WASHINGTON – A new push to cut rush-hour traffic in Northern Virginia involves a multi-county partnership with a local military base.
The Joint Land Use Study partnering Prince William, Stafford and Fauquier Counties and Marine Corps Base Quantico, addresses a number of topics to “identify what we can work on together and what’s important to work on together,” says Raymond Utz, chief of long range planning for Prince William County.
Gridlock turned out to be the most popular topic at public meetings to identify community concerns about the base. “What we heard loud and clear was, the primary concern is traffic in and around the base,” Utz says.
The draft land use study details suggestions to improve transportation by encouraging carpooling and by expanding PRTC Bus Service and Virginia Railway Express on and off-base.
Suggested road improvements include upgrades to gate areas and intersections with U.S. 1. “Right now, Route 1 through the base is currently four lanes, and we would like it to have much more capacity and ultimately be a six lane facility,” says Utz.
The draft land use study also sets a goal of regional cooperation to address environmental issues such as air quality, storm water and water quality.
The study identifies an immediate need for fire and rescue training that might include a joint fire and rescue training facility serving the base, Stafford County and other interested jurisdictions.
The study even identifies erosion and storm water issues that cause flooding from Little Creek, which parallels Fuller Road.
A public comment period on the draft plan now is open until Jan. 17, 2014. The entire draft plan is here.
Comments can be sent numbers of ways — by e-mailing quanticojlus@aecom.com or by using Stafford County’s online comment form. Comments also can be mailed to Kathy Baker, assistant director of the Stafford County Department of Planning and Zoning, P.O. Box 339. Stafford, VA 22555.
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