{"id":496,"date":"2007-09-25T20:12:13","date_gmt":"2007-09-26T00:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blacknell.net\/dynamic\/2007\/09\/25\/use-the-custis-trail-in-arlington-meeting-wednesday-night\/"},"modified":"2007-09-25T20:12:13","modified_gmt":"2007-09-26T00:12:13","slug":"use-the-custis-trail-in-arlington-meeting-wednesday-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blacknell.net\/dynamic\/2007\/09\/25\/use-the-custis-trail-in-arlington-meeting-wednesday-night\/","title":{"rendered":"Use the Custis Trail in Arlington?  Meeting Wednesday Night"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you use the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bikewashington.org\/trails\/wad\/custis.htm\">Custis Trail<\/a> that runs along I-66 in Arlington, there&#8217;s a public VDOT meeting at 7:30p on Wednesday (Sept 26th) at Washington-Lee High School (in the cafeteria).\u00c2\u00a0 This meeting is being held to discuss three specific widening proposals.\u00c2\u00a0 It&#8217;s my understanding that it&#8217;s not regarding the larger (asinine) idea of widening I-66 by a lane, but limited extensions of entry\/exit lanes.\u00c2\u00a0 However, it still has the potential to have a detrimental impact on the Custis Trail, which is a high-traffic alternative transportation artery.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 For more details about the meeting and the take of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.acstnet.org\">Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation<\/a>, click on the &#8220;more&#8221; link below.\u00c2\u00a0 I&#8217;ve pasted an email from cycling advocate Allen Muchnick to local listsevs in its entirety.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>This widening affects the Custis Trail, and any future widening could<br \/>\nseriously degrade it. Please forward this message far and wide.<\/p>\n<p>ATTEND VDOT PUBLIC MEETING WED, SEPT 26, 7-8:30 PM @ WASHINGTON-LEE<br \/>\nHS CAFETERIA<\/p>\n<p>The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is holding a public<br \/>\nmeeting this Wednesday evening, September 26, 2007, from 7:00 to 8:30<br \/>\nPM, in the Washington-Lee High School cafeteria (1300 N Quincy St,<br \/>\nnear Ballston Metro) to provide a status report on the preliminary<br \/>\ndesign of it&#8217;s I-66 &#8220;Spot Improvements&#8221; project.  Various aspects of<br \/>\nthis project, including right-of-way drawings, will be displayed in<br \/>\nan open-house format, and a brief presentation and question-and-<br \/>\nanswer session will begin around 7:30 PM.  Once again, VDOT has<br \/>\nreleased very little project information in advance of this public<br \/>\nmeeting.<\/p>\n<p>If arriving by auto, use the parking deck above I-66, where a<br \/>\npedestrian bridge connects to Entrance #7 of the high school. The<br \/>\nArlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation (ACST) will be<br \/>\nstationed in Room 126, immediately outside the cafeteria.<\/p>\n<p>If this construction is ultimately approved, this $76 million project<br \/>\ncould add four miles of a third westbound lane to I-66 at three<br \/>\ndisconnected locations: from the Spout Run (Lee Hwy) entrance to the<br \/>\nGlebe Rd exit, from the Fairfax Dr (Glebe Rd) entrance to the<br \/>\nSycamore St exit, and from the Washington Blvd (East Falls Church)<br \/>\nentrance to the Dulles Connector Road exit.<\/p>\n<p>Please attend the VDOT meeting to learn about this project and how it<br \/>\nwould impact our community. Also, please submit written comments<br \/>\ndescribing your concerns and criticisms for the public meeting record<br \/>\n(info near bottom).<\/p>\n<p>ARLINGTON COALITION FOR SENSIBLE TRANSPORTATION (ACST) POSITIONS ON <script><!-- D([\"mb\",\"\\u003cbr\\>\\nTHE I-66 &quot;SPOT IMPROVEMENTS&quot;\\u003cbr\\>\\n\\u003cbr\\>\\n1) NO WIDENING WITHOUT A COMPREHENSIVE CORRIDOR PLAN: The Arlington \\u003cbr\\>\\nCoalition for Sensible Transportation (ACST) firmly opposes the &quot;spot \\u003cbr\\>\\nimprovements&quot; as unnecessary, unwarranted, counterproductive, \\u003cbr\\>\\nand &quot;arbitrary and capricious&quot;.  As ACST has maintained since 1999, \\u003cbr\\>\\nno significant changes to I-66 should be made until a comprehensive \\u003cbr\\>\\nplan--developed with sound technical analyses and extensive public \\u003cbr\\>\\ninput--is adopted for this major multimodal corridor. Twice \\u003cbr\\>\\npreviously, in October 2001 and in May 2004, the National Capital \\u003cbr\\>\\nRegion Transportation Planning Board had authorized VDOT to conduct \\u003cbr\\>\\nfunded multimodal corridor studies, but the first study was never \\u003cbr\\>\\ninitiated in 20 months, and the second study, dubbed &quot;Idea-66&quot;, was \\u003cbr\\>\\nclearly manipulated to recommend the third westbound travel lane \\u003cbr\\>\\nrequested by Congressman Frank Wolf. In fact, VDOT&#39;s Idea-66 Study \\u003cbr\\>\\nclearly showed that expanded HOV hours and\/or automated tolls-- \\u003cbr\\>\\npermanently ensuring uncongested travel--and enhanced bus service are \\u003cbr\\>\\neach superior overall to another westbound travel lane. \\u003cbr\\>\\n\\u003cbr\\>\\nIn June 2007, the Commonwealth Transportation Board authorized the \\u003cbr\\>\\nVirginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) to \\u003cbr\\>\\ninitiate a third multimodal corridor study for I-66 inside the \\u003cbr\\>\\nBeltway; however, this study will not get underway until after the \\u003cbr\\>\\npreliminary (30%) design of the three &quot;spot improvements&quot; is \\u003cbr\\>\\ncompleted this coming winter.\\u003cbr\\>\\n  \\u003cbr\\>\\n\\u003cbr\\>\\n2) VDOT MUST COMPLY FULLY WITH THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT \\u003cbr\\>\\n(NEPA):  NEPA mandates that all federally funded projects adequately \\u003cbr\\>\\nconsider all reasonable alternatives to the proposed &quot;action&quot; as well \\u003cbr\\>\\nas all significant impacts to the natural and human environment.  \\u003cbr\\>\\nACST contends that both VDOT&#39;s pursuit of &quot;interim spot improvements&quot; \\u003cbr\\>\\nand the specific &quot;improvements&quot; being pursued are &quot;arbitrary and \",1] );  \/\/--><\/script><br \/>\nTHE I-66 &#8220;SPOT IMPROVEMENTS&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>1) NO WIDENING WITHOUT A COMPREHENSIVE CORRIDOR PLAN: The Arlington<br \/>\nCoalition for Sensible Transportation (ACST) firmly opposes the &#8220;spot<br \/>\nimprovements&#8221; as unnecessary, unwarranted, counterproductive,<br \/>\nand &#8220;arbitrary and capricious&#8221;.  As ACST has maintained since 1999,<br \/>\nno significant changes to I-66 should be made until a comprehensive<br \/>\nplan&#8211;developed with sound technical analyses and extensive public<br \/>\ninput&#8211;is adopted for this major multimodal corridor. Twice<br \/>\npreviously, in October 2001 and in May 2004, the National Capital<br \/>\nRegion Transportation Planning Board had authorized VDOT to conduct<br \/>\nfunded multimodal corridor studies, but the first study was never<br \/>\ninitiated in 20 months, and the second study, dubbed &#8220;Idea-66&#8221;, was<br \/>\nclearly manipulated to recommend the third westbound travel lane<br \/>\nrequested by Congressman Frank Wolf. In fact, VDOT&#8217;s Idea-66 Study<br \/>\nclearly showed that expanded HOV hours and\/or automated tolls&#8211;<br \/>\npermanently ensuring uncongested travel&#8211;and enhanced bus service are<br \/>\neach superior overall to another westbound travel lane.<\/p>\n<p>In June 2007, the Commonwealth Transportation Board authorized the<br \/>\nVirginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) to<br \/>\ninitiate a third multimodal corridor study for I-66 inside the<br \/>\nBeltway; however, this study will not get underway until after the<br \/>\npreliminary (30%) design of the three &#8220;spot improvements&#8221; is<br \/>\ncompleted this coming winter.<\/p>\n<p>2) VDOT MUST COMPLY FULLY WITH THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT<br \/>\n(NEPA):  NEPA mandates that all federally funded projects adequately<br \/>\nconsider all reasonable alternatives to the proposed &#8220;action&#8221; as well<br \/>\nas all significant impacts to the natural and human environment.<br \/>\nACST contends that both VDOT&#8217;s pursuit of &#8220;interim spot improvements&#8221;<br \/>\nand the specific &#8220;improvements&#8221; being pursued are &#8220;arbitrary and <script><!-- D([\"mb\",\"\\u003cbr\\>\\ncapricious&quot;.  VDOT&#39;s March 2005 &quot;Idea-66&quot; report (posted at \\u003cbr\\>\\n[\\u003ca href\\u003d\\\"http:\/\/www.idea66.com\\\" target\\u003d\\\"_blank\\\" onclick\\u003d\\\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\\\"\\>http:\/\/www.idea66.com\\u003c\/a\\>]) hardly discussed *any* &quot;spot improvements&quot;, \\u003cbr\\>\\nmuch less the three on-ramp-to-off-ramp third-lane segments now being \\u003cbr\\>\\ndesigned.  Moreover, VDOT has yet to issue a &quot;Purpose and Need \\u003cbr\\>\\nStatement&quot; for this project or any other written information about \\u003cbr\\>\\nits required environmental study.  VDOT evidently concocted the \\u003cbr\\>\\nthree &quot;spot improvements&quot; in mid-2005 as a way to spend Rep. Frank \\u003cbr\\>\\nWolf&#39;s $27.6 million in federal (SAFETEA-LU) earmarks by minimizing \\u003cbr\\>\\nNEPA requirements. \\u003cbr\\>\\n\\u003cbr\\>\\nThe lack of a &quot;Purpose and Need Statement&quot; for this VDOT project \\u003cbr\\>\\nimpedes meaningful discussion and analyses of the proposed widening \\u003cbr\\>\\nand reasonable--and likely superior--alternatives to it; however, \\u003cbr\\>\\nACST maintains that VDOT has been derelict in failing to adequately \\u003cbr\\>\\nconsider any alternative &quot;spot improvements&quot;.  For example, to \\u003cbr\\>\\nimprove highway safety, police enforcement, incident management, and \\u003cbr\\>\\nemergency evacuations and to possibly move buses when the travel \\u003cbr\\>\\nlanes are congested, VDOT could simply provide a continuous 12-ft \\u003cbr\\>\\nwide inside paved shoulder, instead of third-lane segments with \\u003cbr\\>\\nsubstandard, narrow inside shoulders at multiple locations.  \\u003cbr\\>\\nAlternatively, or in addition, VDOT could advance shorter on-ramp \\u003cbr\\>\\nextensions and\/or provide extra police enforcement locations as \\u003cbr\\>\\nsuperior spot improvements.  TO ADEQUATELY COMPLY WITH NEPA, VDOT \\u003cbr\\>\\nMUST FULLY AND FAIRLY STUDY SUCH ALTERNATIVE SPOT IMPROVEMENTS AND \\u003cbr\\>\\nPREPARE AT LEAST AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR ITS PROPOSED ACTION.\\u003cbr\\>\\n\\u003cbr\\>\\n3) VDOT&#39;S PROPOSED WIDENING WOULD WORSEN TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND \\u003cbr\\>\\nSAFETY AND WOULD DEGRADE OUR ENVIRONMENT: VDOT is using a badly \\u003cbr\\>\\nflawed traffic-modeling process to rationalize the proposed spot \",1] );  \/\/--><\/script><br \/>\ncapricious&#8221;.  VDOT&#8217;s March 2005 &#8220;Idea-66&#8221; report (posted at<br \/>\n[<a href=\"http:\/\/www.idea66.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\">http:\/\/www.idea66.com<\/a>]) hardly discussed *any* &#8220;spot improvements&#8221;,<br \/>\nmuch less the three on-ramp-to-off-ramp third-lane segments now being<br \/>\ndesigned.  Moreover, VDOT has yet to issue a &#8220;Purpose and Need<br \/>\nStatement&#8221; for this project or any other written information about<br \/>\nits required environmental study.  VDOT evidently concocted the<br \/>\nthree &#8220;spot improvements&#8221; in mid-2005 as a way to spend Rep. Frank<br \/>\nWolf&#8217;s $27.6 million in federal (SAFETEA-LU) earmarks by minimizing<br \/>\nNEPA requirements.<\/p>\n<p>The lack of a &#8220;Purpose and Need Statement&#8221; for this VDOT project<br \/>\nimpedes meaningful discussion and analyses of the proposed widening<br \/>\nand reasonable&#8211;and likely superior&#8211;alternatives to it; however,<br \/>\nACST maintains that VDOT has been derelict in failing to adequately<br \/>\nconsider any alternative &#8220;spot improvements&#8221;.  For example, to<br \/>\nimprove highway safety, police enforcement, incident management, and<br \/>\nemergency evacuations and to possibly move buses when the travel<br \/>\nlanes are congested, VDOT could simply provide a continuous 12-ft<br \/>\nwide inside paved shoulder, instead of third-lane segments with<br \/>\nsubstandard, narrow inside shoulders at multiple locations.<br \/>\nAlternatively, or in addition, VDOT could advance shorter on-ramp<br \/>\nextensions and\/or provide extra police enforcement locations as<br \/>\nsuperior spot improvements.  TO ADEQUATELY COMPLY WITH NEPA, VDOT<br \/>\nMUST FULLY AND FAIRLY STUDY SUCH ALTERNATIVE SPOT IMPROVEMENTS AND<br \/>\nPREPARE AT LEAST AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR ITS PROPOSED ACTION.<\/p>\n<p>3) VDOT&#8217;S PROPOSED WIDENING WOULD WORSEN TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND<br \/>\nSAFETY AND WOULD DEGRADE OUR ENVIRONMENT: VDOT is using a badly<br \/>\nflawed traffic-modeling process to rationalize the proposed spot <script><!-- D([\"mb\",\"\\u003cbr\\>\\nimprovements.  Instead of first forecasting future traffic volumes \\u003cbr\\>\\nwith a trip-generation model (used in the previous Idea-66 study), \\u003cbr\\>\\nVDOT has used a computer simulation of only *2005 traffic volumes* \\u003cbr\\>\\nto &quot;demonstrate&quot; that the proposed spot improvements would reduce \\u003cbr\\>\\ntraffic backups along westbound I-66, would not greatly worsen \\u003cbr\\>\\ntraffic movements at nearby intersections, and would be more \\u003cbr\\>\\neffective than shorter on-ramp extensions.  VDOT MUST USE A VALID \\u003cbr\\>\\nTRIP-GENERATION MODEL TO APPROPRIATELY MODEL TRAFFIC IMPACTS AT THE \\u003cbr\\>\\nFOLLOWING LOCATIONS: 1) ALONG EACH WIDENED I-66 SEGMENT AND THE \\u003cbr\\>\\nCONNECTING FREEWAY SEGMENTS IMMEDIATELY EAST AND WEST, 2) ALONG \\u003cbr\\>\\nEASTBOUND I-66 (where traffic congestion is already worse), AND 3) AT \\u003cbr\\>\\nNEARBY CONNECTING INTERSECTIONS (including on Lee Hwy, Glebe Rd, \\u003cbr\\>\\nSycamore St, and Route 7).  IN ADDITION, VDOT MUST SHOW HOW CREATING \\u003cbr\\>\\nTWO NEW BOTTLENECKS (just west of the low-volume Glebe Rd and \\u003cbr\\>\\nSycamore St exit ramps) AND NARROWING SAFETY SHOULDERS WOULD AFFECT \\u003cbr\\>\\nTRAFFIC CONGESTION, SAFETY, AND INCIDENT MANAGEMENT.  By inducing new \\u003cbr\\>\\nauto trips and auto-dependent development while not improving or \\u003cbr\\>\\nincentivizing non-auto travel, the proposed spot improvements would \\u003cbr\\>\\nincrease noise, water, and air pollution, including global warming \\u003cbr\\>\\ncarbon dioxide emissions.\\u003cbr\\>\\n\\u003cbr\\>\\nFOR MORE INFORMATION: Please visit ACST&#39;s website \\u003cbr\\>\\n[\\u003ca href\\u003d\\\"http:\/\/www.acstnet.org\\\" target\\u003d\\\"_blank\\\" onclick\\u003d\\\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\\\"\\>http:\/\/www.acstnet.org\\u003c\/a\\>] and blog \\u003cbr\\>\\n[\\u003ca href\\u003d\\\"http:\/\/www.acstnet.blogspot.com\\\" target\\u003d\\\"_blank\\\" onclick\\u003d\\\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\\\"\\>http:\/\/www.acstnet.blogspot.com\\u003c\/a\\>] .  VDOT has a new project website \\u003cbr\\>\\nat [\\u003ca href\\u003d\\\"http:\/\/www\/i-66spotimprovements.com\\\" target\\u003d\\\"_blank\\\" onclick\\u003d\\\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\\\"\\>http:\/\/www\/i-66spotimprovements.com\\u003c\/a\\>] and a project \\u003cbr\\>\\ntelephone &quot;INFO&quot; line (1-888-643-3266), but the previous Idea-66 \",1] );  \/\/--><\/script><br \/>\nimprovements.  Instead of first forecasting future traffic volumes<br \/>\nwith a trip-generation model (used in the previous Idea-66 study),<br \/>\nVDOT has used a computer simulation of only *2005 traffic volumes*<br \/>\nto &#8220;demonstrate&#8221; that the proposed spot improvements would reduce<br \/>\ntraffic backups along westbound I-66, would not greatly worsen<br \/>\ntraffic movements at nearby intersections, and would be more<br \/>\neffective than shorter on-ramp extensions.  VDOT MUST USE A VALID<br \/>\nTRIP-GENERATION MODEL TO APPROPRIATELY MODEL TRAFFIC IMPACTS AT THE<br \/>\nFOLLOWING LOCATIONS: 1) ALONG EACH WIDENED I-66 SEGMENT AND THE<br \/>\nCONNECTING FREEWAY SEGMENTS IMMEDIATELY EAST AND WEST, 2) ALONG<br \/>\nEASTBOUND I-66 (where traffic congestion is already worse), AND 3) AT<br \/>\nNEARBY CONNECTING INTERSECTIONS (including on Lee Hwy, Glebe Rd,<br \/>\nSycamore St, and Route 7).  IN ADDITION, VDOT MUST SHOW HOW CREATING<br \/>\nTWO NEW BOTTLENECKS (just west of the low-volume Glebe Rd and<br \/>\nSycamore St exit ramps) AND NARROWING SAFETY SHOULDERS WOULD AFFECT<br \/>\nTRAFFIC CONGESTION, SAFETY, AND INCIDENT MANAGEMENT.  By inducing new<br \/>\nauto trips and auto-dependent development while not improving or<br \/>\nincentivizing non-auto travel, the proposed spot improvements would<br \/>\nincrease noise, water, and air pollution, including global warming<br \/>\ncarbon dioxide emissions.<\/p>\n<p>FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please visit ACST&#8217;s website<br \/>\n[<a href=\"http:\/\/www.acstnet.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\">http:\/\/www.acstnet.org<\/a>] and blog<br \/>\n[<a href=\"http:\/\/www.acstnet.blogspot.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\">http:\/\/www.acstnet.blogspot.com<\/a>] .  VDOT has a new project website<br \/>\nat [<a href=\"http:\/\/www\/i-66spotimprovements.com\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\">http:\/\/www\/i-66spotimprovements.com<\/a>] and a project<br \/>\ntelephone &#8220;INFO&#8221; line (1-888-643-3266), but the previous Idea-66 <script><!-- D([\"mb\",\"\\u003cbr\\>\\nfeasibilty study and the 2006 traffic modeling study remain posted at \\u003cbr\\>\\n[\\u003ca href\\u003d\\\"http:\/\/www\/idea66.com\\\" target\\u003d\\\"_blank\\\" onclick\\u003d\\\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\\\"\\>http:\/\/www\/idea66.com\\u003c\/a\\>] .  \\u003cbr\\>\\n\\u003cbr\\>\\nPLEASE SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS, no later than October 10, 2007, to: \\u003cbr\\>\\nMr. Jeff Daily, P.E., Project Manager, Virginia Department of \\u003cbr\\>\\nTransportation, 14685 Avion Parkway Chantilly, VA 20151 Phone: 703-\\u003cbr\\>\\n383-2205, Email: \\u003ca href\\u003d\\\"mailto:Jeff.daily%40vdot.virginia.gov\\\" target\\u003d\\\"_blank\\\" onclick\\u003d\\\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\\\"\\>Jeff.daily@vdot.virginia.gov\\u003c\/a\\> .\\u003cbr\\>\\n\\u003cbr\\>\\nUPCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS: Speak out for a wiser I-66 at the following \\u003cbr\\>\\nadditional meetings.  Partial funding to build the I-66 &quot;spot \\u003cbr\\>\\nimprovements&quot; is already included in VDOT&#39;s current Six-Year \\u003cbr\\>\\nImprovement Program (SYIP) and is proposed for the Washington \\u003cbr\\>\\nregion&#39;s FY08-13 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Please \\u003cbr\\>\\nvoice your opposition to this wasteful and destructive use of scarce \\u003cbr\\>\\ntransportation improvement funds.\\u003cbr\\>\\n\\u003cbr\\>\\n1) Thursday, October 11, 7-8 PM, public forum on the FY08-13 TIP for \\u003cbr\\>\\nthe Washington Metropolitan Region, Metropolitan Washington Council \\u003cbr\\>\\nof Governments, 777 N Capitol St NE, Suite 300, Washington DC 20002 \\u003cbr\\>\\n(near Union Station Metro).  Learn more at \\u003cbr\\>\\n[\\u003ca href\\u003d\\\"http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/2nf7d2\\\" target\\u003d\\\"_blank\\\" onclick\\u003d\\\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\\\"\\>http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/2nf7d2\\u003c\/a\\>] .\\u003cbr\\>\\n\\u003cbr\\>\\n2) Tuesday, November 13, 6:30-8:00 PM (briefings begin at 5 PM), \\u003cbr\\>\\nCommonwealth Transportation Board fall public input meeting for FY09-\\u003cbr\\>\\n14 SYIP, Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center \\u003cbr\\>\\nParkway, Fairfax 22035. See VDOT news release at \\u003cbr\\>\\n[\\u003ca href\\u003d\\\"http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/35gnd2\\\" target\\u003d\\\"_blank\\\" onclick\\u003d\\\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\\\"\\>http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/35gnd2\\u003c\/a\\>] .\\u003cbr\\>\\n\\u003cbr\\>\\nAllen Muchnick, president\\u003cbr\\>\\nArlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation\\u003cbr\\>\\nPO Box 5574, Arlington VA 22205-5574\",1] );  \/\/--><\/script><br \/>\nfeasibilty study and the 2006 traffic modeling study remain posted at<br \/>\n[<a href=\"http:\/\/www\/idea66.com\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\">http:\/\/www.idea66.com<\/a>] .<\/p>\n<p>PLEASE SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS, no later than October 10, 2007, to:<br \/>\nMr. Jeff Daily, P.E., Project Manager, Virginia Department of<br \/>\nTransportation, 14685 Avion Parkway Chantilly, VA 20151 Phone: 703-<br \/>\n383-2205, Email: <a href=\"mailto:Jeff.daily%40vdot.virginia.gov\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\">Jeff.daily@vdot.virginia.gov<\/a> .<\/p>\n<p>UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS: Speak out for a wiser I-66 at the following<br \/>\nadditional meetings.  Partial funding to build the I-66 &#8220;spot<br \/>\nimprovements&#8221; is already included in VDOT&#8217;s current Six-Year<br \/>\nImprovement Program (SYIP) and is proposed for the Washington<br \/>\nregion&#8217;s FY08-13 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Please<br \/>\nvoice your opposition to this wasteful and destructive use of scarce<br \/>\ntransportation improvement funds.<\/p>\n<p>1) Thursday, October 11, 7-8 PM, public forum on the FY08-13 TIP for<br \/>\nthe Washington Metropolitan Region, Metropolitan Washington Council<br \/>\nof Governments, 777 N Capitol St NE, Suite 300, Washington DC 20002<br \/>\n(near Union Station Metro).  Learn more at<br \/>\n[<a href=\"http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/2nf7d2\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\">http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/2nf7d2<\/a>] .<\/p>\n<p>2) Tuesday, November 13, 6:30-8:00 PM (briefings begin at 5 PM),<br \/>\nCommonwealth Transportation Board fall public input meeting for FY09-<br \/>\n14 SYIP, Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center<br \/>\nParkway, Fairfax 22035. See VDOT news release at<br \/>\n[<a href=\"http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/35gnd2\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\">http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/35gnd2<\/a>] .<\/p>\n<p>Allen Muchnick, president<br \/>\nArlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation<br \/>\nPO Box 5574, Arlington VA 22205-5574<script><!-- D([\"mb\",\"\\u003cbr\\>\\n703-271-0895\\u003cbr\\>\\n\\u003ca href\\u003d\\\"mailto:info%40acstnet.org\\\" target\\u003d\\\"_blank\\\" onclick\\u003d\\\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\\\"\\>info@acstnet.org\\u003c\/a\\>\\u003cbr\\>\\n\\u003ca href\\u003d\\\"http:\/\/www.acstnet.org\\\" target\\u003d\\\"_blank\\\" onclick\\u003d\\\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\\\"\\>http:\/\/www.acstnet.org\\u003c\/a\\>\\u003cbr\\>\\n\\u003ca href\\u003d\\\"http:\/\/www.acstnet.blogspot.com\\\" target\\u003d\\\"_blank\\\" onclick\\u003d\\\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\\\"\\>http:\/\/www.acstnet.blogspot.com\\u003c\/a\\>\\u003cbr\\>\\n\\u003cbr\\>\\n\\u003c\/p\\>\\n    \\u003c\/div\\>  \\n\\n    \\n    \\u003cspan width\\u003d\\\"1\\\" style\\u003d\\\"color:white\\\"\\>__._,_.___\\u003c\/span\\>\\n    \\n    \\u003cdiv\\>\\n              \\u003cspan\\>\\n          \\u003ca href\\u003d\\\"http:\/\/groups.yahoo.com\/group\/BikeWashingtonDC\/message\/9889;_ylc\\u003dX3oDMTM0MW44aWhnBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ5MTIxNjUEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTcxMDMwBG1zZ0lkAzk4ODkEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDdnRwYwRzdGltZQMxMTkwNzUwMjI4BHRwY0lkAzk4ODk-\\\" target\\u003d\\\"_blank\\\" onclick\\u003d\\\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\\\"\\>\\n            Messages in this topic          \\u003c\/a\\> (\\u003cspan\\>1\\u003c\/span\\>)\\n        \\u003c\/span\\>\\n        \\u003ca href\\u003d\\\"http:\/\/groups.yahoo.com\/group\/BikeWashingtonDC\/post;_ylc\\u003dX3oDMTJwMGE1bzQ3BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ5MTIxNjUEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTcxMDMwBG1zZ0lkAzk4ODkEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDcnBseQRzdGltZQMxMTkwNzUwMjI4?act\\u003dreply&amp;messageNum\\u003d9889\\\" target\\u003d\\\"_blank\\\" onclick\\u003d\\\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\\\"\\>\\n          \\u003cspan\\>\\n            Reply          \\u003c\/span\\> (via web post)\\n        \\u003c\/a\\>  | \\n        \\u003ca href\\u003d\\\"http:\/\/groups.yahoo.com\/group\/BikeWashingtonDC\/post;_ylc\\u003dX3oDMTJlYTV1YmV0BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ5MTIxNjUEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTcxMDMwBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA250cGMEc3RpbWUDMTE5MDc1MDIyOA--\\\" target\\u003d\\\"_blank\\\" onclick\\u003d\\\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\\\"\\>\\n          Start a new topic        \\u003c\/a\\>\\n          \\u003c\/div\\> \\n    \\n    \\n    \\u003cdiv\\>\\n                \\u003ca href\\u003d\\\"http:\/\/groups.yahoo.com\/group\/BikeWashingtonDC\/messages;_ylc\\u003dX3oDMTJldWw3bnJoBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ5MTIxNjUEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTcxMDMwBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA21zZ3MEc3RpbWUDMTE5MDc1MDIyOA--\\\" target\\u003d\\\"_blank\\\" onclick\\u003d\\\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\\\"\\>Messages\\u003c\/a\\>  \\n            |    \\u003ca href\\u003d\\\"http:\/\/groups.yahoo.com\/group\/BikeWashingtonDC\/files;_ylc\\u003dX3oDMTJmaDcwcmphBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ5MTIxNjUEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTcxMDMwBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2ZpbGVzBHN0aW1lAzExOTA3NTAyMjg-\\\" target\\u003d\\\"_blank\\\" onclick\\u003d\\\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\\\"\\>\",1] );  \/\/--><\/script><br \/>\n703-271-0895<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:info%40acstnet.org\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\">info@acstnet.org<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.acstnet.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\">http:\/\/www.acstnet.org<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.acstnet.blogspot.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\">http:\/\/www.acstnet.blogspot.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you use the Custis Trail that runs along I-66 in Arlington, there&#8217;s a public VDOT meeting at 7:30p on Wednesday (Sept 26th) at Washington-Lee High School (in the cafeteria).\u00c2\u00a0 This meeting is being held to discuss three specific widening proposals.\u00c2\u00a0 It&#8217;s my understanding that it&#8217;s not regarding the larger (asinine) idea of widening I-66 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"activitypub_content_warning":"","activitypub_content_visibility":"","activitypub_max_image_attachments":4,"activitypub_interaction_policy_quote":"anyone","activitypub_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-496","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cycling","category-virginia"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blacknell.net\/dynamic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/496","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blacknell.net\/dynamic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blacknell.net\/dynamic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blacknell.net\/dynamic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blacknell.net\/dynamic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=496"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blacknell.net\/dynamic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/496\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blacknell.net\/dynamic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blacknell.net\/dynamic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=496"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blacknell.net\/dynamic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}