Help Plan a Better Commute on I-66

Virginia Department of Transportation officials will be holding a information seminars next week to gather input from the public on future improvement plans for Interstate 66.

According to VDOT officials, a Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being developed by VDOT, the Federal Highway Administration and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to examine potential multimodal improvements— including bus, rail transit and car modes—that will address existing and future transportation needs along the corridor from U.S. 15 in Prince William County to the Beltway in Fairfax County.

The study will produce a Tier 1 EIS, which differs from traditional EIS’s in that it focuses on broad issues to determine the best program of improvements for the I-66 Corridor, to include:

• Purpose and need
  
  
• Travel modes (bus, carpool, rail transit, car, etc.)
  
  
• Technology choices
  
  
• The general location of proposed improvements

Subsequent studies will follow the Teir 1 EIS and evaluate the concepts further, according to officials.

But for now, public meetings are being held to gather additional input to further define the transportation problems in the corridor and refine the “Purpose and Need” statement for the Teir 1 EIS study.

A public meeting will be held in Manassas, Tuesday, Jan. 31, from 5 pm to 8 pm, at the Four Points Sheraton, located at 10800 Vandor Lane (20109).

A second meeting will be held  Thursday, Feb. 2, from 5 pm to 8 pm, at VDOT, located at 4975 Alliance Drive in Fairfax (22030).

The public is encouraged to stop by the meetings anytime within the time frame mentioned above.

For more information, visit: www.helpfix66.com

Can't make it to the meeting next week? Give your recommendations in the comment section below to be forwarded to transportation officials!