Connecting the Population Centers to the Destination, Recreation, Medical and Work Centers with the shortest possible Routes is Smart Planning. It will provide a high time saving factor. If the average Driver can save 3 miles of driving for 40,000 cars per day it will massively reduce driving and Air Pollution in our Region by 120,000 miles per day, while reducing congestion on our existing Roads. The study is estimating a 200,000 mile reduction in driving in 2050 if the new road and river crossing is built.
Maximizing the Use of over $100 M of Underutilized Infrastructure gives us more Bang for the Buck to get us out of Gridlock. Improving Fire and Rescue and Transport Times in Many parts of Stafford to avoid the Falmouth Intersection can't be overstated.
Building the New Bridge to provide an Alternate Route before the Falmouth Bridge Reconstruction needs to be looked at. Ambulances use the Falmouth bridge on a Daily Basis. We have to mitigate the impact of the Falmouth Bridge reconstruction, before Construction Starts.
Building a Road with a Trail Network that can be Utilized as the East Coast Greenway Trail will promote Tourism and Economic development. The Trail keeps up with the future Demand of electric Bikes, Scooters and Wheel Chairs.
Building the road and trail network in conjunction with the FRED Bus service, so as they complement and enhance each other Checks off two FAMPO Goals
Goal# 5: Plan for and establish a multi-modal transportation system that supports the economic vitality of the region.
Goal 6: Provide multi-modal transportation options that enhance the quality of life and improve mobility for vulnerable groups such as, minority, low-income, seniors, and limited mobility groups.
The new road should include bus stop lanes next to the trail and bike racks.
Your map only shows 4 options and doesn't identify Options B-2.
Option B-2 is the best River Crossing Option for the following reasons:
1. Least direct impact to private property, only two landowners directly impacted (City of Fredericksburg and the Silver Company).
2. Least environmental impacts to Resource Protection Areas.
3. Shorter connection with the least clearing and Enviromental footprint.
4. Option B-2 has the highest traffic demand and timesaving factor of 55.3%, which cuts travel time in half to get thousands of cars off the road quicker cutting back on air pollution.
5. Both B Options cost millions less than Option A.
6. Option B has no impact on the Waterfall.
7. Option B is far enough from I-95 where the traffic noise will not impact the serenity on the bridge trail overlook. There would also be more scenic views without having to look at and hear I-95.
8. The long bridge span B-2 has a much smaller footprint and has much less Enviromental damage to the RPA than the many culverts and Stream disturbances of option A.
9. Option B-2 is about 1/8 of a mile shorter than option B-1.
The projected traffic counts for 2050 are 40,000 trips per day.
A 1/8-mile reduction of 40,000 trips is a reduction in miles driven of 5,000 miles per day, which will significantly reduce air pollution.
10. A longer bridge will allow the runoff to be controlled for greater distances to be channeled to more environmentally friendly locations for containment and treatment before it reaches the river.
11. Option B maximizes the use of over $100 M in existing infrastructure and will have better traffic flow than the other options. The many connections to Route 17 and the Celebrate Virginia transportation grid will diffuse traffic congestion.
12. Option B-2 will improve Fire and Rescue Response and Transport times in some areas of Stafford, especially in the Del Webb Senior Community.
The study shows driving from the Del Webb Senior Community to Mary Washington Hospital currently takes 30 minutes, but with option B-2 it would take 10.2 minutes to transport to Mary Washington Hospital. That's a reduction of about 20 minutes of transport time. Reducing 20 minutes off the time our ambulances are out of service. Putting our ambulances back in service 20 minutes quicker can't be overstated.
It will take 10 years until the bridge is built. The seniors will be older and might want to live 20 minutes closer to the hospital. I'm sure family members will appreciate saving an extra 20 minutes each way to the hospital. Stafford has a high transient rate of about 11% to 14%. In 10 years, most will not be here.
13. Establishing a Regional Park will mitigate the impacts to the conservation easements, providing more recreational opportunities, protecting open space and showcasing dozens of historic sites.
14. The river crossing at option A would put the parking too close to the waterfall. I believe the parking should be around 2 miles away, so that people will not bring as much trash. Having the parking too close would trash the area around the waterfall. The runoff from option A would also negatively impact the waterfall.
15. The study shows Option B-2 has the highest amount of Traffic reduction at the Falmouth Intersection. Projected to reduce traffic on Route 1 by 12.3% compared to the No Build option.
This project is nothing more than a way for the Silver Companies to divest themselves of their properties in Stafford County as they move out of this region. A new interchange between Route 3 and the river would do more for economic development in Celebrate Virginia than this ill-conceived project, at a fraction of the cost.
There is only 3 miles between exit 133 and exit 130. What makes you think the Federal Highway Administration would approve a third interchange in a three mile section of I-95 when their guidelines call for Interchanges to be many miles apart?
Every locality wants another interchange. I don't think the FHA will approve another in such a short distance. The same is true for a new Harrison Road Interchange.
Connecting the Population Centers to the Destination, Recreation, Medical and Work Centers with the shortest possible Routes is Smart Planning. It will provide a high time saving factor. If the average Driver can save 3 miles of driving for 40,000 cars per day it will massively reduce driving and Air Pollution in our Region by 120,000 miles per day, while reducing congestion on our existing Roads. The study is estimating a 200,000 mile reduction in driving in 2050 if the new road and river crossing is built.
Maximizing the Use of over $100 M of Underutilized Infrastructure gives us more Bang for the Buck to get us out of Gridlock. Improving Fire and Rescue and Transport Times in Many parts of Stafford to avoid the Falmouth Intersection can't be overstated.
Building the New Bridge to provide an Alternate Route before the Falmouth Bridge Reconstruction needs to be looked at. Ambulances use the Falmouth bridge on a Daily Basis. We have to mitigate the impact of the Falmouth Bridge reconstruction, before Construction Starts.
Building a Road with a Trail Network that can be Utilized as the East Coast Greenway Trail will promote Tourism and Economic development. The Trail keeps up with the future Demand of electric Bikes, Scooters and Wheel Chairs.
Building the road and trail network in conjunction with the FRED Bus service, so as they complement and enhance each other Checks off two FAMPO Goals
Goal# 5: Plan for and establish a multi-modal transportation system that supports the economic vitality of the region.
Goal 6: Provide multi-modal transportation options that enhance the quality of life and improve mobility for vulnerable groups such as, minority, low-income, seniors, and limited mobility groups.
The new road should include bus stop lanes next to the trail and bike racks.
Your map only shows 4 options and doesn't identify Options B-2.
Option B-2 is the best River Crossing Option for the following reasons:
1. Least direct impact to private property, only two landowners directly impacted (City of Fredericksburg and the Silver Company).
2. Least environmental impacts to Resource Protection Areas.
3. Shorter connection with the least clearing and Enviromental footprint.
4. Option B-2 has the highest traffic demand and timesaving factor of 55.3%, which cuts travel time in half to get thousands of cars off the road quicker cutting back on air pollution.
5. Both B Options cost millions less than Option A.
6. Option B has no impact on the Waterfall.
7. Option B is far enough from I-95 where the traffic noise will not impact the serenity on the bridge trail overlook. There would also be more scenic views without having to look at and hear I-95.
8. The long bridge span B-2 has a much smaller footprint and has much less Enviromental damage to the RPA than the many culverts and Stream disturbances of option A.
9. Option B-2 is about 1/8 of a mile shorter than option B-1.
The projected traffic counts for 2050 are 40,000 trips per day.
A 1/8-mile reduction of 40,000 trips is a reduction in miles driven of 5,000 miles per day, which will significantly reduce air pollution.
10. A longer bridge will allow the runoff to be controlled for greater distances to be channeled to more environmentally friendly locations for containment and treatment before it reaches the river.
11. Option B maximizes the use of over $100 M in existing infrastructure and will have better traffic flow than the other options. The many connections to Route 17 and the Celebrate Virginia transportation grid will diffuse traffic congestion.
12. Option B-2 will improve Fire and Rescue Response and Transport times in some areas of Stafford, especially in the Del Webb Senior Community.
The study shows driving from the Del Webb Senior Community to Mary Washington Hospital currently takes 30 minutes, but with option B-2 it would take 10.2 minutes to transport to Mary Washington Hospital. That's a reduction of about 20 minutes of transport time. Reducing 20 minutes off the time our ambulances are out of service. Putting our ambulances back in service 20 minutes quicker can't be overstated.
It will take 10 years until the bridge is built. The seniors will be older and might want to live 20 minutes closer to the hospital. I'm sure family members will appreciate saving an extra 20 minutes each way to the hospital. Stafford has a high transient rate of about 11% to 14%. In 10 years, most will not be here.
13. Establishing a Regional Park will mitigate the impacts to the conservation easements, providing more recreational opportunities, protecting open space and showcasing dozens of historic sites.
14. The river crossing at option A would put the parking too close to the waterfall. I believe the parking should be around 2 miles away, so that people will not bring as much trash. Having the parking too close would trash the area around the waterfall. The runoff from option A would also negatively impact the waterfall.
15. The study shows Option B-2 has the highest amount of Traffic reduction at the Falmouth Intersection. Projected to reduce traffic on Route 1 by 12.3% compared to the No Build option.
This project is nothing more than a way for the Silver Companies to divest themselves of their properties in Stafford County as they move out of this region. A new interchange between Route 3 and the river would do more for economic development in Celebrate Virginia than this ill-conceived project, at a fraction of the cost.
There is only 3 miles between exit 133 and exit 130. What makes you think the Federal Highway Administration would approve a third interchange in a three mile section of I-95 when their guidelines call for Interchanges to be many miles apart?
Every locality wants another interchange. I don't think the FHA will approve another in such a short distance. The same is true for a new Harrison Road Interchange.