Transportation

In 2011, part of the platform I ran on was opposing the toll road that would traverse through the Visitor's Center (rest stop) on i95 just south of the Rappahannock River and exit back onto Rt 3 within a golf shot of the Harrison and Gordon Road / Rt 3 interchanges. I felt, and the majority of Courtland Residents felt - that this was a huge expense for very little traffic solution.  In fact, over the past 3 1/2 years, City of Fredericksburg officials have said this road was primarily for economic purposes to help out Celebrate Virginia south inside the City limits.   For more on this issue - see my original 2011 campaign web site here.

I have served on the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Organization (FAMPO) for my entire first term as a Spotsylvania Supervisor.  I have also served on the George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC), the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission, and the George Washington Toll Road Authority (GWTRA).

I've had both successes and disappointments during this time representing the Citizens of Spotsylvania and Courtland, but I have also learned a lot about transportation funding and processes while building some key relationships with VDOT at the same time. 

If given the opportunity to represent the Courtland District again on the Board of Supervisors - I will use my Virginia transportation experience to get the best transportation solutions in our area for the least cost.  

Below are some highlights of the past 3 1/2 years as well as some ideas for our future in the transportation area.  

Route 3 light sync

In 2011, it used to take me 20 minutes on average to get from the I-95/Rt3 intersection to Meadows Farms area west bound on Rt 3.  When I was elected in 2012, I pressed VDOT to re-synchronize the lights from I-95 to Andora Drive.   The VDOT experts who performed the light sync indeed said they felt the lights were anti-synced!!!! After the light sync, which cost less than $2,000, our 20 minute commute along Rt 3 was reduced to 5 minutes.   This is an example of doing more with less - that I am very proud of being a part of as your representative. 

18 million - to route 3 / I95 interchange - coming soon!!!

Great news!!!  VDOT has agreed, and FAMPO has voted unanimously . . .  to dedicating $18M toward the Route 3 interchange which will make it resemble the southbound exit at Garrisonville Road (mile marker 143) and help with the "weave" created by Central Park.  The project will start with design in FY 16 and hopefully be completed in FY17 - this is fast for road work!

Four parts of this project are: 1)  Lengthening the southbound entrance lane - coming off of 17 south on I95, 2) Lengthening the southbound exit lane at Route 3 (mile marker 130), 3) SPLIT and SIGNALIZE southbound exit 130 (Route 3) to eliminate traffic weave (similar to southbound exit 143 - Garrisonville, and 4) Extend northbound entrance lane from Route 3 to I95 north.

This will be a bit painful during construction - but well worth commute home savings for the drive home!!!  Thanks to all that made this happen. 

Converting 8 "bump out" turn lanes on route 3 into another through lane

Read all about it - click here 
When you drive through Central Park along Carl D Silver Drive - you notice that there are no turn lanes.
 
Along Route 3 - there are 8 "bump outs" along Rt3,  from I 95 / Route 3 intersection - starting in front of the new Gabes store - all the way out to Gordon Road. 

Over the next four years, if elected as your Representative - I will be an advocate for removing the 8 bump outs so that we may gain another through lane from I95 through Harrison Crossing on Rt 3 for very little cost - first estimate was $2M - which for an additional through lane on RT 3 for almost 4 miles - is relatively a low cost. 

stood up against toll road

No need to worry about a promise being broke here - I ran on the promise of fighting a 300 million dollar road that would not help resolve traffic issues - and I stood by my word.  If you have any questions on the toll road - please see my original campaign web site here or shoot me an email or call me.  The toll road was a major issue in 2011 for the residents of the Courtland District. 

The current status of the toll road - is that it is dead as we knew it.  The River Crossing portion of with collector distributor lanes to Rt 3 is still in the works.  I have been working with Orange and Culpepper Counties to come to a win win solution that is not only forward thinking but will relieve congestion on I95 at the choke point between mile markers 133 and 130 on i95.  For more - see Culpepper by-pass below. 

In the future - slip lanes and more

As part of a new FAMPO study - my Spotsylvania County colleges and I are working to include the possibility of slip lanes at Harrison Road and Rt 208 to be looked at in conjunction with collector/distributor lanes running from Route 3 to Route 1 in the area of mile marker 126 on i95.  These slip lanes would be west bound only on Harrison and 208, be very affordable by VDOT standards (15 million - I know), and would relieve traffic on both Rt 3 and Rt 1/ Massaponax areas. 


This would be a road running on the west side of I95, along I95 from Rt3 to the mile marker 126 exit with the ability to head west at Harrison and west at Rt 208. 

Culpepper by-pass

The map below shows a project I've worked on with many local residents, Senator Bryce Reeves, and the Counties of Culpepper and Orange.  The red line on the map is part of the Berea Parkway in Stafford County that runs from mile marker 136 (Centerport Parkway) on i95 to the University of Mary Washington outpost on Rt 17.  Each dot on the map represents a home (I'm not for taking anyone's home).  The yellow lines represent the old outer connector roads.  The Culpepper by-pass would run from the end of the planned Berea parkway to Rt3/Rt20 interchange giving us alternative river crossing sites and letting traffic flow away from the chock points - not toward it. 

Route 3 widening project

When I was elected and started representing the Courtland District in 2012, the Route 3 widening project had been going on for over 2 years and was stalled out on my arrival.  Spotsylvania County had taken the project management part of this job - and there was great consternation on making a decision involving four different options on the path forward. 

As the Representative of most of the widening project area - I took the lead in getting together with representatives from Banner Plantation, Chancellors Green, and the Preserve - the three areas most impacted by the four options moving forward.  The four options involved side street access to Route 3 in the areas of these sub-divisions. 

Together we met with County Staff and worked out a path forward - The County program manager was replaced, and we got the project moving forward to completion.  This is one of many examples where I have worked with and listened to Constituents for win/win results.
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