RFI) - cont.• 19 Firms, 9 Citizens responded • Common Concerns:

– Need for clarification on schedule and more detail– Need for strong political support and stakeholder

involvement

• Advantages of public-private partnerships:– Private funding is used, making public funding

available for other projects– Innovative and holistic project design



• Concerns: – Milestone schedule needed– Tier 2 needs to be completed prior initiation of

improvement project – Status of right-of-way acquisition

• Traffic Forecasts for the managed lanes• Determine available Federal Funding, and

initiate the application process• Stakeholder Coordination and Outreach


RFI Procurement Process


Challenges• Right-of-way for Metrorail

extension• Location of future rail

stations• Maintenance of traffic• Existing structures• Coordination with on

going projects

Possible Solutions• Managed lanes• Elevated (bifurcated)

highway• Phased implementation• Bus Rapid Transit in the

managed lanes


RFI Challenges and Solutions


RFI Financial Structure• Need diversity of funding sources• Public-private risk sharing

– Most respondents prefer payment structures other than concession (risk) based contracts, although willing to accept if necessary

• Respondents generally see concession term for the project as 30 - 40 years, with Toll concessions from 50 to 75 years



Relevant Projects • Complete/Under Construction

– I-495 Express Lanes• December 2012

– Silver Line Rail Service • Spring 2014

– I-66 Active Traffic Management System (ATMS) – VA/DC line to Gainesville

• Construction began August 2013, completion Summer 2015

– Route 29 Interchange Reconstruction, Gainesville • Delivery Summer 2015

– I-66 spot improvements• Spot 2: Washington Blvd. to Dulles Access Rd.

– Under construction, Completion 2015



Relevant Projects - cont. • Coming Soon

– I-66 spot improvements• Spot 3: Route 29 to Glebe Road in Arlington County

– In design; Construction Start Fall 2014

– I-66 Widening – Route 15 to Route 29• Construction 2014 - 2016

– I-66 at Route 15 Interchange Reconstruction• Construction 2014 - 2017

• Under Study– Vienna Metro Access Ramp

• Request for Qualifications, Summer 2014

– Route 28/I-66 Interchange • Design Study underway



Next Steps• Continue stakeholder outreach• Identify Tier II Project(s) • Include project(s) in CLRP for Study• Initiate Tier II NEPA Study/Studies


News & Politics

Status of I-66 Corridor Improvement Projects: US Route 15 to I-495