Mulligan Road/Jeff Todd Way Set to Open!

The Mulligan Road - newly renamed Jeff Todd Way - saga is set to come to an end very soon.  The new road will run from the Roy Rogers in Woodlawn to the bottom of the large hill on Telegraph Road just south of Hayfield Secondary School.  It is a hugely needed improvement for East-West traffic flow in the Mt. Vernon-Lee Area. 

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) advised me today that the road will be open on August 18, 2014 with a ribbon cutting on August 25, 2014.  Here's some older articles I've written about it:

The Dixie Pig: Spring Transportation Updates (May 6, 2014)

The Dixie Pig: The Status of Mulligan Road and U.S. 1 (Sept. 5, 2013)

The Dixie Pig: Mulligan Road Construction (Re)Begins! (Feb. 12, 2012)

The Dixie Pig: Mulligan Road Progresses (Mar. 18, 2011)

The Dixie Pig: Mulligan Road Delayed - AGAIN (Oct. 20, 2011)

On Sunday, August 10, 2014, I "inspected" the new road on my bike with my new GoPro camera.  You can see my video at 4x speed below the flip (sorry there is no music).

New Sherwood Hall Lane Bike Lanes

While I was on vacation, VDOT finishing the paving operations on Sherwood Hall Lane.

The striping is still in progress, but the new bike lanes are on the ground.  VDOT still has to pain bike lane symbols in the ground, a few stripes here and there, and install signage, but they are now on the ground and usable.

I took them for a test spin with my new GoPro camera on Sunday, August 10, 2014 around 11:30 a.m.  You can see my ride a double speed below.

Multimodal improvements are critical to get more cars off the road.  It is also hoped that by restricting lane size, this will help to lower speeds and illegal passing on Sherwood Hall Lane which has become a real problem with increased cut through traffic. 

These improvements were the result of two public hearings and significant public input.   These lanes will eventually link into to a multiuse path on U.S. 1 and other bike lanes as U.S. 1 is redone, properties are redeveloped and road repaved.

Weekly Column: Yellow Line Petition, Hybrid Tax Refunds & I-495 Changes

The following is my column that will appear in the Mt. Vernon Gazette and The Mt. Vernon Voice in the week of May 12, 2014.

Yellow Line Petition, Hybrid Tax Refunds & I-495 Changes 

Last week, I wrote about the status of some transportation projects in our community.  Here are a few more important things. 

Sign the Yellow Line/Hybrid Option Extension PetitionThe state’s consultants are busy crunching numbers, population projections and funding options and evaluating community input to prepare recommendations on the  mode of transit we should have on U.S. 1 for the next 20 years.  I strongly believe that the “Hybrid Option” or the two-stop Yellow Line Extension with stations at Beacon Hill and Hybla Valley with dedicated bus rapid transit to Woodbridge is the best option.  Having Metro on U.S. 1 will help revitalize the corridor, generate economic development, and enhance the environment, our schools, and  our quality of life  in the Mount Vernon and Lee areas.

I have set up a petition for people to sign, show  support and comment on why the Hybrid Option is the best option.  Over 400 people have already signed, in addition to the 400 who indicated support for a Yellow Line Extension on my 2014 constituent survey.  Please go online and sign my petition at www.bit.ly/route1petition.   

Get your family and neighbors to sign - It will take you less than a minute.  We need to show strong community support!

Construction Begins on Telegraph Road!

Today's Patch is reporting that construction is about to begin on the intersection of Telegraph Road, South Van Dorn Street and South Kings Highway.

Anyone who tries to get through that intersection at rush hour knows that it is somewhere you want to avoid.  It typically takes 2-3 light cycles to get through the first light and another 1-2 cycles to get through the second light depending which way you are going.

When I knocked doors in the Lake Devereaux neighborhood in the summer of 2011, the #1 complaint I heard was drivers pulling into their neighborhood to make an illegal u-turn to avoid the light.  I even arranged for VDOT to hang an additional sign up to provide additional warning (I'm not sure it helped much).

It's also important to note that this project is being paid for by the County with monies generated by a new tax on commercial property authorized by the 2007 General Assembly.  Unless the General Assembly steps up with some new revenue, this local tax and federal government will continue to be the only source of money for major road improvements.

At least this is getting done. 

VDOT to Reconsider Montebello Signalization

Last June, several constituents in Montebello contacted me with concerns about the reconfiguration of signalization of the stop light at Mount Eagle Drive and U.S. 1 after the Holiday Inn Express was opened. The location is below:


View Larger Map

The new configuration requires a wait before someone can turn onto Mount Eagle Drive and has substantially increased the time it takes to access the property and traffic given that over 1,000 people live there.

Several people in the Montebello community, my office, and Supervisor Gerry Hyland's office contacted VDOT who has now decided to reconsider their decision and further study the intersection to ascertain whether the old configuration presents a danger to motorists. VDOT's letter is below.

9-10 VDOT Letter Re: US 1-Montebello Intersection

I am glad they are open to considering changing their position given the community's position. If anyone in Montebello has any comments they should send them to VDOT during the study period at:

VDOT
Northern Virginia District Office
14685 Avion Parkway
Chantilly, VA 20151-1104