Costco is proposing a 143,000 SF store at the old Multiplex site on U.S. 1. According to the analysis, U.S. 1 currently handles about 60,000 vehicles per day. The store is expected to add about 4,500 trips per day to the intersections surrounding that property.
While having a Costco in the district will be much more convenient for the residents of the 44th District, will bring some jobs, and clean up a blighted property, there is going to be a trade off in the form of significantly increased traffic in an existing congested location.
I am concerned about the impact this will have on long-term traffic flow on U.S. 1, Sherwood Hall Lane, and Mount Vernon Highway. I am looking for feedback.
The U.S. Army's studies (See Figures D-8 & D-9) have predicted the BRAC improvements are predicted to add at least an additional 1,000 vehicle trips per day to U.S. 1 north of Fort Belvoir. Traffic volumes on U.S. 1 are also expected to grow over time.
There are no plans to fund any significant improvements or widening this stretch of U.S. 1 in the near decade. Costco is proposing the following improvements.
- Modification of the signal timing splits at the Richmond Highway/Ladson Lane intersection to provide additional green time for heavier turn movements.
- Modification of the signal timing splits at the Richmond Highway/Sherwood Hall Lane/Wal-Mart Driveway intersection.
- Modification of the signal timing splits at the Richmond Highway/Buckman Road/Mount
Vernon Highway intersection. - Construction of an exclusive southbound right-turn lane at the Richmond Highway/Ladson Lane intersection.
- Construction of an exclusive westbound right-turn lane at the Ladson Lane/Site Entrance intersection.
- Closure of the existing median break at the intersection of Richmond Highway and entrance to the Spring Garden Apartments.
- Extension of the existing northbound leftturn lane at the intersection of Richmond Highway/Sherwood Hall Lane/Wal-Mart Driveway intersection to approximately 625
feet.
An in depth discussion and analysis of this proposal along with maps, including the 300+ pages of appendices and VDOT's response to the analysis is available on VDOT's website. The important documents are here:
Costco's Transportation Analysis Impact Study
VDOT Website: Costco Land Track Submission Details
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Great info Scott! Thanks...I'm going to VDOT link now. So glad you do this as sometimes I don't know where to go (although people tell me all the time ;-)
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