County Board to Vote on Several NoVA Transportation Projects Tuesday

CityLine, a developer and major player in the county’s long-term vision for Tysons, is proposing to level a building nearby and pave the site for parking spots.

A private company would operate the six-acre lot, setting up pay machines. What’s more, the lot would come at no cost to Fairfax County. Instead, CityLine would foot the bill for demolition and construction costs, then make its money back from fees for lot usage.

The agreement would last for 10 years. If approved, CityLine would begin work in August.

Columbia Pike Streetcar

Board members will also vote on the Columbia Pike Streetcar agreement with Arlington County for the rail line from Pentagon City in Arlington to the Bailey’s Crossroads/Skyline area in Fairfax County.

The agreement will set the financial obligations for each locality -- Arlington will be responsible for 80.4 percent of the costs for the next phase of the $250 million project; Fairfax County, 19.6 percent.

The Alrington County Board voted 4-1 earlier this month to approve the agreement, carrying both jurisdictions through the remaining environmental planning and final design of the streetcar line.

Fairfax County economic officials are hoping the line will spur economic growth in the Skyline area, and critics in Arlington have said Fairfax should shoulder more of the burden.

Tolling, HOV on Fairfax County and Franconia-Springfield Parkways?

Finally, the Board intends to ask the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to perform a $1.5-million analysis of congestion relief options for the Fairfax County and Franconia-Springfield Parkways -- and they want to explore all of their options, including tolling, high occupancy vehicle lanes, new interchanges and bus transit.

County staff has drafted a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton requesting funding from VDOT. If the state declines the project, the county could end up paying for it itself.

The letter proposes both short-term and “cost-effective” long-term solutions on the parkway, one of the county’s main thoroughfares.

“The growth in regional traffic demands on the facilities necessitates that we collectively take a fresh look at the role the Parkways play in the County and region’s transportation system,” the letter reads.

The improvement study would cover the Fairfax County Parkway from Route 7 to Route 1 and Franconia-Springfield Parkway to Beulah Street.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ full July 30, 2013 agenda can be found on the county website.

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